Driving in North Dakota!!!

Hello Fellow Wandering Travelers!!!

Today, I left the really nice Minnesota state run Campground in East Grand Forks and found US-2 to head west!!! Before I drove away, I walked the two blocks to the post office to mail some letters. I had to climb this big hill to get to town and it stretched north and south for quite a ways. Then I figured it out – this was a levee to keep flood waters from the town. It was at least 20 feet high, so they must really have a flooding problem at times!!!

Anyway, just before I got to US-2, I stopped at a store to buy a few groceries. Outside the store, near the front door, was a little prairie dog (I think). He would run and hide as people come to the door and then run to the door as it closed. Then he would stand on his back legs and look for the next person. Well, I went in the store and he ran and hid! When I came out, I startled him and he was jumping around against the wall, then he made a mad dash for the closing door. The door shut on him and he started to squeak, so I opened the door thinking he would run outside --- nope, he ran inside!!! As I walked away, all I could hear is people saying “Damn, how did he get in here!!!” I just kept walking!!! I hope the little guy got out okay; he was kind of cute!!!

Once I got on US-2 I just drove!!! I needed to get to Minot, North Dakota by early afternoon. The weather was nice, but we had a wind and you know how the wind moves the trailer around and makes for a very tiring day of driving. Anyway, as I was driving, I noticed how flat the land was!!! I think this is the flattest land I have seen on my whole trip!!! Here are the photos – you be the judge ---

 

Then, near a town called Rugby, ND, I saw signs saying we were getting close to the center of North America!!!??? So when I saw the sign that said “you are there”, I stopped. What I found out was that, geographically speaking, that is the center of North America and it is on US-2 in the town of Rugby, North Dakota!!! Here are the photos of that monument ---

I must admit that when I stood by the monument, the pull from the Atlantic Ocean was equal to the pull from the Pacific Ocean!!!??? I also felt very --- centered!!!

Then I arrived at Minot, ND!!! What you may not know is that the Dakota Territory Air Museum is located here!!! That’s why I needed to be here in early afternoon --- so I could go through the museum!!! This museum isn’t very big, but it has some of the finest WW-II airplanes I had ever seen!!! These are also operating airplanes!! In fact they are all going to fly off this weekend for a show!!! Here are some photos of those airplanes ---

Here is a North American T-38 “Trojan” ---

 

A P-51D Mustang ---

 

A beautiful DC-3 ---

 

A P-40 Warhawk ---

 An FM-2P Wildcat with its wing folded ---

 

A TBM-3E Avenger with its wings folded ---

 

A B-25 Mitchell Bomber ---

 

A really nice Chevy Pick-up that looks to have a “go fast” motor in it ----

 

And a couple of WW-II Jeeps ---

 

When I finished there, I went hunting for an RV Park! I ended up at The Roughrider Campground in Minot, ND.

Well, that was my day!!! An easy day of mostly driving, but some interesting and fun site seeing!! I even learned a few things, I think!!!

So, with that, I will go for now, but I will see you all again tomorrow.

Again, to quote that great comedian, Red Skelton, "Good Night and May God Bless!"

Happy Trails ---- Jon