Settled into my campsite at Sully Creek State Park in Medora ND which is a town of 128 people and across the street from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. TRNP is kind of a cross between The Grand Canyon and The Badlands but not as huge.
Sunday, July 12, 2020
All set up at my campsite at Oak Park Kampground (their spelling) in Garfield MN. It’s a very nice family-owned, family orientated campground with a full hook up and it’s a pull-through site. Very nice helpful people. Perfect. Only about a six-hour drive tomorrow to get to my campground at Sully Creek State Park outside of Medora ND.
Friday, July 10
A change of plans. New Mexico State Parks will not be open anytime soon so I’m going to stay in the northern Great Plains. After camping two days at Reuter Campground in Black Hills National Forest near Sundance Wyoming I think I’ll head west to Bighorn National Forest which is just west of The Great Plains. There are several campgrounds there and I’ll play it by ear.
Friday, June 19th
For several years before I retired I was planning different retirement trips in either a converted cargo van or a trailer. One trip I planned is a trip north to south through the heart of the Great Plains. I’ve been kinda curious as to how traveling through the Great Plains for a long period must feel, the never-ending wide-open spaces. I’m sure this trip will seem strange to most people. The plan was always to start in the center of the Great Plains near the Canadian border, head south to Texas, and if I get too bored take a right and head towards the mountains. This morning I reserved a campsite at Sully Creek State Park, North Dakota for July 13th through July 17th. Sully Creek State Park is close to Medora, North Dakota. Sully Creek State Park is across the road from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Theodore Roosevelt National Park is open for day-use but the campground is closed. Then I’ll head south to The Black Hills, then to southeast Wyoming, western Nebraska, and northeast Colorado. If things are going well I’ll continue down to northeast New Mexico, and down into Texas. I suppose it will be hot.
Tuesday, June 16th
I’m heading home today, a few days early. Thinking about heading home and then heading out in a few days for someplace new, someplace I haven’t been, maybe the Minnesota Lake Superior shoreline.
Yesterday I took a ride to Galena, Illinois about two hours south of my campsite. It’s a town built on hills. You can walk into a building on the first floor, go upstairs and walk out the backdoor onto a different street. A very historic town. The Galena River goes through town and connects to the Mississippi River which is not far away. It was a very busy town before lead (Galena) mines ran dry. President Grant retired to Galena. Most buildings in town are National Historic Landmarks. The oldest building was built in 1823, pretty old for the midwest. Now it’s a popular tourist town for antiques and restaurants. They blocked off the main street and the restaurants put tables outside under canopies. It was crowded on a Monday.
Monday, June 15th
My campsite at Sidie Hollow Campground. Crowded this weekend.
This is the stream that flows under the above bridge. People fish these small streams and catch decent size trout. I don’t because I enjoy casting more than catching.
Sunday, June 14th
My campground is full. It’s a county park about 5 miles outside of Viroqua Wisconsin. I would guess most campers are local. Beautiful weekend. People have been stuck inside for some time and want to get out.
Last night about 9:30 someone or some people set off a great fireworks display about 100 feet from my trailer. I couldn’t see the source cause a big trailer blocked my view. Seemed like it lasted for 15 minutes but I’m sure it didn’t. They were pretty good size fireworks. Anyway, it was fun.
I don’t fish here on the weekends for two reasons. One reason is that I like to fish alone unless I’m with a friend. The other reason is I can fish anytime but most people can only fish on the weekends so let them have it. Why crowd them when I can fish the weekdays and have the streams pretty much to myself.
Friday, June 12
Caught one brown trout about 13 inches on the Timber-Coulee this morning. It’s a beautiful day.
Had to change campsites today. Moved my trailer about 100 feet to my new site where I will be until next Friday.
Wednesday, June 10th
Fished Tuesday morning on the Timber-Coulee without much luck. Had a couple on but they escaped. Started raining about 2:30 yesterday afternoon and didn’t stop until 10 pm. A stream runs through my campground at Sidie Hollow County Park. Around 8 pm a policeman drove through and stopped at every camper to warn about the possibility of flash flooding. The stream is about 50 feet behind my trailer. It was rising which was a concern but it never overflowed it’s banks.
Monday, June 8th Driftless Area
First day of a twelve day trip. Got on the water early for me and caught 4 trout by 10:30 am, one small brook trout and three brown trout from 13 to 15 inches.