Last week we were lucky to take a vacation. Traditionally, the guys (my husband, dad, brother, and friends) have headed to South Dakota in March for Snow Goose hunting, but the last three years they haven't been able to make it so they were very excited to go this time. This year, my brother was unable to make it as he was moving. We got to see him on our first and last legs of the trip but otherwise it was just my dad, husband and I (and the dogs of course). I got to be the driver once we got to South Dakota, which was quite fun (they like to drive fast in South Dakota, and so do I, and you can see for miles and miles). My job description also included bird spotter, tracker, sometimes dog handler, random fact looker upper (as the only one with a smartphone) and photographer. Also gained some new skills including being able to definitively identify different types of birds in swarms at great distances. While the guys were out of the truck chasing geese I got to enjoy walking around the farmland snapping photos. I decided that I would love to be able to travel around and just take raw pictures of life in small town USA. Wouldn't that be a joy? It would be really delightful if you could get paid to do so. What a nice week it was! Here's a photo journey through our trip:
Day 1: Home to Bozeman:
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| Aria |
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| In Bozeman |
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| Heading out of Bozeman |
Day 2: Mitchell to Huron
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| Brandy wanting to be out with the guys |
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| Excited puppies who just want to GO! |
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| Bible Museum across from the Corn Palace in Mitchell. It was closed so we didn't get to go in. |
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| Corn Palace in Mitchell |
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| The original Corn Palace |
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| The second Corn Palace |
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| Inside the arena/auditorium at the Corn Palace |
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| Sunset |
Day 3: Huron to Aberdeen
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| Frozen lake |
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| Tiny roadside chapel |
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| Always open for travelers |
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| But very small |
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| Those are all geese. Even the ones that look like spots. There were MILLIONS of them! |
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| Brandy & Aria watching the geese |
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| More geese |
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| Storm clouds |
Day 4: Aberdeen back to Huron
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| Storm coming in |
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| Day 3 |
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| Day 3 |
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| Old farm in the middle of a frozen lake |
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| Geese across the street from the abandoned farm |
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| Abandoned farm |
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| Remnants of the past |
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| Flooded fields |
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| Storm moving in |
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| Guys, dogs, and their geese |
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| Fetch training with the dogs so Aria can learn to retrieve geese |
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| Almost as big as she is! |
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| Cleaning time |
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| More fetch |
Day 5: Huron to Mobridge, and then on to Miles City, MT
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| Sunrise |
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| More sunrise (I had lots of coffee this morning!) |
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| Cathedral of the Prairie |
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| Side of the Cathedral |
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| And the back, it was huge |
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| More birds |
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| Birds against the sun |
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| A Wildlife production area |
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| Discussing where to head next |
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| Flying V |
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| My view most of the trip |
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| Look at those swarms of birds! |
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| Hunting spot the last afternoon |
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| Clouds on the prairie |
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| Birds and blue skies |
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| Prairie sky |
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| Moving a house down the street. |
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| A country road |
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| The guys heading back |
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| Aria |
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| Brandy |
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| Sun through the clouds |
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| Evening storm building |
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| Sunset, birds, and the hunting hummock |
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| Old Windmill |
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| Sunset |
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| Sunset swarm |
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| Look mom, I got a goose! |
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| Last sunset |
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| Brandy watching geese |
Day 6: Miles City to Bozeman
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| Miles City, we awoke to 2" of snow. The moment when you realize your choice of footwear (sandals, it is spring after all) is inappropriate, and how much you've grown, at least for the moment, when you reluctantly trade them out for snow boots instead of forging through the snow in sandals. |
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| The first Cabela's we stopped at, in Billings on the way home |
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| Heading into Bozeman for our last night on the road |
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