Saturday, June 4th, Third day of our great Alaskan adventure

Day three started in Fargo, North Dakota traveling west on I-94 heading to Dickinson, ND. For those that are unfamiliar with North Dakota, it is the bug capital of the world! Three minutes on the road after cleaning the windshield, you can barely see out of it! The day was beautiful with cool temperatures in the high 60’s and a blue sky. My flight school buddy Tommy Nelson told me on the telephone last night that after we got onto I-94 heading west, to imagine that we had a dog that ran away and headed west. He said that we would be able to see him for fifty miles that the land is so flat. Tommy was right!

Babs and I knew it was going to be a good day because early in today’s trip we past a buffalo ranch. Right in the middle of the herd was a white buffalo! As usual, after about a half hour I needed a restroom break and we found this really unusual rest area modeled after an old time gas station, complete with vintage gas pumps.

While driving west on I-94 we saw numerous areas which were flooded. Even one rest area was closed because the entry ramp was under several foot of water.

Babs took a picture of an interesting Geese sculpture that was located in a field in the middle of nowhere. This is a prime example of “art in rural places”.

Our first stop was the Knife River Indian Village National Historical Site. Here near the Knife River the Hidatsa and Mandan Indian tribes located their Earth Lodges and planted corn, squash, beans, and sunflowers. The Earth Lodges were constructed with cottonwood logs, reeds, poles and sod. They we approximately forty foot across and housed several families.

Our next stop was the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park spans several thousand acres at the eastern end of the North Dakota badlands and can be enjoyed via a loop road which has many opportunities for hiking. Babs and I drove the loop which takes about an hour and a half to complete. We saw snakes, prairie dogs, buffalo, and herds of wild horses. All were in close proximity. We also took a hike along wind ridge trail which is above the Little Missouri River. All in all this is a great experience.

Todays drive was 469 miles. Tonight we are at the Best Western in Dickens, North Dakota. Continuing on our “no frills” food budget we ate at Bonanza Steak House. Of course, after leaving, Babs pointed out to me that for what we paid, I could have had a one pound steak at a good steak house. Everyone is an expert after the fact. Tomorrow we head north to Canada.

Babs says: I am now riding with a killer! The poor little prairie had no chance against the man vehicle. I hate the gas prices which today was $143, just for today. Instead of eating halfway decent food in the middle of nowhere, we’re eating terrible cheap food in the middle of nowhere!