On the way to Chamberlain, SD August 24, 2010

It rained overnight, but the clouds blew out and it became a beautiful, windy, cool day. The crop duster was out early, sweeping low over the nearby fields. We headed out and over the course of the day in Minnesota, we saw hundreds of windmills in a number of windfarms along the way. The windmills loom up over the cornfields. Once we crossed into South Dakota, they disappeared. The tax structure must be different in each state.

The wind continued to blow and got stronger as the day went on. We passed mile upon mile of sunflowers along the highway and they danced in the wind. Monarch butterflies were everywhere, heading south. Signs along the road tout the Corn Palace(they took down their "cute" signs, i.e. aw shucks, just stop) and Wall Drug. The goldenrod is already blooming here.

We ended the day at the rest stop and overlook of the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark stopped here on their way to the Pacific as well as on their way home. Betsy reminded me on my last stop here two years ago, that Laura Ingalls Wilder described crossing the Missouri here with her family. Perhaps it is because my ancestors once lived in South Dakota that I am drawn to the place. It feels very comfortable.