A nice ride through agricultural areas including wheat fields. I think there was a big wheat harvest recently so these fields are not as prominent as other crops. In addition I came past soy beans, corn and sunflower fields.

I am on a route I also bicycled in July 2018. On that ride the wheat harvest was in full swing, so that helps me recognize fields where the wheat was already harvested. Having a somewhat recent ride also reminded me of the route.

I started the day with a climb. Up city streets in Pierre and then on to US 83 / US 14 headed to the north east. The first sixteen miles had a wide smooth shoulder. Once I left the city, it was all agricultural areas until Gettysburg at the end.

Just before the point US 83 and US 14 split there was a mile of road construction. The lanes were narrow and no shoulder. I stopped a few times to let traffic pass.

Hilltop truck stop and my first break for the day.

The next forty miles I was on a concrete road with a small shoulder. There were rumble strips in the shoulder. Fortunately, there wasn’t much traffic so I could watch my mirror and anticipate it. Most cars and trucks have me a wide berth.

Good place to park your tractors

Sunflowers

Fields of grain

Onida has an ethanol plant. In 2018 they were building it. One month ago there was an explosion – https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/2023/07/11/onida-ethanol-plant-explosion-still-no-answers/

Many spots with these small silos.

Agar has a population of 96. In 1977 they won the state track championship

Wheat on the left, corn on the right

Not quite sure what these small huts are for, calves? They are separated from each other and I didn’t see anything inside them.

Where the battle wasn’t.

Gettysburg is five miles east of US 83. A small town of ~1100 with sidewalks and lawns. Also two motels. Overall a nice ride today following 83 north.

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