Monday, September 14
Start: Cottonwood Campground, Theodore Roosevelt NP, Medora, ND
End: Lake Sakakawea State Park campground, Pick City, ND
Drove into Medora for breakfast, found only one cafe open; Medora is a small town. Enjoyed a
good, basic cafe breakfast before leaving town. Our goal today was to visit Fort Union Trading Post National Monument and make our way toward Knife River Villages NM. Fort Union is north of Theodore Roosevelt NP, along the MT/ND border. I always enjoy visiting Fort Union, it is a re-creation, but the location along the Yellowstone River, near the confluence with the Missouri River gives you a sense of its isolation in the 1800s.
Fort Union Trading Post NHS
Driving in this part of North Dakota takes you through the heart of the gas/oil fields. I was taught that if you can't say anything nice about someone or something you should say nothing at all. I have nothing to say, or in this case, write.
On our way to the Knife River area, located in central ND, we stopped at Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge. The ranger on duty was very friendly. Besides the standard Blue Goose stamp they had a stamp with a Cedar Waxwing in the center, none seen while in the area. We stopped for dinner in Buelah at a Chinese Buffet. Nothing fancy, but clean and the fresh vegetables tasted very good.
We camped at Lake Sakakawea State Park, near Pick City. The lake is part of the Little Missouri Scenic River. We saw a few interesting birds, but the highlight was seeing a Thirteen-lined
Ground Squirrel. When looking up to identify ground squirrels along our travels I have always hoped to see one, but had not until today. It was too wary to get a picture. Also seeing pheasant as we came into the park was pretty cool. Sightings like these are why I am a big proponent of camping as much as possible along the way. I would argue for some, the extra cost, if having to rent an RV and gas consumption, is worth it. Our best animal sightings on this trip, and others have been while camping.
Passport Stamps
Theodore Roosevelt National Park - North Unit
Fort Union Trading Post NHS - Williston, ND
Lewis and Clark Nat'l Historic Trail - North Dakota
Bonus stamps
Bighorn Sheep pictorial (very attractive)
Visit Williston, ND - Boomtown, USA
Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge - large print, Cedar Waxwing
Lake Ilo National Wildlife Refuge - standard Blue Goose
Wildlife Sightings
Bison
Pronghorn
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Turkey Vulture
Common Raven
American Crow
Gull - 2 different species
Ground Sage Grouse
Hairy Woodpecker
American Robin
Western Meadowlark
Cormorant
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Wild Turkey
Swallow
Brewer's Blackbird
Great Blue Heron
Canada Geese
Mourning Dove
Pheasant