Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, North Dakota

It’s a scant 280 miles from Ft. Ransom, N.D. to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, North Dakota, and a straight line on I-94 from one end of the state to the other.
The summer season starts the first week of May, and as I was, as usual, early, I again was the only camper in Cottonwood campground, the same campground that I was in last year. Bison are prolific here and I was greeted by a few when I choose my site. Two hundred yards of grassland that stops at the Little Missouri River and meets the buttes on the other side. Not a bad view for a mere $2.50 daily winter rate camping fee.
My first few days here were weather wise beautiful. I took the 36 mile loop road around the park and was most fortunate to photographic two groups of feral horses that seem to not mind at all my intent interest in there wildness and beauty. Prairie Dogs, deer and the accommodating warm weather was a nice treat and I was most appreciative to be finally getting away from snow. The next day and the next after that were a totally different story. I was camper ridden for two days of snow and between the shaking of the camper because of the winds and changing out propane canisters for my little heater I had time to write the following, which will explain exactly what I was experiencing:

                                A BLIZZARD IN NORTH DAKOTA

Have you ever experienced a snow blizzard? I’m not talking about the “ah, come on Mon, it’s snowing, I don’t want to go to school” type snowing. What I am talking about here is the 65 mile an hour gusts with blowing snow and really cold temperatures type snowing. Blizzard snowing. Not so bad you say? Well you would be correct if you were in your home, but try it in a pop up camper, which I have said before is a similar to a glorified tent. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my camper and it has been home for a good while now, but to say that it was not made for the kind of weather I am talking about and that being in one is a challenge, to say the least, would be an under statement. For the past 24 hours the winds have had my little home rocking and reeling. Not like the cutesy plaque you may sometimes see in front of the Jones or the Brattenwards camper that says “ If this camper is rocking, don’t bother knocking”, no, not that kind of rocking. Really scary rocking that gives me pause to doubt my own sanity for not starting this trip in July”?
Well, the winds are now slightly subsiding. It’s 8:30 a m and I have been up since, well actually I haven’t been to bed yet. Peeking outside I seen snow, lots and lots of snow and the sun.
What’s ironic is that the sun is shinning and the snow is blowing. “Annie” was right about the sun coming up tomorrow, but she never said a thing about this damn wind! TC out, alive and well…(photos)
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So that’s what I went through, and by the way, have had the distinction of being recognized by park rangers and even Medora townspeople as “The guy in the pop up, who lived through the blizzard”. Not a bad distinction, I guess.
I have been here for almost two weeks now and have enjoyed myself immensely. I even thought about taking a job at the Medora Convenience & Liquor Store, but after careful consideration, decided more about continuing to travel. After all, Alaska and many points in between are waiting to be experienced and enjoyed.
Medora is a small town that Theodore Roosevelt made his home and where he loved his “Badlands”.
The park itself is the place that he wrote many books from and is what gave him so much pleasure. He made many friends here and even said that if it were not for his experiences in the Badlands and North Dakota, he may not have made it to the White House. I have made friends here too and below are some pictures of the people I have met and places I have visited and enjoyed. Hope you enjoy too. TC…

                                 My friendly neighbors came for a visit.

Dogies

                           

                                          Blizzard Fun.....

                      Can I go out and play in the snow Mom?                       

                                             Feral Horses.

                                         This shot was taken across from my camp, across the meadow and up on the mountain from about 450 feet or so.  These two would appear almost nightly a few hours before sunset and just graze for hours.  When one or the other would get far from the other, they would call as if to say, "hey where are you going?" and then they would join up again and stay close together. I would sit in front of the fire and watch these two across the grasses as if it were my own personal TV channel.  I always wondered where they would go as the sun set.  To their own hidden protected little part of the park to bed down for the night where they felt safe, I assumed. TC...
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 Mary, daughter Ashley and Doug.  The owners of Western Edge Books where I am now adding the final touches to this entry. They have both been very kind to me with great conversation, coffee, and Mary allowing me to do my laundry in the basement of the store.  The store is a virtual treasure of Western history which is Doug's specialty.  Doug is an accomplished writer who has written several books about his love, the history of the West, as well as recently being a guest on the History Channel.  If you are ever in Medora, missing Wester Edge Books would be a mistake.

                                Leona and her friend.  Leona is the adminisrator of the Billings County Courthouse Museum.  She makes great fudge too.

No vist to Medora would be complete without a vist to the famed

Chateau de Mores.  My friend Karne was not around for a photo, but has been friendly and informative.

