Sioux Falls, South Dakota

September 7, 2023 – Sioux Falls, South Dakota

 

Unusual for a Hilton Hotel, but the Doubletree in Deadwood did not offer the usual complimentary breakfast, so they gave us chocolate chip cookies as a consolation prize.  We guess this is because the hotel is really a part of Cadillac Jack Casino, not a free-standing hotel.  Another example: Right next to the hotel check-in, in the casino, is a Starbuck’s sign but that didn’t mean it was a Starbuck’s coffee shop.  It was merely a place that sold cellophane-wrapped donuts, candy, etc. and dispensed cups of Starbuck’s coffee.  Ugh!

 

So, on the road toward Sioux Falls, South Dakota (not to be confused with Sioux City, Iowa!), first passing through Sturgis – a nice-looking town that has the dubious distinction of hosting an annual meeting of Harley-Davidson motorcyclists.  Glad we missed that!  The surrounding scenery – The Black Hills – is really lovely; no wonder the Sioux fought so hard.

 

Driving along I-90, past Rapid City (gateway to Mount Rushmore), Wall (home of the world-famous Wall’s Drugstore – we didn’t stop) and Mitchell (home of the Corn Palace, which defies description; look it up).

 

We rolled into Sioux Falls about 2:30 pm and checked in to Homewood Suites (322).  M could not resist the guest laundry, so now we have clean clothes again!  Hurrah!  Lovely new machines, and they actually only cost $1.50 to wash and $1.50 to dry!  Unreal in these expensive days!  

 

Dinners, of late, have been pretty substantial, so we decided to go simple.  M found Noodles & Company, a pretty basic noodle shop.  We took a table and ate in but we could see they do a brisk business with take-out.  The menu features noodles, all kinds of noodles (big surprise) – Asian, Italian, Mac and Cheese, etc.  We went for Asian.  M had Spicy Korean, which was outstanding, and R had Japanese with marinated steak, which was excellent (but not as excellent as M’s).  M then followed up with frozen yogurt, available at a shop just down the strip mall from Noodles!  For the first time in quite literally years (I think since Kona Berri closed!) M was able to find Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel, and it was wonderful!  Lovely dessert after a really exceptional meal of spicy noodles!!  

 

Back to the hotel, where R had a bit of Caltech work to do.

 

The only difficulty was that not only was the first NFL football game of the season available to us on Peacock(Lions actually won!!  Beat the Chiefs 21-20!!) but the women’s semifinals of the U.S. Open were being played!  Coco Gauff defeated Muchova but Madison Keyes, after a brilliant first set over Areya Sabalenka, managed to lose in three sets; so sad…but that kept me up until after 11, and R up until who knows when!!




Fabulous noodles for dinner!


 

 

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