Hello Folks,
This morning I set out early shortly after 7:00. By 7:30 I was in the great state of North Dakota and by 8:00 I was walking around the historic town of Medora. The population of Medora is a whopping 112.
Below is a picture from 3rd Avenue in Medora. That is the Rough Rider Hotel, Post Office and Bank.
On the evening of April 7, 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt visited Medora on a presidential tour of the Western United States. Most of the Badlands' residents turned out to greet him on his whistle stop. Below is a statue of Teddy outside the town hall.
I'm glad I left early. The town was nearly deserted at this early hour. I was easily able to walk around and park where ever I wanted. I had to pass back through the town around 11:30 and there were people everywhere and no places left to park. Medora is surrounded by breathtaking, unspoiled nature with Theodore Roosevelt National Park acting as its backyard. In fact the entrance to the South Unit is in Medora. Below is my first picture from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. That is Interstate 94 in the center of the picture.
No zoom lens was used for the picture below. My new buddy was standing right outside my window.
And just a couple miles down the road I made another friend. Do you know what this critter is?
Theodore Roosevelt National Park comprises three geographically separated areas of badlands in western North Dakota. The park covers 70,446 acres of land in three sections: the North Unit, the South Unit, and the Elkhorn Ranch Unit. I think the picture below was taken at the Boicourt Overlook.
I was traveling on the South Unit's scenic loop road. But the last six miles of the loop road was closed and I had to return the same way I came. Below is the Badlands Overlook. The road was closed past this point.
I don't know what's going on with the wind. Every place I have been in the last six days the wind has been fierce. It was blowing so hard at the overlook above that it literally almost knocked me down. The clouds started closing in at this point of the day. When I got back to Medora I then drove to the North Unit which was seventy miles away. The weather frequently changed the rest of the day. Sunny one minute and raining the next. Below is the River Bend Overlook at the North Unit of the park. That's the Little Missouri River in the picture.
At the end of the fourteen mile road at the North Unit was the Oxbow Overlook which is in the picture below.
While I had been to the South Unit before this was my first time visiting the North Unit. I saw plenty of buffalo in both the north and south units of the park. The herd below was my last picture before leaving the North Unit.
I am spending the night in Dickinson, North Dakota at a Candlewood Suites.
This is IHG's budget brand. Budget because they don't have pools or free breakfasts. All the things I never use anyway. But the room is perfect. It has all the things I like, a huge wrap around desk for my computer, a DVD player, full kitchen and a recliner. I sure could have used that recliner two nights ago when every time I laid flat I coughed my head off. I have never stayed at one of these before. But I definitely will again. I'm paying for things I never use at the more expensive brands.
Below is tonight's sunset from my hotel room window. That is the Hampton Inn across the street.
I have traveled 6889 miles so far on this trip. This ends day #30. I should be home on Thursday or Friday. I am still deciding whether I want to drive 500 miles on Thursday or split it in half and be home Friday. I think I'll see how I feel on Thursday.
Still a little more to come,
Tim
P.S. BTW, that critter above is a prairie dog.
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