1/9/15 - Maple Grove, MN to Casselton, N. Dakota
Once again, we are on I-94 West jostling for bitumen with some pretty big boys.
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I-94 takes us beside miles and miles of farmland - the crops are starting to change to sunflowers, not so much corn and some cattle. We have been on I-94W since we left Iowa so we've seen varying road quality of this highway. We've travelled parts where the highway is like steel Hershey bars (these go clack-a-clack). There's been sections where the highway has been grooved horizontally..this creates a high pitch deafening whine that would challenge a chronic tinnutis sufferer(I ended up using ear plugs), then there's parts of the highway that have more undulations than Nicki Minaj's booty - now these are the ones that make stuff in the fridge/cupboards jump about like corn popping.
We overnighted at the "RV park" of Days Inn in Casselton, North Dakota. It is basically just a car park with full hook up but surprisingly the Motel had an indoor swimming pool with water slides etc.
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It is September and the farmers appear to have finished their harvests and are busy making hay for the approaching cold months. Like sentinels against hunger, we see numerous bales of hay dotting the farmlands.
Sweet Briar Lake, ND where we stopped for lunch - not so sweet, the bugs were out in force.
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Sculpture of geese we saw on I-94 - it is a 6 hour drive to our next stop, Medora.
The landscape changed dramatically as we got closer to Medora - our first view of the Badlands of Dakota. Extremely rugged and relentlessly unforgiving - you've got to give it to the pioneers for true grit.
The town we are going to, Medora sits alongside what is called the south unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The TR Nat. Park comprises 3 sections totalling 70,446 acres with the south unit being the largest of the 3. Named in honour of the 26th US President (who was also the youngest at 42 years of age), Teddy Roosevelt adored this part of Dakota.
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Medora is basically a one horse town, with a population of 129 but it is rich with history and little gems - one of them being this magnificent public golf course called Bully Pulpit. With the Badlands for a backdrop, this course is rated in the top 100 public golf courses. Built with donations from the public, corporations and the state it is managed by the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. You might be wondering "what a strange name for a golf course" - well apparently it was a term coined by President Teddy Roosevelt who used to refer the White House as a "bully pulpit" ie, a platform from which to advocate change.
Tom loved this course....I didn't play it as I was trying to get rid of a cold.
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This course is rated in the top 100 public courses in the USA and was a delight to play.
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The course is full of downhills such as this and uphills making it a very interesting course.
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This panoramic view was taken from the highest point on the course and the view was spectacular.
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This is called hanging rock and is apparently a totally natural event. It is on a highpoint of the golf course.
We stayed at the Red Trail Campground, Medora...a pretty beat up and weathered place. I felt their camp rules were rather patronising...the leaftlet on registration had statements like "don't hesitate to ask dumb questions, we rather you ask than make dumb mistakes".
Saw this little wagon on someone's ranch on our drive to the golf course. I wonder how old it really is.
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Derelict stage coach also on same ranch.
We took a drive part way along Custer Trail, as in General George Custer of Little Bighorn fame.
From its elevated clubhouse, Bully Pulpit tells the tales of Custer and his time in Dakota.
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Yes, even a town of 129 people needs a post office.
Another little gem at Medora - the Medora Musical opens with the US national anthem. The 2 stage buildings part to reveal a large Star Spangled Banner and a horseback rider with the flag.
A thoroughly enjoyable variety show but watch out for the biting "whatchacantsees".
Our neighbour at Red Trail Campground..check out the airconditioner hanging off the back door. Would you believe, it sleeps 2.
We took a drive to the Theodore Roosevelt Nat. Park on the day before we left - saw 3 bisons, lots of prairie dogs and a bunch of wild turkeys (you can sing it to 12 days of xmas).
$20 per vehicle to enter the park.
It is a 36 mile drive around the park - the first part of the park is quite barren. We had our eyes peeled for the wildlife that was depicted on the Park pamphlet. We saw plenty of animal spoor but not their owners.
Finally, 3 bisons on the side of the park which was covered with grass lands - well, I guess if I were a bison, I would hang out where the grass is greener!
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Lovely vista of the hills as evening approaches.
