North Dakota to Bullings, MT Sept 23, 2024

That great little spot near a wildlife refuge was nice and quiet. We got a great night's sleep and got up in the morning to a nice place to walk the dogs. There was a patch of corn on the Refuge that looked as if it had started to mildew. I don't know if the corn is there to attract deer so the hunters can find them easier, but it did not look like eating corn. Several of the ears had a weird fungus on them.

Apparently it is called corn smut and is edible. It sure did not look appetizing.

Corn smut is a plant disease caused by the pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis that causes smut on maize and teosinte. The fungus forms galls on all above-ground parts of corn species. It is edible, and is known in Mexico as the delicacy huitlacoche; which is eaten, usually as a filling, in quesadillas and other tortilla-based foods, and in soups. (Source: Wikipedia)

On the way out to the freeway, we spotted a large bird. An eagle and it was not shy.

I am pretty sure it is a Golden eagle. Habitat wise it fits.

We are making our way across Montana and made it to Billings, MT. We aimed for the places we know because we can get more miles in if we know of a sure bet. So Canyon Creek Brewery where we have stayed in the past was our destinations.

Comet seems to be more and more comfortable up front with us.

The sunset closed another day of travel.