We left Huron and continued on US14 to Pierre, the capital of South Dakota. Just north of Pierre is Lake Oahu which is an earth dam across the Missouri. It was built in the same era and similar way to Lake Eildon in Victoria, but is several times the capacity for storage and power generation with a shoreline of over 3,500 km compared to Eildon with less than 600 km when full. The dam extends to Bismark in North Dakota so effectively connects the two state's capit...

Today we had to bid farewell to our Minneapolis hosts, Larry & Sue. We have been very lucky to have enjoyed such good weather, great company and fitted in wonderful entertainment and sight seeing each day. It was hard to say good-bye. And so the car journey began; via St. Peter and New Ulm to Walnut Grove, and then to De Smet, finishing at Huron South Dakota. From New Ulm, we followed the Laura Ingalls Wilder Highway across Minnesota and South Dakota. If th...

We spent the morning walking along the Mississippi trails and viewing the city from the river bank. There are a number of historical markers, buildings and structures along the river associated with two cultural histories - native american and early european settlers. The following extract is from http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=413 As the centerpiece of the revitalization of Minneapolis' historic West Side Milling District, Mill...

Today we hired a pontoon and spent some hours lazily cruising and sightseeing on Lake Minnetonka. It's a big lake (around 7,000 hectares) but seems even bigger because it is a series of bays and inlets giving it a shoreline of over 160 km.There is a lot of capital tied up in real estate around the shore front. There are mansions everywhere - you wouldn't measure them in square metres but more like using light years instead of kilometers. Some would be over 200 me...

Today we followed the Minnehaha parkway around Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriott to the Minnehaha Falls Park. Walked down past the Minnehaha falls (see photo) and along the Minnehaha creek to where it meets the Mississippi (see photo). Drove to the Mall of America to give Maureen a shopping experience. Then it was a trip to the Purgarory Creek Prairie Park where a natural prairie has been reestablished in Minneapolis. Tea at a nice Italian restaurant in Minnetonka....