Day 3 - Overpopulation

"Few businesses match the marvelous choreography of a smooth-running bicycle store -- the musty smell, the incessant phones, hissing compressors and clamorous, freewheeling bikes."

-Jim Langley

"I used to work in a bike shop a long time ago in Colorado. I didn't know anything about bikes. I thought that when you had a flat tire you had to replace the whole bike."

-Juli Furtado

Quote of the day (another sent by Ericka Warren)

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm."

-Abraham Lincoln

Traveling today took us through Mitchell, South Dakota. We kept seeing signs for the Corn Palace in Mitchell. I think Ray Finger may have been the designer for the signs because they were kind of (pardon the Ray-ism) corny: "See the Great Ear-chitecture at the Corn Palace", "The Corn Palace is a Bushel of Fun", and "Cornsider Visiting The Corn Palace in Mitchell." We have a good friend who told us about it so with time to spare we drove downtown to take a peek and some pictures for you. It is a neat place, different, and changes every year. It is a national and international tourist attraction, is used for many local activities, and Mitchell High School is having its prom there tonight. I wonder what would happen if it ever caught on fire! Just a thought. 

Margaret and I are now in Chamberlain, South Dakota. We just ate steaks at The Derby Cafe in downtown Chamberlain. We decided before we left home that we would eat in places that were what we would call hole-in-the-wall or off-the-beaten-path eating establishments. The Derby Cafe is downtown and there is only one of them. We had to wait thirty minutes for the place to begin serving supper at 5:30, but the wait was well worth it. First of all we noticed almost every chair was different. Then we saw the same pattern with the dishes, none matched. Our salads came on matching paper plates. Next, our steaks were cooked on a grill located on the sidewalk in front of the cafe. We watched through the front window as they were cooked to perfection. I noticed among the spices one labeled Back Woods Fire which immediately led me to deep prayer and God must have heard me because none of it was put on any of my food. I would have been out of commission for several days! 

Even though we were the only people in the cafe at the start, the place started filling up about 5:20 and everybody knew everybody. I think we were the only tourists but were made to feel right at home by the cook and waitresses. The Derby Cafe - Finest in South Dakota, according to one of the signs, was a great start for our first ever restaurant report.

We drove 509.3 miles today, bringing our total to 1,378.9 miles. The weather today was high 40's and low 50's. We even have a winter advisory for tomorrow evening and may see snow on Mt. Rushmore. Wouldn't that be cool?

Whoever says the world is overpopulated has never driven across Iowa or South Dakota. There's nothing out here! It is wonderful. These folks seem to have a handle on living life far more slowly than most of the world. I-90 doesn't even come close to I-285. In fact, today must be a day set aside on I-90 for out-of-state drivers. There was next to zero traffic. And the traffic that was out there, mostly pick-up trucks, went the speed limit! 

South Dakota has a beauty all its own, as do all of the states in the U.S.A., but I was reminded that all this will one day change. It's going to get much better! When Adam and Eve blew it in Eden they brought a curse not only on mankind but on the entire creation. That's why out there in those weeds and rocks are snakes that bite, briars that hurt, critters that scratch, plants that irritate, and bugs that sting. Romans 8:21 says, "All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay." I can't wait. Hey, you think the earth is beautiful now? Just wait, you ain't seen nothing yet!

Tomorrow night we are supposed to stay in Sheridan, Wyoming. A church in Sheridan called us to consider a youth pastor position in the summer of 1976. At that time, if I remember correctly, the population of the whole state of Wyoming was 300,000! That's probably right since in 2007 it was 522,830! That's the same number as the total cars on I-285 at 5 o'clock every workday! I think I'll like Wyoming.