2019 07 31 - 08 15 South Dakota and North Dakota

Aberdeen, South Dakota - 31 July 2019

 Wylie Park Campground with "Storybook Land" and "The Land of OZ" were developed with generous support of individuals, businesses and organizations. The Park includes the Castle, Storybook Land Train, Oz Carousel, and the Wizard's Balloon Ride. There are also walking paths that connect to outside hiking trails, lakes for fishing and paddle boating, Go-Carts, playgrounds and various sports courts. Tori loves it when the wind picks up. 

Bismark, North Dakota - 1 August 2019

Along the Missouri River, the Keelboat Park was established to commemorate the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery plus the local Native American tribes who came in contact with them. You can enjoy some walking trails, art, history and river views all in one place. 

Thunderbird Eagle Sculpture is a four-sided depiction of the different native tribes belief, not a myth, which began as early as the 3rd millenium B.C. Each side of the sculpture telling us of Thunderbirds as part of the Great Spirit who lives among us in the clouds, not like living beings but enourmous gods, lightning flashing from his eyes and producing thunder by the flapping of his wings. Each tribe has a different message surrounding their Thunderbird beliefs.

Full scale 55 foot reproduction keelboat used during the Corps of Discovery. These boats could carry 12 tons of gear, was propelled by sail, oars, poles and towlines. It needed 26 men for a full crew compliment. Additional lighter boats and canoes were used when the Missouri River was unpassable to the keelboats.

Lewis & Clark Riverboat

And every one of you know we were drawn to watch the evening volleyball games being played as we walked the dogs around the park. They really love their volleyball here. Four courts all being utilized and more teams waiting for their turn to play. 

Made it home from the park and watched this massive thundercloud heading right towards us (and here we sit at the top of a hill completely exposed). We were bracing for some severe winds and rain but after a few minutes of sprinkles all this blew north without anything scary coming over us. 

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Stutsman County, North Dakota - 2 August 2019

The refuge is one of the oldest in the country, having been set aside in 1908. The refuge consists of 4,385 acres and has more breeding pairs of American white pelicans than any other protected area in the U.S. Now home to as many as 30,000 pelicans who have enjoyed a trendous rebound from the 50 or so examples that existed in the region when the refuge was founded.  

While we did not see 30,000 pelicans on our visit, there were a sufficent number to be seen on the few lakes in and around the refuge along with Western Grebes being more plentiful at this time year. The refuge is surrounded in every direction for miles by farmland and ranches (not surprising, really. It is North Dakota). We had a nice drive through the country. It was a little scary to see the big propane delivery truck coming at us when we were half way across the one lane land bridge between two lakes. Not much room for error but apparently those deliveries just could not wait.

Bismarck KOA, Bismarck, North Dakota - 3 August 2019

Not having a house does not mean there will not be any maintenance issues. The toilet seals stopped holding water so Bob had to remove the toilet and replace them while I had to replace the cheap pins holding the fender on with bolts, washers and locking nuts.

Lewis & Clark Riverboat Cruise, Bismarck, North Dakota 

After working hard, we took a relaxing cruise up the Missouri River while they played a pre-taped audio describing the Lewis & Clark Expedition through this area.  

The Missouri River was very high so the boat landing was actually underwater. Even as night was falling there was still plenty of boats and jet skis traveling up and down the river. 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park, South Unit, Medora, North Dakota - 5 August 2019

South Unit Visitors Center has a small museum which tells the story of Roosevelt's time spent here beginning in the fall 1883 to hunt buffalo and returning five months later after the deaths of his wife and mother on the same day, 14 February 1884. His struggles to run his two ranches and adventures in "the strenuous life" outdoors were instrumental in development of his conservation policies during his presidency.

The main draw for us was to be able to view the several herds of wild or feral horses that now inhabit this land year round. There is a nice driving tour but patience is the key ingredient. We had been traveling for about half of the 36 miles and stopped at one of the pull-outs. Nothing to see on that side of the road but as I was returning to the truck I swept my binoculars over the badlands across the street I noticed some movement. One herd came off a ridge to graze and was slowly joined by another herd. Both had a couple foals staying close to their mothers. 

