ANOTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTION THE ICONIC WALL DRUG!!!
We are up at 0500 and getting The Boys walked and fed. Skies are clear except for a bit of smoke from the Yellowstone fires and the temp is 54F. Of course when the walk and feeding are done they go back to sleep. For breakfast this morning I cooked up some ham, spuds, peppers and onions on the cast iron griddle.
Seems like the more we are out using the camper the camper, our todo/modification list gets smaller.
We were on the road at 0830 headed to Wall Drug, SD. There was a good bit of construction on I-90 with several sections of one lane Interstate Highway. We made a quick stop at Sam’s Club in Rapid City to fill up Diesel Truck. Then we soon were passing a sign for Wall Drug every mile or even less.
We made it to the Arrow Campground in Wall, SD by 11:30. The owner was out running errands and arrived in a few minutes. After we were checked in he gave us a very nice introduction to the area and some great tips on Badlands NP. We pulled into our site and were completely set up in about 20 minutes. I think we are getting better at the set up for sure.
We made lunch and caught up on email and and other necessities, then we walked over to Hustead’s Wall Drug. Started in 1931 Wall Drug was the only drug store in this small town on the edge of the South Dakota Badlands. The business was not doing well as cars keep driving by and not stopping, so Dorothy Hustead thought the folks driving by would be thirsty and decided to put up a sign. The sign told people to stop for “Free Ice Water” and, as they say, the rest is history.
To me, Wall Drug is a classic Roadside Attraction, hosting a real drug store, restaurants, tacky souvenirs and as they say anything you might need. The one thing I would have bought if they offered one would have been a Wall Drug water jug, but alas no such product could be found. One can still get a Wall Drug bumper sticker, one per family, and so the camper will have one affixed.
Lynn watched the boys outside while I made a tour of the store. Yes, there is just about anything a weary traveler could want. I got a 5 cent cup of coffee and it was good coffee. I then went and relieved Lynn of pup duty while she went in. I told her there was a hat on sale that I liked and asked her to get some doughnuts. I took The Boys for a walk around the block and returned to bench where the tour buses unloaded. Soon The Boys were receiving compliments and their photos were taken by many folks. Some folks would stop and pet them for a bit and they ate up the attention.
While I was inside running about I stopped and chatted was a cashier for a bit. I mention my wife was outside with our dogs and she would soon be in to shop. He said you can bring your dogs into the store, to which I responded you don’t know our dogs, LOL. Actually The Boys would probably do quite well, but why test fate.
Lynn soon returned with a bag full of doughnuts, fudge and the hat I had mentioned. The Boys got a drink of Wall Drug Ice Water. Lynn started to walk back and I got another 5 cent cup of coffee. The coffee is really pretty darn good. The walk back to the camp ground is just a couple of blocks and we did pass a puppy poop bag station. As I pulled out a bag a wasp came out and stung me on my finger. It was then I noticed a wasp nest in the dispenser. Soon we were back at the camper and The Boys went straight into nap mode while I finished my coffee and had a doughnut as Lynn sampled her fudge purchases.
The Boys got antsy so we went for a long walk about the campground while Lynn took a shower. Then it was my turn for a shower, we used the campground shower rooms and not worrying about water consumption made for a nice shower. All cleaned up and we enjoyed a dinner of BBQ pork, cole slaw and chips.
FREE ICE WATER !!!!
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