By Scott Shephard

Something always brings me back to you

It never takes too long

“Gravity” Sara Bareilles

I was camping in central South Dakota and the weather report predicted a hot and windy day for Wednesday, June 29. Because of that, I took my little boat Omega off the water the evening of 28th because I knew that I might be tempted to go out and ride the kind of waves that a 25mph wind can generate on Lake Oahe. I’ve done it before and I can tell you that bouncing a 10’ inflatable boat powered by a small Mercury outboard into waves that have been building for miles is more than a little exhilarating for a Type B personality like me. But with water temperatures being in the mid to high 60s, if I took a spill, I might die on contact. I’m a wimp when it comes to cold water and I don’t want to go this way.

True to form, when I woke up on the 29th, it was windy. However, by mid-morning there was only a slight breeze and by early afternoon, it was flat calm. It was also 102° F. By the end of the day, it would get up to 106° and 110° at one point in the camper

The boat, motor and all that go with it were stowed. So to beat the heat, I spent some of the afternoon down by the water’s edge with a cooler and a refreshing beverage or two. Or three. Lewis and Clark, who explored this area, would have done the same.

That evening, as predicted, a thunderstorm moved through. It served up strong winds, impressive lightning and just enough rain to paint the dust on my truck with intriguing patterns. The temperature dropped into the 80s and I slept well.

The photo you see today is a “morning after” photo and may seem to have little to do with its title and a quote from a love song by Sara Bareilles. But it should come as no surprise to those who see my photos that this place, which can seem barren, hot and unwelcoming to some, has a strong pull on my psyche. It has had a special gravity from the moment I “discovered” it over 30 years ago. So this photo, like others I’ve taken here, is just another love song:

“Something always brings me back to you - it never takes too long.”

DJI Mavic 2 Pro 5 frame HDR