6/7/21- We left the Badlands campground by 8 and headed directly east for our 385 mile drive to Jackson, Minnesota. I mean, directly east for 300+ miles on I 90!
We started out going through the grasslands and shortly came to a checkpoint… we then realized we were entering an Indian reservation. Reservations have been hit hard by COVID and they take it seriously when you come on their land. They asked where we were going, took our name and asked that we wear a mask if we stop on reservation for any reason. It was beautiful land, spotted with a few communities but mostly green grassland and cattle roaming.
checkpoint 
I don’t know why Kansas is known for being flat, in my opinion, once you pass the rocky views of the badlands, central and eastern South Dakota AND southern Minnesota are just as flat… and beautifully green.
We did have a slight mishap today, hence the word “Pothole” in the title. You know when you come over a bridge or overpass, the road is not level with the concrete on the bridge? Well, I was driving, of course, and came over a bridge with a bang which woke Paul up from his well deserved nap (driving in this crazy wind takes alot out of you). I keep looking in the side mirror for trucks that are passing because they displace a lot of air and “rock the boat”, so to speak. So after the bang across the bridge, I looked back in the mirror and noticed the car peaking out off to the side. My Honda Fit is not supposed to be off to the side!!!! I loudly said “PAUL, I CAN SEE THE CAR!!” “I can see the car, I can see the car!” He was a bit sleepy after being rudely awakened by the bumpy road. He looked in the rear camera and exclaimed, “I can’t see the car!”. I was going 70 mph and quickly slowed to pull over on I-90 where the speed limit is 80. I guess when the car hit the bump, the pin came off and one of the tow bars disconnected. YIKES! Back up cables kept the car attached and the tow bar jammed but Mr. Fixit with his sledge hammer and his toolbox, got it unjammed. We were very fortunate that I noticed it right away and that there was room to pull over and out of traffic. Well, we BOTH drove the 120+ miles to Jackson where Paul was able to get the pin needed to continue on tomorrow. Guardian Angel is watching over us!
Tired and a bit frustrated with the continued wind, bumpy road and thinking what could have happened, we arrived at Fort Belmont, our Harvest Host for the night.
Ken kept the doors of the Fort open for us and was so passionate and informative about the place we were about to tour. There was a museum of donated items that the “American Pickers” show would have LOVED to see. A Model-T and other rare cars that still ran, old typewriters, canoes made by had from a single log, rare player pianos and juke boxes among other items telling of the Fort’s history.
Apparently there was a renegade Sioux Indian and his followers that massacred hundreds of settlers in the area. The settlers had to defend themselves since the government troops were busy with the civil war so they built the fort and made a homestead. Eleven families lived in the tiny house with the fence around it and when there was an imminent attack (seen by the lookout in the tower), the neighbors would come in as well, having 40-50 people in this tiny structure. They were not attacked again after the fort was built. Many of the buildings were moved to this location to preserve the history of the area.
Fort Belmont 
lookout tower 
1902 church 
This trip has been a lesson on the history of our country and the appreciation of those that preserve it with a passion. ❤
4483 total miles driven. Headed to Wisconsin for 2 nights 😊