Had an equally good breakfast this morning and then wandered all over the little town of Wolf Point where Lee's husband was born and lived until he was about 13. It is on an Indian reservation so the standard of living of many people is very low. But there is a beautiful new High School and city services seem to be up to par. In fact, Police Officer Combs who stopped us was very friendly and his police cruiser was a very new model with really pretty blue and white lights on the top! Seems as we were driving all around taking pictures we had been noticed. Judi pulled to the left side of the street so Lee could take a picture of the Wolf Point Grain elevator and Officer Combs didn't think that was a good idea. The fact that we had met fewer than a dozen cars as we drove around town this Labor Day morning made us feel parking on the opposite side of the "traffic" would be ok. We all three looked very contrite and he did say we had attracted a bit of attention. He gave us a warning, said he had a sister who lived in Porterville, California, and declined to have his picture taken for the blog. He waved us on our way and said to drive carefully. Yes, sir, Officer Combs! On that exciting note we got the "hell out of Dodge", or rather Wolf Point.
A high point of the drive from Havre to Wolf Point the day before had been a stop at the Ft. Peck Dam. The dam is on the Missouri River and was a WPA project started in 1935. It did give a huge shot in the arm to the local economy, controlled the Missouri River, and brought a lot of hydroelectic power to the area. Like Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery we marveled at the beautiful country and endless vistas from this site on the Big Muddy. The Visitor's center was full of wonderful dinosaur exhibits as well as lots of other animals who still live on the plains. The tour of the dam was very interesting and Lee told us about a couple of Leo's relatives who had worked there in the 1930's. If you are ever in northern Montana be sure to stop. We were there on Sunday and the last day of the touring season was today, Labor Day. There is a security concern that may eliminate the dam tours next year. I hope not! Everyone should see what a lot of determination and hard work can accomplish.
This morning after Officer Combs kicked us out of Wolf Point (just kidding) we headed south to North Dakota. We sympathized with anyone who was stuck in Labor Day traffic as we hardly met any cars on the road. We drove south to Interstate 94 where we headed east to Dickinson ND. Roads were straight as a string and it is hard to keep the Avalon under 90! I set the cruise control as I didn't want another run in with the law!
And then we were in the Badlands! The mountains, buttes, mesas, coulees, hummocks, ridges, valleys, are amazing! We stopped at the visitor's center in Teddy Roosevelt National Park. The visitor center was well done and the cabin in the pictures was built for TR in the 1880's. It has been moved to the park from a few miles south but you almost can see him sitting in the rocking chair next to the pot bellied stove. The little town of Medora made me think of a cowboy version of Carmel. We could have spent much more time there, but on to Dickinson, ND before we head into the Badlands in earnest tomorrow. First stop--Deadwood! No more is it like the Deadwood of HBO, Wild Bill Hickok, or Calamity Jane fame! It is a gambling resort but we are going to poke around and see if we can find a bit of history. Staying very close to Mt. Rushmore for the next 2 nights. Will be looking up George Washington's nose to see if I can find Cary Grant. Will post some pictures after this is published. I live in fear I will hit the wrong key and have to write everything all over again like I did the other night.
Love to all, The Gotta Go Girls
Oh, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that my cold is much better. The bad news? Lee's got it. Guess poor Judi will be next.
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