30 Aug - Sioux Falls Park, Dinner with the Thornell's and the Uthe's

30 Aug
Today we drove into Sioux Falls so I could show Doreen the Falls Park.

Yes, there is a falls in Sioux Falls and it is pretty cool!  I have been here a few times on military duty and have ran through this park back in my running days.  The park is located north of downtown Sioux Falls. It covers 123 acres and an average of 7,400 gallons of water drops 100 feet over the course of the Falls each second. Features include a visitor information center and observation tower, Falls Overlook Cafe, the Queen Bee Mill, several permanent sculptures and an open air shelter.  Here are several photos:

The railroad bridge passes over one portion of the falls

Beautiful falls over the rocks

You can walk on these rocks right up to the water's edge

Beautiful

Remnants of the old Queen Bee Mill. "The mill opened in late 1881, and consisted of a seven-story main structure built of Sioux quartzite quarried on site. Nearly $500,000 was spent on the construction of the state-of-the-art mill and its supporting structures. The mill could process 1,500 bushels each day. However, by 1883, the mill was closed — a victim of inadequate water power and a short supply of wheat."

Here is a video of the falls:  The Falls Park in Sioux Falls

After visiting the park we headed to one of our familiar grocery stores from home to restock a bit.  We love Fareway Grocery Store meat and they have a Fareway in Sioux Falls, actually three of them.

We headed back to the campground and then drove north of Sioux Falls near Dell Rapids SD to the home of Joe and Kerry Thornell for dinner.  Joe had invited another Air Guard comrade, Kevin Uthe and his wife Barb.  Joe and Kevin are both retired Air Guard Command Chief Master Sergeants and both live in this area.  Joe had prepared a delicious tri-tips beef barbecue with all the fixin's.  After dinner he gave us a tour around his ranch to include his new RV storage building and their fantastic garden!  Joe and Kerry made it down to my retirement ceremony about two years ago, but I had not seen Kevin since I retired so I gave him one of my coins.

We finished up with fruit dessert and a group picture taken by their neighbor.

It was fantastic to reconnect with these guys and catch up a bit.  Joe and Kerry hope to buy a fifth wheel in the next few years and take off cross-country as we have.  It will be great to meet up with them at a campground!

Tomorrow we will enjoy Lake Vermillion and also make preparations to head north and east through North Dakota and into Minnesota on Friday.