July 6, 2016 – Pierre, SD North to Bismarck, ND

Leaving Pierre, we resumed our journey on US Route 83 is the fifth longest north-south highway in the country, running 1,885 miles from Brownsville, TX on the Mexican border to the Canadian border, just north of West Hope, North Dakota. 

While in general a good road to drive, its scenic attractions include fields on hay and corn

Corn, Hay and Canola, US-83, North of Pierre, SD - 2106-07-06

Old Barn and Bales Hay, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

occasional herds of grazing Angus cattle and dotted with silos and grain elevators.

Banks of Silos and Hay Fields, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Silos and Grain Elevators, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

During the nearly 200 miles on US-83

Telephone Poles (a), US-83, North of Pierre, SD - 2106-07-06

there were times when we could drive for miles and see few, if any, other vehicles.

US-83 (b), North of Pierre, SD - 2016-07-06

US-83 (c), North of Pierre, SD - 2016-07-06

Most of the side roads were even less traveled, and most gravel.

Telephone Poles, just off US-83, North of Pierre, SD - 2106-07-06

The few towns we passed through were small and their populations reflected the dearth of stores and even schools.

Mound City (Population 71), US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

While there were many large grain trucks along the route, we also had to share the road with vehicles common to farm country.

Tractor Headed Our Way, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Farm Equipment Headed Our Way, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Loaded Hay Truck, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Other sites of interest … as they evoke musings about the people who lived in and used these now decaying buildings.

Old House, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Old Red Barn in Need of Painting, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Decaying Home on Plains, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Abandoned Home, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Collapsing Shed, US-83, South-Central ND - 2016-07-06

Collapsed Barn, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Silo flanked by New and Old Barns, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

 After entering

Welcome to North Dakota, US-83 - 2016-07-06

We began to notice fields ablaze with Canola

Canola, US-83, South-Central ND - 2016-07-06

And others accented with blue flaxen flowers .

Flax and Hay, US-83, North of Pierre, Sd - 2106-07-06

Debbie also spotted a pair of white pelicans,

White Pelicans, US-83, South-Central ND - 2016-07-06

Several windpower driven water well pumps,

Wind Mill Pump, US-83, South Central, ND - 2016-07-06

and a patriotically painted wooden pallet

Red, White and Blue Painted Pallet, US-83, North Dakota - 2106-07-06

Tonight, while it’s been raining for several hours, it appears we’ve dogged another weather bullet as the projected 60-70 MPH heavy winds have not materialized … thankfully!

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