                            I leave you with the above present that was left for me by a Bison that came to visit.  Now, don't think of it as regifting, no, think of it as sharing the wealth.  TC...                                 
                                                            
                                              

Fort Ransom, North Dakota

According to the AAA camp book, Fort Ransom State Park in Fort Ransom North Dakota is open all year round for camping. The flooding all throughout North Dakota and including the state park, made that impossible though. The park was open, but not to camping. So, at Olson’s General Store, restaurant, gas station and general hang out, I was directed to another closed establishment. The local RV park that was only a few hundred yards away from the downtown, such as it is. The camping was free and again I am the only one in the otherwise deserted campground.
Ft. Ransom is a very interesting town, if its small size would even qualify it for the title of town.
The fort was built in 1867 to protect travel from Minnesota to Montana. Named for Major General Thomas E.G. Ransom, the site was dismantled five years later. The town is a reminder of the once vibrant fort.
The Fort Ransom County museum who is run by a World War II veteran and very interesting gentleman, Lyle Bjorn, was a treat, and a step back in time. Lyle was born only 5 miles from the town of Ransom and except for his tour in the paratroopers he has lived in North Dakota all his life.
The little school house is where he graduated from High School in 1936. (photo)
The rich Scandinavian history is evident in Ransom in the names of the townsfolk and the Viking statue at the end of town on a large hill that is supposed to have some kind of powers all its own.
I walked up to the hill but I don’t think any of those powers wore off on me. Have to fly now, but in the meantime, Enjoy some pictures. TC…

                                               Lyle, a realy nice man.

                                        Lyle's aunt and uncle.

                               One room school house where Lyle graduated.

                                                

                                                          

The main street in Ransom

                                    Flooding of the Sheyenne River.

I am starting to feel like the Maytag Repairman.

                                                                  

Scenic State Park, Bigfork, Minnesota

With the time change on my side, I arrived with time enough to set up camper and discover the state park that does live up to its name, Scenic State Park of Bigfork, Minnesota. The many rivers surrounding the park were partly frozen over in varying degrees but still beautiful.
After a brief hike around the park, I settled in for the evening to a relaxing dinner and went to sleep that night to the sound of rain pounding on my roof. only to wake up to snow. By mid afternoon most of the snow was gone and the sun made an attempt to come out, giving me an opportunity for a hike and some more exploring. My hike was short lived though, as I came across some Timberwolves tracks and even though I was told wolves fear humans, I thought better of continuing on alone. Tomorrow, Easter Sunday, is suppose to reach 62 degrees and Monday 65 with a slight chance of rain. I should be leaving for North Dakota in the morning.
I failed to mention that I am the only camper in the park that has 110 campsites, myself and a gray squirrel that probably doesn’t believe that he has company in April.  Photos to follow.  TC...

                                           Frozen lake Coon.

                                          Morning snow suprise.

                                      Timberwolves stopped this hike.

                                            Roosevelt at his best.

                                                            

                                                           

Traveling In Michigan

My visit with my friend Laura in Rockford was fantastic.  Three weeks of good food, conversation of the outdoors and the places we have traveled, hiking and fun.  Laura is a camper, hiker and outdoors person extraordinaire.  Her father is also a legend in the dog sledding community and Laura was kind enough to give me  a copy of his book "Tracks I've Left in the Snow".  Anyone who knows anything about dog sledding knows who Frank Howard Hall was.  Now deceased, his reputation and the many innovations in the sport lives on, as well as the love of the outdoors that he instilled in Laura.
From Rockford, I was to head north to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which interestingly enough is not part of Michigan at all, but part of Wisconsin.  It is only part of Michigan by it's attachment of the Mackinaw Bridge.
Because of a prior three day snow fall in the U P, all the campgrounds that I planned to stay in were closed, so I continued on Rt. 28 west until I arrived at yet another hotel for the evening in the small town Negaunee, where a warm room was waiting for me.  Negaunee is only about 149 miles to the Wisconsin border and my plan was to continue on 28 until it turned into Rt 2 through Wisconsin and into Minnesota  the next morning,and then a stay at the Scenic State Park in the town of Bigfork, MN. That entry to follow.  For now enjoy some photos of Michigan.TC...

                                                             

                                                                        

                                                         Laura

                                                Beavers at work.

                         Snow in April is not that uncommon in Michigan.                    

                                                                       



                  

                                                                  
                                                          

                                                          

Rockford, Michigan

                                                                                         
After 6 weeks in Rock Hill, South Carolina I was antsy for the road. The plan was to head up to Rockford, Michigan, passing through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia,Ohio and into Michigan to stay with a friend.  With the threat of snow on the first night of travel, I deceided to do something I have not done in all my travels to date, that was to get a motel for the night, which I did in Athens, Ohio. I didn't want to wake up the next morning to the thought of packing the camper in the snow.  As it turned out it didn't snow, but it was cold, so it all seemed to make sense anyway. After a total of 838 miles I arrived in Rockford the next afternoon.  So far the weather has not been great and right now as I write this entry I am watching the snow fall, really hard.  According to the Weather Channel, more of the same, along with rain is to follow.  Speaking of weather, while planning my Canada trek west up to Alaska and into Denali National Park, I noticed in my camping books from the AAA that most of the parks from Ontairo to British Columbia do not open until May 1st. because it's too cold to camp.  So, as I am not going to stay in Rockford until May, I will look for camping in northern Michigan or maybe as far as the Upper Peninsula.  I have found several that are open all year and I am looking forward to enjoying them, if the weather breaks that is. Those entries to follow. TC...