From Pierre South
Dakota
To Chamberlain South
Dakota
Total Distance
Traveled: 100 miles
I awoke this morning with a sunrise view out to the Missouri River.
This spot is claimed to be one of the places where Louis and Clark stopped on their exploration of this river system. It is an incredible feeling to look out upon a river and imagine that this would be the same scene that they would have looked upon and maybe even have written about in their reports. In the semi darkness of dawn the modern world it hidden and I can almost imagine the wilderness around me as they would have experienced it.
After breakfast and breaking camp I started exploring Pierre. My first stop was a hill top view to the Missouri river and the distant view to the west
In Pierre I explored the government state building,
...and the nearby statue of the "Fighting Stallions" and a lovely hike around the lake.
Then I headed to the
water front parks for a view of the river and a historic site, the original 1 room school house
My next stop was just west of Pierre to see the view from the Oahe Dam.
Then
I started the drive south along the Missouri river. For the next few days I will basically be following a section of the "Lewis and Clark Trail"
I started traveling on the south side of the Missouri River on Road
1806. This was an amazing drive with some spectacular views to the river. I loved
the scenery, the odd old abandoned building and the way from the tops of hills you can see the panorama of the river spread out below.
A large part of the drive was through reservation lands with well cared for beautiful farms. I know very little about these things so I was wondering how they are managed? Are the lands managed as a tribal community project or are parcels owned by individuals?
Near Lower
Brule is where this particular parcel of Native American land ends. Just past this town I had
to leave the quiet byways and return to the interstate, I-90 for a bit.
At Chamberlain the interstate crossed the Missouri River. The size of this river is well appreciated when you see the size of the bridges crossing it.
By this time it was late afternoon and I decided to stop here for the night. I used my evening time to post a travel blog even though I have no illusion that I will remain current while traveling.
In Pierre I explored the government state building,
