Wednesday Ramblings

The weather yesterday was great for almost Thanksgiving. Clear, blue, and in the afternoon I could drive with my windows part way down. I had to drive into north central Nebraska on an errand, and came back across the northern part of Nebraska before I crossed back into South Dakota. Ahhh--I love to road trip! I stopped and checked out places I had only heard of or driven past before.

This picture is in the middle of the Fort Randall Dam at Pickstown SD--looking north at Lake Francis Case. Yes, not much traffic and me stopping along the road, well, no one even drove past as I took pictures.
You can see the lake level is down, there hasn't been as much snow runoff in Montana and on down the Missouri River to raise the river since the big snows of '97-98.
This is above the old Fort Randall Military post. There are many historic markers, and the remains of the original church. Sorry it's not clearer, but I was way above it climbing the river hills. There is a cemetery from the 1860's and earlier time period, I have walked through it and wondering about how their lives were. I was so interested I read the book on it! One spring day I walked the grounds of the entire military post, there are markers describing where all the buildings were and what they were used for.
I crossed over into Nebraska and the Niobrara River. No, that's not ice, that's sand! The Niobrara River carries huge amounts of sand and deposits in the Lewis and Clark Lake--right now about the upper five miles of lake have huge marshes with sand bars. Without the dams to control flooding and produce electricity, the sand would have been flushed downstream or deposited where the river widened and flooded. It's a catch 22, flooding or silt. There are many different agencies studying how to deal with it.


And just a little ways down the road I came across this group--wild turkeys!

There is a fairly new bridge to cross the Missouri River between Nebraska and South Dakota, I took the cow path underneath to get this picture. It is the Chief Standing Bear Memorial Bridge. You can read about him here.

I passed through several small towns, and laughed at this! Yes, it was right along the highway and it was padlocked, I don't think it's been used for a LONG time!

When I passed this sign, I thought it was a mistake, and turned around to check. I filled my little car while I was there. No mistake, that is what gas cost Tuesday at Santee Nebraska.

I drove past two beautiful Nebraska State Parks, and all the Missouri River along here is a National Park. Very scenic, I explored the summer vacation homes area, all the dips and twists. Then I got back to the Lewis and Clark Visitors Center above Gavin's Point Dam. This is where I volunteer in the summer. I see this view every day I'm there, it's beautiful. I stopped in to visit, I miss everyone!

After this is just 60 miles back home. I wasn't quilty, but I had fun!!