Eastern South Dakota
Much like the portion of Minnesota it abuts, eastern South Dakota is very much a part of the rural Midwest. Small farm communities, miles of farmer's fields, and the occasional large to medium sized city fill the land. Sioux Falls is a particularly nice city; I have visited it before.
A look up one of the concrete timbers, and into the framework of one of the icons of the west. Surely you recognize it.
If you see a giant concrete teepee, you know that you must be in South Dakota. many of the rest stops here, particularly those at the state lines, are decorated in this manner. 
Losing some of her shyness, or perhaps the abandon of the moment, Megen lets me take her picture in front of the giant concrete teepee, just inside of South Dakota.
A look across some exposed geology, at the old mill, in the middle of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A look down the stairway leading to the river walk. More park, and pathways are visible on the other side. 
The mill building, and part of the falls are visible from the head of the stairs.
Another shot of the old mill, and of the falls which ran the water wheel.
A look downstream from just behind the lower falls. A walkway leads across the river to the mill building. 
A view of the falls, from one of the observation areas.
A look straight up the lower falls, from down stream a bit.
Sioux Falls, river park.
A look across the park, and over the center of the city.
Part of the river walk, at the bottom of the park.
Looking like a scene taken in New England, or the coast of Mane, one of the mill buildings sits across a river bounded by weathered rock.
What kind of idiot puts a picture of a light pole up on the web? Well, this is a very special light pole, and I am amazed to be able to find the spot, and to find the light pole still here. Nearly twenty five years before this photo was taken, I spent my first night out of state, camped out under this pole. It is located in the city park of Kimball, South Dakota. An athletic field, and some other things have been added, but the park, and the city, remain largely unchanged.
The school at Kimball. This school covers all grades, from elementary, up to high school. There is a pervaisive feeling of community here, and the Kimball Koyotes have a large, and dedicated following. Much of the town life seems to center around the school and the raising of children. I suspect that, as in Adrian and similar small towns, most of the young people can not wait to get out. A few will stay on, but most will go off to college, and then settle in an urban area. They will then spend the rest of their lives nostalgic and misty eyed over the little town were they grew up.
A fitting final picture for this section is of a tractor. This was sitting parked on a side street, more or less in the middle of Kimball. We are very near the Missouri River here. Once the river is crossed, farms give way to ranches, and the warm feel of the Midwest gives way to the flavor of the West.
 
Back to Pipestone Forward to the Missouri River