10/1 - Hermosa to Salem, SD

Today's drive was the longest we've had in a while (325 miles).  We pushed our luck on fuel and nearly ran out.  With the strong headwinds we had all day, plus towing the RV, our estimated fuel range of 515 had gone down so much that our "get fuel NOW warning" was beeping by the time we found a place to get fuel just 30 miles before our destination.


South Dakota's landscape is split about 60/40 between west and east of the Missouri.  The western section is rolling hills which are mainly grassland/ranches (better for cattle than farming).... 

Last hilly grasslands just west of the Missouri River near Chamberlain

And sections of badlands.....

Northern edge of the badlands east of Rapid City

The Missouri River changes everything....

Missouri River from the I-90 bridge

And after the river you have the eastern section which is flat as a pancake....

Typical eastern South Dakota farmland

Some might find this landscape boring. We have found it to be beautiful and peaceful....when we're not being unduly jostled by the interstate's rough pavement, that is. We love the wide open spaces out here.

Tonight we're in Salem, SD (population around 1,350). It's about 33 miles east of Mitchell (15,000) and 44 miles west of Sioux Falls (165,000). Our campground is one of the nicest we've ever been in. Too bad we're only here for one night....it would be a great place to relax for a while. This picture is the view we have out of our side windows.  

The campground is surrounded by corn fields. The little town of Salem is old....a nice little mid-western town, very neat and clean. It's about the size of my father's hometown of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. There's not much here but they do have a surprisingly well-stocked grocery store. 

Tonight's sunset from Salem, SD....

Clouds to the south over a harvested cornfield

Western skies

Tomorrow we'll travel 285 miles southeast to the little town of Rock Port, in the northwestern corner of Missouri.