Jul 19, 2013, 10:27 AM
Well it was bound to happen, we had our first negative experience at a campground, and really there was no reason for it to be a negative experience, but that was how it turned out. We got into Sioux Falls on Wednesday. We had a reservation at Tower Campground right off the highway on 12th. We found this campground on the Good Sam website. They also take Passport America, but not at this time of the year, so we at least got our 10% off and God knows every little bit helps. There was a really nice lady that checked us in, she showed us to our site. She asked if we had plywood to put under the jacks, she said they could bring some if we didn't but they would rather we use it so the blacktop didn't get dug up. Steve was fine with that, so on his hands and knees he crawled under the RV on the hot blacktop to place plywood down so as not to ruin their paving. We didn't do much on Wednesday night after getting all hooked up but eat dinner, couch potatoed in front of the TV for a while, and go to bed. We had a big day planned for Thursday, it was a zoo day for God sake.
Poor Steve his back was giving him some trouble, yet he soldiered on with all of our plans. The campground was mowing Wednesday when we got there and I did notice that they were really close to the RV, but what are you going to do about it. They have to mow the grass, completely understand. Wednesday night after dinner I went out to get something from a compartment and realized there were grass clippings plastered on the side of the RV. Knowing that Steve's back was bothering him and there was nothing to be done about it now, I just kept my mouth shut. No sense on upsetting the man, he'd just wiped down the RV at the last stop because it was looking pretty road weary after he had spent all that time washing and waxing it before we left. When we got in from our day of zoo and sightseeing Thursday, Steve went out to get the process of disconnecting started. He likes to put the awnings on the side up, close valves, open valves, push buttons, I have no earthly idea what all the man does, but he putters. Well he came flying in madder than a wet hen, the whole side of the RV was splashed with mud. I guess the campground had been watering the grass and the water must have been puddling, and there was dirt, and the dirt became mud, and the mud flew, and well you can guess what happened next. The hoses and cables were all muddy, the side of the RV was muddy, and Steve was pissed. He wanted to march over right then and there and yank somebody's head out of their ass, but the office was closed.
This morning after we were all hooked up and ready to go we drove up to the office. There was a guy there talking to another couple, the guy says to Steve, "Let me guess you can't connect to the wifi." Steve said to the guy, "we'll no we haven't been able to, but that's not why I'm here." With that he tells the guy he'd just gotten done cleaning the RV only to come home last night and find it all muddy and he had to clean it again. Steve shows the guy the pictures and the guy really is taking a nonchalant attitude. If the man had said something like I'm so sorry, I can assure you we will get to the bottom of this and make sure it doesn't happen again, something like that would have mollified Steve and that would have been the end of it, the mad had worn down to just annoyed by now and I wouldn't have been surprised if he had just said forget it about bitching this morning, but the guy copped an attitude. He leaned back in his chair and he said, and you will note that I'm quoting here said, "how did that happen, we'll what do you want me to do about it?" I thought Steve was going to go across the counter. Steve said to the guy, well you tell me how it happened, what are you going to do, and the guy said, no you tell me what you want me to do. This was going nowhere fast and Steve was getting hotter. Steve said I think you should give us our money back for one night, and I said to the guy that would be no different than the Passport America rate. Steve said to the guy you want me to take care of your property with the plywood and all, and you ask us to give you good reviews. Now I was going back and forth between the counter and the door to make sure nobody was behind the RV trying to get out around us, when the guy says well I don't appreciate having the Passport America thrown at me. I actually had to recap in my mind what I'd said, was he talking about what I said or what Steve said about giving them bad reviews? So I tell the guy I wasn't being derogatory about the Passport America rate and he cuts me off saying people are always throwing that in our face about Passport America. Steve get right in there telling the guy "let her finish, let HER finish." We were going nowhere fast AGAIN, so we left. So if you or anyone you know are ever in the Sioux Falls area camping, cross Tower Campground off your list. It isn't worth the trouble.
Ok now I have vented, it was so stupid and a little common courtesy and customer service could have taken an annoyance and turned it into a positive. Anyway, then we go down the road and we get one hell of a giggle, Steve sees a billboard for a truck stop that touted 24 hour "toe" service, damn had I only known I could have had a pedicure!! Shoot!!!!! Wait a minute, do I really want a pedicure at a truck stop? I'm going to give that one some thought.
Jul 19, 2013, 12:45 PM
The GPS announced a steep downgrade ahead and as we crested a hill the view was beautiful. Laid out in front of us was a beautiful lake. There were bridges to the left and right of the road we were on and as we got closer a sign announced we were crossing the Missouri River. It was a lake that the river runs through in a valley. It was so pretty. We are driving among rolling hills left and right. There aren't many trees so you really get a feel for how bumpy it is right here.
We keep seeing billboards for Wall Drug some of them say it's been in business since 1931, other billboards say it has been featured on GMA, Today Show, People Magazine, we even saw one that said it was a National Treasure, some of the billboards run down their wares, leather goods, fishing equipment, rock hound equipment, camping supplies, fresh baked donuts, etc. We are going to have to check this place out. We started seeing signs at 300+ miles away. It must be some place.
With all the rolling hills, in the distance I can see mountains. It makes for such a lovely landscape. Bundles of hay, fields of corn, rolling hills dotted with farm houses and mountains as a backdrop, just gorgeous. The road ahead of us ripples in front of us like bacon in a hot frying pan, up and down, up and down.
Jul 19, 2013, 1:09 PM (mountain time)
We have just crossed over into the Mountain Time Zone. Every once in awhile I get a glimpse to the south and it is breath taking. The rolling hills dotted with bailed hay and the etched terrain beyond. The mountains are flattened and you can see the colors of the desert in the stone. The reds and pinks are just visible. It is so vast, you can look out over so much land and see almost nothing, just little smatterings of trees, no buildings of any kind. It is amazing.
Jul 19, 2013, 7:10 PM
We got in, got set up, took a breath, then went to Wall Drug. We got in the car, set the GPS for Wall Drug, and started out the driveway of the campground, I glanced to the left, and I could SEE Wall Drug. For God's sake it was not a block away. It was fun, it's one big, huge actually, tourist type store, but it was fun. We had dinner then walked around, Steve got a new hat, Spanky got a new pin. We are home now and we are going to make our plans for tomorrow. I am so looking forward to sightseeing in this area. So you all have a great night and we will let you know how things go tomorrow.
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