Hello! It’s me.

So this was an interesting day.

We began in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and immediately “thundered” across the bottom of the state.

Before you knew it, we were in Dakota … South Dakota. An hour after arriving in Dakota … South Dakota, we checked out the greatest of all tourist attractions … the Corn Palace!

Seconds into our visit, I actively ignored the “corny” depiction of Elvis and was on the lookout for threats. For instance, what is this threat? Is it …

1. Real.
2. Perceived.
3. Rusted Metal.
4. Chupacabra.

Easy pickin’s, don’t you think?

But then I decided to desecrate this threat. Do you know what threat this is?

1. Real.
2. Perceived.
3. Rusted Metal.
4. Chupa”cob”ra.

Yes, that’s “Chupa’cob’ra”. And once you desecrate Chupacobra, you’re in for a world of hurt.

I tried to make nice with a big Chupacobra.

I thought things were fine. I let my guard down for just a moment …

That’s when Dad said, “I think that’s a storm off in the distance.”

Peering through the ample array of bug smearings, I quickly deduced that this was no ordinary storm … no it wasn’t … this was the WRATH OF CHUPACOBRA!

The “wrath” enveloped our vehicle.

There would be no escaping the WRATH OF CHUPACOBRA. Lightning, thunder, and sixty mile per hour cross-winds accompanied heavy rain. We were paying the price.

Because I piddled on a Chupacobra, the Chupacobra mercilessly piddled on thousands of travelers in Western South Dakota.

Our twenty minutes of terror at the hands of an angry Chupacobra finally ended, a thorough punishment for a minor desecration.

And then, the angry Chupacobra proved benevolent … providing a peace offering … a double rainbow.

The Chupacobra pronounced that she would never, ever, flood weary travelers again.

We finally snuck out of our rig, and surveyed the landscape.

We ended our unending descent into stormy punishment with a custard-based treat … I got to feast on a pup-cup.

My advice to you? Do not ever do anything to tick-off the fabled “Chupa’cob’ra”. She presents a serious threat that must be heeded, not tinkled upon.

Our day ended in Gillette, Wyoming. Yup, we left Southeast Wisconsin late Sunday afternoon, and are already in Wyoming as of Monday evening.

Our hostess at the LaQuinta in Gillette says that Gillette is the Energy Capital of the United States. She may be right. We were full of energy after a harrowing day in the Great Plains.