Medora, North Dakota: The temperatures dropped 15 degrees today and it was a very welcome respite. It's a sad day when 90 degrees seems good.
Please sit down, as I report today is Leo's 15th birthday. How did this happen? Whoooosh! Leo and Lucile arrived home from camp this afternoon, so the family are celebrating together after two weeks apart. Leo facetimed us this evening and it was so nice to see his smiling face and hear his voice. Leo said he can't wait to come out to our house for Labor Day weekend... which means we need to be home in a month? (Not really. The 4L's have a key to our house and know the alarm code.)
We will be there!
Dave took his bicycle out this morning on a long ride, exploring the area and the downtown. After he returned and showered, we walked into town together. Though we only covered 2-3 miles, we walked up and down every street and went into many of the cute shops. All the shopkeepers were so friendly. There is basically nothing we needed or wanted, but I did find a few gifts, and a kitchen towel for me our house. Looky who is in town today:
Per usual, I had many postcards to mail. We found the Post Office (in this building since the late 1800s!) and slipped them through the slot.
We also noticed a hotel chain never seen before. It was as if Eric Cartman had named this chain.
Medora is a very cute little (and I mean little) town. Many of the sidewalks are wooden and several are covered. Very Western.
On the way back to the campsite we stopped for an ice cream. This is my first ice cream in six weeks. (Some sort of record?) Dave was ahead of me in line, as I had trouble finding the flavor menu/list. When we walked out to enjoy our treasures at the outside tables, what would be the chances we chose the same flavor? 100%. Moose Tracks (Reese's Peanut Butter Cup chunk/chocolate swirl thing). Definintaly married too long. A man asked us to join him at his table. He was a college coach (many schools/sports). The boys had themselves an interesting conversation. The three of us wondered at the chance meeting of total strangers, who have so many similar interests.
For our late afternoon adventure, we unhooked from our lifelines and drove, once again, the South Loop of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Maybe because it was Sunday and the town/campground had emptied out a bit, there was no line to enter the park today. We drove the loop in the reverse route (clockwise today) of yesterday.
This time of year, bison molt their fur. They spend the time rolling around in dust to slough the stuff off before it begins to grow back in, and then mating season begins (after they are all looking spiffy again).
See the dark line in the formation above? It is coal - called a coal line or a coal seam. The coal deposits occasionally catch fire. One has burned in Australia for 6000 years, and one burned in Theodore Roosevelt National Park for 26 years. Recently another has been smoldering. The coal can catch fire spontaneously, from a lightning strike or a wildfire. My Geologist loves these random facts. Today we saw a sign posted on the road stating something like: There is a fire. We know about it. Do not worry, and do not report the fire. Then DT explained it all to me and I felt better. Sort of. The earth can just start burning?
We had an interesting interaction with a coyote. A coyote is something we see every week on our golf course in La Quinta. Every week at our house outside Portland. But, apparently, they are wild animals! Today, while driving along one of the many, many Prairie Dog towns on the loop road through the park, a coyote was running (I mean, racing) down the side of the road. S/he seemed to be interested in crossing the road, so we stopped to let it cross. No other cars were around. The critter crossed over the centerline, but made a hasty retreat back to the other side. We waited, but slowly followed - giving the canine plenty of room. No kidding, the coyote ran down the road for several minutes. As the coyote kept darting on/off the road, we stayed far behind. Then his evil course was made perfectly clear! The coyote didn't want to cross the road at all, but was on a recon mission looking for Prairie Dogs that had met their demise from a tourist tire!
The road kill was snatched-up and the happy coyote took the prize away from the road a few feet and began chomping on his entree while we watched in amazement.
It did take a few minutes, and there was not a lot of chewing, but a lot of swallowing. Native Americans have such revere for the smart coyote. I always think the ravens and turkey vultures are the road clean-up crew. No more.
On our way back to Medora we came across this massive bull (his fur is already growning back) on the side of the road, just taking his own sweet time, snacking on all the luscious greens growing in the ditch. His ribs are showing. Fatten up, dude.
Please know these photos were taken from inside our RV with my super telephoto lens. I'm interesting in getting a great shot, but am not careless.
I am sad to report, as we made our return to town, terrible wildfire smoke blew in from the west. Another fire! We can't escape the smoke.
Since today is Leo's 15th birthday, we celebrated with his favorite food: steak. DT grilled the rosemary+whiskey marinated filet and I made potatoes baked in cream, garlic, thyme, nutmeg and gruyere cheese.
We had the ice cream today, but no cake. How about a birthday cake over Labor Day weekend, Leo? Sure, but August also has Lucile and Lisa's birthdays?
Gonna need a bigger boat cake.
Tomorrow we visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
Until my next update, I remain, your Marlin Perkins correspondent.
Campground Information: Red Trail Campground
Buffalo had such HUGE heads. Seeing them at Yellowstone for the first time many years ago as they walked down the middle of the road and passed right beside our F250 pickup. Rex tapped one on the side and he looked at us, grunted and went on his way. Not sure that was the smart thing for him to do but it created a good memory.