Blogs from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States, North America

It was a real treat not to have to navigate my way out of some large metro center yesterday, I was on the right highway as soon as I drove out of the motel parking lot. Most excellent riding conditions all day, sunny, not too windy, desolated interstates. It blows my mind how much of America you can drive on deserted roads devoid of traffic. I think I only encountered traffic on the order of a Whitemud Drive or Deerfoot a couple of times, and those were right outside of major centers. Leaving Burlington, IA headed westbound I stopped for lunch in the town of Ottumwa, home to the television character of…………………..do you know whom?(answer later). I had to pickle my way a bit until I could get onto the Interstate, but once there average speed ... read more

We headed eastward from Mount Rushmore South Dakota thought the Badlands where we spent the night. Leaving Mt Rushmore area we had some trouble with our windshield wipers cammed all the way over and were not working. We stopped in Rapid city at a “ Damon Dealer” and some old guy ( about 75 ) came out and re-adjusted them and tightened the bolts….problem solved we thought (more about that later) we then headed to a roadside stop called Wall Drug Store. It started back in 1931 with road signs promising free ice water for thirsty travelers and has grown into a “monumental”, Western mall of shops, restaurants and entertainment. In the summer it boasts that 20,000 travelers a day stop there….it still has free ice water and coffee for 5 cents. It is a place ... read more

The Countdown to Cambodia has begun. We're flying out from Minneapolis on June 2nd, leaving us 11 days left in this country. Thursday, we said goodbye to Daron's parents in Ann Arbor and traveled to my family's home in South Dakota. The next 1.5 weeks will be spent hanging out with family and friends, enjoying the good weather (mini-golfing, waterparking, biking), and pigging out on food we'll be missing in Cambodia; terrible stuff - but delicious - like chocolate chip cookies, hint of lime chips, cheeseburgers, etc, etc. Next post will be from our new home: Phnom Penh, Cambodia! Kirstin... read more

We'll hello everyone, ....or no one. This being my first ever entry in the world of the bloggosphere, I don't exactly expect a huge following but hey, I'm stuck in a hotel room and it seems as good a time as ever to try this out. I guess perhaps I should start out with an introduction as I am hoping to make this blog an ongoing venture. My name is nick and I am a newly turned twenty-six years old. I was born and , mostly, raised right here in "God's Country" USA or South Dakota, for any unfamiliar readers, to parents Hector and Susan, my mother being a South Dakota native and my father hailing from the far away land of Gouchos and Tangos. The two met as they traveled europe during their better years, ... read more

Happy Thanksgiving!! Sorry I have not updated my blog lately. I have been writing, but mostly articles. Here are some of my recent articles that have been published on Associated Content: A Rare and Ancient Treasure in the Oklahoma Mountains url=http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2420646/making_the_most_of_your_european_backpacking.htmlMaking the Most of Your European Backpacking Trip Camper Vans: The Best Vehicles for Road Trips The 5 Best Ways to Spend Your Winter Vacation in the Everglades url=http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2341512/a_fun_gr... read more

I am working and living in Texas right now, teaching prairie ecology at an outdoor education camp to 5th graders from the Dallas area. The prairie is beautiful, but extremely muddy with all the rain we have had over the past month and a half. The wildflowers that bloomed in the late summer and early fall are beginning to fade away, relaced by the colors of the leaves turning on the trees and grasses. The prairie land of the Great Plains used to stretch from here in North Texas, through Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, part of Colorado, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and up into Canada. Only 2% of original prairie land is still in existance today. And of that, an even smaller percentage is a still intact ecosystem. In addition to the 200 or so acres ... read more