Mobridge, South Dakota

Blog entry August, 2009

Well, here we are in Mobridge.….one of our favorite stopping off places since we first discovered it in 1980.  We love the town itself, the surrounding area, the great walleye fishing, and of course, the campground.  To refresh your memory about Mobridge, go back to my blog post of summer, 2008 >>.

Once again, we are staying on Indian Island…on the west side of the long bridge crossing the Missouri River.   This campground is owned and operated by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Situated on park like grounds, camping spaces are spacious with vast grass and tree common areas throughout the park.  Rental rates are very reasonable, (as Senior citizens we pay $8.00 a night) with electric service to every site, lots of water hydrants, and there is a dump station.  Our camp site is shaded by trees, surrounded by common area, with a view of the water. Oddly, to our advantage, other than holiday weekends, the campground is virtually empty…giving us a lot of peace and quiet in a lovely setting.

First of all, since Rodger’s 3 month psa test (for his prostate cancer) was due, we went to the local hospital/clinic/pharmacy. Test results were high, but local employees were most efficient, working with his Oncologist at the AZ Cancer Center in Tucson, so he was able to have the required Lupron injection, plus pick up a newly prescribed prescription.  It was relief to find reliable local medical care.

The last time we were in Mobridge, the water levels in the Missouri River (Actually, a reservoir here…Lake Oahe) were at an all time low, and the bays were high and dry.  This year, water levels are 30 feet higher!  So the boat ramp in a bay by the campground is open once again, but the one on the main channel (built during low water years) is flooded.  These conditions have affected location of the fish! We had a few days of good fishing …catching some nice walleye and some catfish.  People rave about walleye, but the channel catfish from these waters are excellent as well!  Since then the fish have seemed to move again, and fishing has dropped off…so we have been doing other things.

Last summer, wild turkeys roamed throughout the park, and we had enjoyed them immensely.  So, it was very disturbing, this year, as they seemed to have disappeared entirely.  Finally, after being here for three weeks…they appeared again.  Evidently they had been nesting, as when we first saw them, there were at least twenty chicks (quite large by now) with the flock!  What a joy it was to see them again!

Of course one of Rodger’s first stops in Mobridge was at Westside Meats….a butcher shop, meat market and deli.  Here, besides beef and pork, they process and sell all cuts of buffalo meat!  We have enjoyed buffalo burgers, buffalo roasts, and buffalo steaks.  A lean meat, and very delicious!

Weather has been ideal…usually in the low to mid 80’s…unlike last summer when we had tornado watches and warnings quite frequently!  Today, we are enjoying a rainy day, and a good time to catch up on computer projects.  No, we do not have internet service, and we miss that!  However, to send/receive e-mail, we merely go into town, and park in front of almost any business, where we can accomplish that easily from the truck.

On my next post, I will show you the countryside of the Standing Rock Reservation, including photos of some really “neat” places we discovered and enjoyed… PLEASE WATCH FOR THAT!!