On Saturday morning early, we hit the road in Minnesota. We put in a long day of driving going almost all the way across the top of North Dakota. ND was a surprise as we were expecting a more barren rocky place but instead saw miles and miles of flat farm fields and tons of water, mostly designated as wildlife refuges. As we got further west we began to see oil rigs as we entered the Bakkan oil fields. We stopped at the geographic center of North America and picked up a geocache in an old farm implement (I say implement because I have no idea what kind of machine it was!)

 

We arrived that evening at Lewis and Clark State Park in the high plains. It is on  Lake Sakakawea (this is how they spell it) and much more scenic. We went for a few hikes and then watched the eclipse of the super moon over the lake. Beautiful! It has been unseasonably warm here so we have been able to enjoy the sights in shorts and t-shirts.

Lewis, Clark and Sakakawea standing in a field on one of our hikes

Headed out today (Monday 9/28) for Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Bison, here we come!

We're on the road again. We had planned to go to Mt. Rushmore in the summer but that didn't work out so here we are. At least the families have gone back to school and there are fewer people on the road!
This is the morning of day four of our journey. We decided to leave by heading north. On US 2 in the U.P. we saw this guy at a roadside park. Lots of people around but he didn't seem to care as he was busily working. Also stopped for lunch at a small park with a waterfall.

On the first day we made it to Gaastra in the U.P. where we had lovely meals, some new beverages (elder flower liquor and Charlie's homemade wine!) and great conversation with long time friends Laurie and Charlie Jackson. So nice to see them and visit their lovely home.
Day two, we got a late start, it's hard to leave when you're having a good time! Got all the way through Wisconsin and into Minnesota. We entered Duluth at rush hour with construction and fog. Would have loved to see Duluth but sadly this will always be how I think of it:

We drove until dark and camped in a state forest campground in Voyageurs National Park near International Falls, MN. We woke up to beautiful Lake Kabetogama. Since we were going to try to get as far as possible, we went for a quick, very wet hike and then headed out. As you can see behind Denny, fall is upon us, at least in northern Minnesota!

Check out the roadkill sighting. We've never seen this before. A little gory but cool to see a bald eagle!

We made it to Thief River Falls last night and stayed in a campsite with full facilities. Had a wonderful shower and then played miniature golf!