The rest of our Journey home (We arrived!!)

Day 3 (Thursday):  Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Badlands NP and a flat-tire

• We started the day at Mount Rushmore National Monument.  There was a great tour/explanation in the sculpture studio about how the rock was actually carved.  Over 90% of the carving was done using dynamite.
• Filled up with gas (very good move) and drove the scenic route down Needles Highway around Custer State Park.  This trip was longer than expected but we saw some amazing rock structures, prairie dogs, pronghorn deer, goats, mules and buffalo.  
• After 3-4 hours of scenic driving around Custer State park we drove backroads to Badlands National Park.  The map we were using was a bit deceiving as many of these roads are gravel.... and LONG.  
• We drove all around Badlands National Park.  I was struck with how similar it looked to Painted Desert in Arizona - opposite sides of the Country and similar geology.  
• When we were leaving the Badlands and Chelsey noticed that the driver side, front tire was going flat.  I could hear the air leaking out.  No surprise as half the day's roads were gravel.  Upon closer inspection, the hole was big enough for me to put my finger in.  I put the spare tire on and we creeped up the road at 50 MPH looking for a service station.  We were informed that there were two service stations - one 20 miles to the West and one 20 miles to the East.  We took the bet and headed East as it was in our direction.
• We arrived in Kadoka, South Dakota around 9:00 PM, found a hotel and asked the clerk for a place to eat.  He informed us of two options in town:  the bar on one side of town or that shack on the other side of the interstate.  The shack had a great Cheeseburger.  

Day 4 (Friday):  Flat-tire repair and driving

• At 7:30 AM I went to JS mechanic shop in Kadoka, South Dakota.  They immediately confirmed my fear - there was no patching the tire.  I asked them if they had a new tire for me to replace it.... they started searching the used stacks.  They did not have any tires.  I got into a discussion with the owner of the shop and asked him if he had any suggestions.  After a get to know you conversation (I think he was sizing me up) and a conversation about the virtue of patience (complete with stories of past impatient customers from New York City), I explained that we were missionaries returning home.  This changed the conversation.  The owner had gone to Bible College in West Virginia.  He wanted to know where we had been so I told him about Paraguay.   He would have been helpful without knowing our story but he was really helpful after knowing it...  he said there were two more service shops - one 100 miles East and another 40 miles West.  They called around and the shop 40 miles West had the tire.  No luck with the store 100 miles East.  He also offered to have someone else bring a tire in from Rapid City if we were willing to wait until 12:00 or 1:00 that afternoon.  We decided to backtrack to Wall (40 miles West).
• Wall, home of Wall Drug Store, is also home to one repair shop (De's Tire & Muffler) who luckily had a pair of front tires for our car.  DISCLAIMER:  Both tire guys said the puncture would have happened with brand new tires.  We were not delinquent in our tire maintenance.  We went and enjoyed a quick breakfast at Wall Drug Store while they replaced our front tires.  Chelsey rode the rabbit at Wall Drug Store and we went back to pick up the car.  
• We got on the road about 11:30 AM - about 19 hours from Eminence.
• South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa are covered with windmills (and not much else).  Did you know that a farmer gets paid $2,000-$4,000 per windmill that they let the electrical company put on their land per year?   

Day 5 (Saturday):  Driving and arrival

• We started the day about 7:30 AM with almost 9:00 hours to drive.
• We re-entered the Kentucky a little after 5:00 PM.  Feels great to be in the Commonwealth.  
• Little Bit was really happy to see us (we have a video that I am going to post).  We had a nice, casual dinner with my family.

Sunday:

• Went to Mass this morning with mom.
• This afternoon, Mom and Dad threw a really nice welcome back get-together today and we got to visit with family and friends.  It was great to catch up with everyone and to share a bit of our experience.  Thanks to everyone who made the long trip to spend the day with us.  

Total Mileage: 2.400 miles in about 40 hours

Coming Week:  Many of you will be hearing from (or seeing) us this week.  Tomorrow we will be looking at our apartment for the first time (yes, we rented an apartment without seeing it).

More reflection to come on Paraguay (as soon as we settle a bit).