And then there was Wall Drug and the Corn Palace

That evening we saw our first prairie sunset that was not quite a Michigan sunset over the lake, but nonetheless pretty.  Pooped and hot, we escaped into the A/C to read until our eyelids said "enuf for today"
The next morning, despite the R balking at going to Wall Drug.  We did.  And that is about all I can say about it.  Ice cream was good.  Free ice water!  Silly photos taken to memorialize the stop off marked by more very hot weather, lots of gawkers, shoppers and tchotchkes that we managed to pass on.  Next stop, described by a friend as a nice piece of Americana - The Corn Palace!  A huge venue filled with trivia and old equipment used to harvest and shuck.  But before going in, one HAS to stop and admire the facade of corn made into murals.  The one right now is 2 years old and is being eaten by birds, but they change it every two years to the tune of 180,000.00.  One side of the building even has Willie!  Lots to see inside.  There is a venue that doubles as an auditorium and gymnasium.  Apparently class C and D basketball regionals or something are held here amongst other things (conferences). This day the floor was filled with corn memorabilia.  The R not above collecting more baseball caps secured one for his collection.  I passed on everything.  We killed quite a bit of time and headed to Wisconsin - Madison to see our niece Amy and her family.  We found a nice  KOA for two nights and I met up,with Amy the first night, briefly seeing Bruce, Pete and Helen before they went out for dinner together.  The next night was to be a UofW evening.  We caught up with Pete at the Union where he is working as a youth assistant with the sailing camps and waited for Bruce.  Pete had a rough day with spoiled 15 y/o boys who wouldn't listen were smart asses and on a whole dangerous.  So he had to threaten to call parents before they settled down.  When I asked him if he ever did anything like that he replied "only at home, NEVER in public!".  We indulged in fried cheese curds (appetizer) and beer before venturing outside for more local beer, brats, corn, burger (that would be the R and me) while the others ate sensibly.  Then of course pictures.  Apparently, the U has wonderful,ice cream, so we sauntered over and had to taste a variety of flavors before meandering up,to,the Capital and campus before heading back to their house. BTW! The ice cream was wonderful and pure. We left shortly thereafter, knowing we had a long drive back home.  It was a worthwhile stop along the way and nice to see them as we have missed them in Charlevoix the last few summers.