By Scott Shephard

Tucked in behind the tree covered, chalky landforms on the left in this photo is the Reva Gap Camp Ground, where Deb and I spent the night recently in our little camper Ozzie. We are on our last camping trip of 2023 and so I am trying to savor the many moments that, if not recognized, blend in to what is often the un-noticed passage of time. So on this morning I flew my drone to capture this particular time and place just after sunrise.

The highway below is South Dakota Highway 20, my favorite road in South Dakota. It is well maintained and not heavily traveled. It stretches from Watertown, all the way across South Dakota. There are mornings when I’ve traveled on this road in the eastern part of our state on the way to Lake Oahe where I haven’t encountered another vehicle for over 2 hours.

In the location shown today, the road has been newly blacktopped and striped, as if the Department of Transportation knew I would be taking photos. It stretches out below and disappears as it curves off to the west. It you followed this road for another 50 miles from here, as I have, you will travel through Camp Crook, SD, drive on gravel and bump in to Montana, where highway 20 ends.

This photo shows a landscape that appears infinite. But the road isn’t. It is finite. So am I. Am I bothered by the “end of the road” metaphor? Not today. I am just feeling lucky to be where I am. More than that, I am blessed to be camping in “the middle of somewhere” with Deb, who has done the most to help me find meaning and purpose. If life is a highway, it’s much like Highway 20 - welcoming and somewhat adventurous. And there have been very few rough spots . . . .

DJI Mini 3 Pro 5 frame HDR