Leaving the river

We've made it about 17 miles along the gravel road and now stand at the crossroads of 300 Ave and 155 St. Follow the sign right in the direction of the "Lewis ans Clark Trail" and we backtrack, but choose left and I'll be making a decisive move to bypass Pierre. Hmmmmmm. That's okay. I'm not real eager to go through bigger cities, and going back west would just feel wrong. So that's it then! Onward toward highway 212, Gettysburg (SD) and ultimately, the Atlantic.

Getting off the dirt road and onto the newly resurfaced 83 is nice. Smooth sailing with Buddy now in the boat. Just a few miles outside of town we're stopped by a police officer (as it happens frequently) who's responding to a call that a baby's being pushed alongside the highway. Well, he quickly realizes that the "baby" is a dog.

Officer Bill is quite friendly and, after running my ID, gives me a large Pepsi for the journey. He also lets me know where to find a good camping spot in the town. Such information is invaluable when arriving late in a new place. The officer's directions bring us to the city park where several lovely spots are available for camping, and there's even hot running water in the restrooms. Jackpot! I'm considering staying an extra day.