Day 6

Missouri City, Iowa to De Smet, South Dakota

Miles: 740

Weather: Rain/Sun 70's

We woke up this morning at the rest stop about 7:00 am. We pretty much just pulled out of the rest area and got on the road. It was a really weird feeling-you know how you arrive somewhere you’ve never been before  in the dark and when you wake up in the morning it’s all such a surprise? The air was crisp and cool, the sunrise was beautiful, and the landscape was much different than the last thing we saw before the sun set. Long rolling plains, few trees and pretty much nothing. Just miles and miles of farms. We drove northwest towards, ultimately, De Smet-255 miles. We stopped and picked up some coffee and a bag of donuts for the kids, and filled up our fresh water tank. Once we got off the highway before getting to DeSmet, we stopped at a Wal-mart to restock a few supplies.

When we came out of Wal-mart, we discovered that our fresh water tank had a leak-not good news L We are not sure still where the leak is exactly, but we cannot fill the tank more than 1/3 full before it starts to leak onto the camper floor.

Onward to the Laura Ingalls Homestead in DeSmet. Like I did when I was a girl, we have been reading through the Little House on the Prairie book series aloud at night as a family for over a year now. We are almost done with the book “These Happy Golden Years” and are very familiar with the claim shanty on the Dakota Territory that Pa Ingalls got via the Homestead Act. This was an exciting stop for all of us, but we were more than impressed by the site here. They have 4 RV camping sites, as well as little covered wagon cabins that can be camped in. The RV sites are right at the top of the hill on the property, and we have a 360 degree view of the entire Ingalls ¼ mile property and the plains stretching out in the distance-the twin lakes, Henry and Johnson, the Big Slough and the smaller slough, and beyond. It really is  a beautiful spot, and kind of surreal to think that this was the very place where Laura spent many years growing up. When we arrived they hurried us down to do the activities-we set up camp afterward. The kids got to make their own rope and corn husk doll; they watched a demonstration on twisting hay into logs, and they ground wheat in the coffee mill like Laura and her mom did during the Long Winter. We explored the little house, which started as a 140 square foot one-room claim shanty, then doubled in size when they added 2 bedrooms, and then later they added a room for the pump organ for Mary. We took a horse-drawn covered wagon ride-it was just us and another homeschooled family who were here, so we were getting quite the special treatment! Each of the kids got a turn to drive the horses on the wagon. We rode the wagon to a church on the property (similar to the church the Ingalls attended in town) and to a one-room school house (it was the Johnson school, similar to a school that Laura taught in). There were several other outbuildings to explore (sod house, barn for the animals) but the highlight of the day was when Bay and Leah each got to ride one of the other horses they have on the property. Bay asked if he could ride the quarterhorse named Misty, and the gentleman who owns the Homestead kindly got Bay situated and taught him how to ride and steer the horse (you can tell how much I know about horses!). Bay was riding the horse completely by himself around the property for about 20 minutes! In the meantime, the wife who owns the place got Leah on their little pot-bellied pony named Star, and Leah took a little pony ride around. It really was quite incredible that they each got this opportunity-they were super excited about the whole thing!

Once we were done with the tour, we continued to explore around-Dennis and Eric took a bike ride all around the property, we ate some dinner, Dennis washed the RV and the kids played on the small playground and went up and down the 3 story observation tower. The breeze blowing across the prairie was incredible for most of the afternoon and evening-it was about a steady 20-30 knot wind, blowing west to east.

This has been a fabulous stop-one side trip we are certainly glad we took-the plains here are so quiet, relaxing and just such a different perspective on God’s creation that we have never before experienced. We are so thankful to have been able to see this corner of the country!

 Waking up at the rest area with the other truckers in the background

Arriving at the Homestead-there were some really looong and bumpy dirt roads you had to drive on before getting there!

 Eric's token tourist shirt photo

 An old fashioned merry-go-round right behind our campsite at the top of the hill provided plenty of entertainment

 Eric in a sled like Almanzo took Laura sledding in on Sundays

 Bay and Leah walking out to the covered wagon after visiting the church on the property

Bay driving the horses. The way to get the horses to move? "Ever kissed a girl?" the interpreters asked.

 In the Johnson school house-not the same one Laura taught in, but very similar and from a claim not too far away

 Leah would only drive the wagon if I sat next to her. Of course I obliged!

 Bay getting set up to ride on Misty. He was so excited!

 Leah riding the little pot-bellied pony named Star. The pony was not too thrilled about taking Leah for a ride-I think we were interrupting her snack time!

 I know this is a horribly blurry shot, but it so captures Bay's enthusiasm as he rides Misty back from the field completely by himself. He couldn't have been happier!

 Eric holding the little black kitten that became our friend. It almost came with us on the rest of our trip!

 The view from the observation tower, looking down at the campsites. It is hard to tell, but the campsites were at the very top of the hill on the Homestead, looking out over all the prairie.

 The view from the observation tower down at the animal barn with sod roof on the left, the little claim house in the middle, and a new barn on the right where the wagon team and other horses are now kept.

This picture is specifically for Gramps. We think Gramps' obsession with cleaning his boat while out on a sailing cruise has rubbed off on Dennis. Taking the opportunity to get the RV clean while camped on a grassy hillside was too much to pass up!