20 July, 2010 - South Dakota border to Mandan, ND

Continuing north, the river was really more of a lake, so there really isn't too much to say.
 
The surrounding countryside seemed to be used for cattle grazing or farming but in either case was undeveloped. 
 
 
 
 
 
Interstate 90 crosses the Missouri River at Chamberlain, SD. 
 
 
A big circle of corn alongside the river.
 
 
 
 
I was getting hungry and needed some gas so I stopped in at Pierre Regional Airport in South Dakota.
 
I borrowed the courtesy car for a short drive to a nearby mall where I had some pizza at "Gators".  I asked the guy at the restaurant if there were many alligators in South Dakota.  He said the restaurant had used to be called Godfather's Pizza and the current owner chose the name Gators because he could use letters from the Godfathers sign! 
 
Just north of Pierre was this big dam, followed by Lake Oahe which is the fourth-largest reservoir in the U.S.  The Lake extends nearly as far north as Mandan and Bismarck, North Dakota.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
A bridge over the lake in the middle of nowhere.  The nearest town -- Gettysburg, no relation -- is about 10 miles to the east. 
 

The bridges at Mobridge.  Seriously, the nearby town is named Mobridge. 

Get it?  MO Bridge.  Missouri Bridge

 
 
 
 
 
Bismarck, the state capital of North Dakota is on the right side of the picture, on the east side of the river.  Mandan, not seen, is on the west side. 
 
Yesterday, I flew late in the day, so today I decided on a new strategy.  I'd cease flying relatively early -- 5PM -- so I''d have time to relax, get a good dinner, and a good night's sleep for tomorrow's flying.   I decided to stop at Mandan.
 
Mandan was where the Lewis and Clark expedition wintered during the first year of their journey.
 
There wasn't anyone at the FBO office when I landed, but they had pilot's briefing room with computer, plus the all important courtesy car keys.   The plane was covered with dirt spots from the previous nights rain and bugs from today's flight, so I literally washed the plane with my spray bottle and microfiber towel. 
 
I drove into the town of Mandan, found another inexpensive strip motel, and had a good dinner at a Dakota Farms restaurant. 
 
 
 
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