It was a hot day. Drove from Medora ND straight south to my campground for the next two nights. It’s called Reuter Campground and is in a small section of Black Hills National Forest just outside of Sundance Wyoming. Many tall pine trees with some appreciated shade after four days at a campsite void of trees in 90 degree heat.
Looked at a beautiful section of TRNP The Painted Canyon.
My birthday. Toured the Northern Unit of TRNP which is an hour drive north. There are a couple of spectacular overlooks of The Little Missouri River. It’s a muddy rive because it doesn’t flow over rocks.
Toured the Southern Unit of TRNP. Part of the scenic drive had collapsed so I couldn’t see all of the Southern Unit. Much of TRNP looks like a combination of The Grand Canyon and The Badlands but not as huge. Saw maybe six wild horses, many bison and many prairie dogs.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
