First it was Paul Bunyan in Ackley, MN. Then we found a giant cow in New Salem, North Dakota.
With the days getting shorter and with the time change moving west, we were on the road before the sun rose. We really didn't get to see too much of Detroit Lakes, but what we did see looked really nice.
Not to be outdone by a large cow. We passed this sculpture of a flock of geese along the way.
We passed through Fargo within the first hour. It was early, somewhat rainy and foggy so we didn't stop. We arrived in North Dakota's capital, Bismarck, around 10:30. We've been gathering cold weather clothes for a future adventure so we stopped a thrift store (found some good stuff) and did a brief drive around the capital for entertainment. Before leaving Bismarck we had lunch at a burger and wing joint called Sickies Garage. Our server told us there were several locations in North Dakota and that they would soon be opening one in Orlando near Disney World. We give it two thumbs up!
North Dakota's Capital Building in Bismarck.
Sickies Garage Burgers and Brews
Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews
Our drive across North Dakota was on Interstate 94. I can say that we had a fairly unobstructed view along the way. Compared to Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota what we experienced was mostly rolling hills of wide open spaces, intermingled with occasional clusters of trees holding on to their leaves for a little more time. We did get an unexpected surprise of passing through Theodore Roosevelt National Park. A Visitors Center to the parks Painted Canyon section was just off the highway so we enjoyed a few minutes checking out the canyon and a small herd of Buffalo. Also of significance, this was our first time in North Dakota.
The South Unit Visitors Center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is right off I-94.
North Dakota's Painted Canyon in Roosevelt National Park. As President, Roosevelt designated more than 230 million acres as national park, forests, monuments and wildlife reserves. Seems fitting that a national park is named in his honor.
One more look at Painted Canyon.
We arrived in Billings as the sun was setting. It was a long day and we had put a lot of miles in over the past two days (1,145). Mileage wise, our relocating the Silver Bullet to Salt Lake City is mostly behind us. We're looking forward to a little less Bullet time and a little more outdoor time in Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and Park City. I'm sure the Bullet is looking forward to the rest as well!
About 30 miles outside of Billings is Pompeys Pillar National Monument. It's a sandstone outcropping along the Yellowstone River. It's only 51 acres in size, making it one of the smallest National Monuments in the US. It is famous because William Clark, of Lewis and Clark fame, carved his name in the sandstone on their expedition westward. The carving is well preserved and we hoped to have a picture of it. The forty degree temperature and 30 mile an hour winds changed our minds about hiking in to see it.
This is as close as we got to Pompeys Pillar..........
...........we did get a picture of a picture of Clarks signature in the window of the ranger station.