And several herds of bison. As we roamed the park there were lone males scattered throughout. 

Other wildlife within its boundries are elk, white tail and mule deer, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, coyotes, badgers, cougars, golden eagles, grouse and wild turkeys. Only prairie dogs were out and about during our visit since the bison like to visit "dog towns" to wallow on the loosened dirt of the burrow entrances. 

As we were wrapping up our drive we came upon another herd right off the road at a small watering hole. Lucky for us they were more intent on the water than the folks taking pictures. 

Sharp eyed "sentry" dogs are always on the look out for a passing predator whether that is a coyote or badger getting close or a silent menace from the air like this bald eagle. 

A pretty thistle, wad of bison hair and bachelor bison. There are several campgrounds available, 100 miles of hiking and horse trails, Roosevelt's Maltese Cross cabin and backcountry areas.

Enchanted Highway Sculptures, Gladstone to Regent, North Dakota - 6 August 2019 (One of us is "hiding" in each photo)

"Deer Crossing" Along this 32 mile stretch of road off I-94 large metal sculptures are placed along the county highway. The artist's idea was to draw tourists into his hometown of Regent to revitalize it after losing 40% of its population since 1990. The sculptor of this outdoor folk art is Gary Greff and his canvas is tin scrap-metal, old oil well tanks and pipes, and used farm equipment. The buck is 75 feet tall and 60 feet long. His front leg was removed to fit through the streets of Regent. The doe is 50 feet tall and 50 feet long. 

"Grasshoppers" is the most controversial as it recalls the hardships of the Midwest farmers inflicted by these pests with voracious appetites. The large grasshopper is 50 feet long and 40 feet tall.

"Fisherman's Dream" is the largest and most complicated of the three-dimensional sculptures. It includes seven fish representing native game fish in North Dakota, small mouth bass, walleye, catfish, northern (pike), salmon, bluegill swimming underwater and measuring 30 feet long. Jumping out of the water is a 70 foot long rainbow trout. Wind wreaks havoc on this sculpture and repairs were being prepared while we were there. 

"Pheasants on the Prairie" This took three years to complete and includes a rooster (40 feet high and 70 feet long), a hen (35 feet tall, 60 feet long) and 3 chicks (each 15 feet tall and 20 feet long). Like most of the installations, there is a picnic shelter, parking lot and information plaques. 

"Teddy Rides Again" is a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt's part in North Dakota history. Built of used oil well pipes, Teddy of his favorite horse, Mulley, stand 51 feet tall and weigh over 9000 pounds.

"Tin Family" The first erected was begun in 1989 after seeing "Field of Dreams". Greff thought if he built something extraordinary to see then people will come. The Pa stands 45 feet and is held up by 16 telephone poles. Ma is 44 feet while the Son is a mere 23 feet tall.  

About 6,000 cars each year do make the drive down the Enchanted Highway. Greff has built all these symbols of his home state with donations from tourists and land donations (about an acre per grouping) from local farmers. The state has voted funds for maintenance of the existing pieces. The Enchanted Highway project has continued to grow with plans for a giant spider web crawling with metal arachnids and a knight and dragon under construction.

Some residents in Regent have gotten into the spirit and contributed smaller sculptures to decorate open areas.

"Geese in Flight" is the only sculture that can be seen from the I-94 highway, exit 72 and is in the Guiness World Book of Records as the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world. Standing 110 feet tall and 154 feet wide it is hard to miss this sight as you drive west. I'm over there somewhere. 

Dickinson Museum Center, Dickinson, North Dakota - 6 August 2019

Nice little museum showing many local and regional dinosaur finds, minerals and artifacts plus the Collections Laboratory which scan, catalog, conserve and clean dinosaur bones. Exhibits include the largest number of dinosaurs on display in North Dakota, including six different full skeletons.