2 Miles and 4 Feet from Home: 07/15/14

We woke up in miles city about 6 AM. The temperature had cooled off to about 55 so it was a great night for sleeping. Today our plan was to leave by 10 AM and head to Bismarck North Dakota. It would be about a 6-hour drive and would put us right in the middle of the state. We would be going right by Theodore Roosevelt National Park so we decided to stop in a take a quick tour of the park and then head on our way. They do have campgrounds at the park but they do not take reservations so it is first come first serve. Most campers roll in at 10 to get a site before they fill up. Anyway we arrived about 1 PM and went into the visitor center to take a look and get information. We were told that we were in the south park and could do the loop in two to three hours depending on how much we stopped. We decide to check out the campsite for future visits. The campsites were huge and shady and much to our surprise they were open. We decided to have lunch and decide whether to stay or go. We decided to stay and found the perfect site near a bathroom and a water supply. This campground was basic. Pit toilets and water was about it. It made up for it in cool temperatures and over all beauty. We set up camp and then headed out to see the rest of the park. This was considered the Badlands as well but it had a different look and feel to it. Theodore Roosevelt came here after his Wife and Mother died the same day to grieve his loss and rebuild his spirit. He was one of the first people to talk about conserving the area so that many generations could be able to see and enjoy it in the future. As we drove through we saw that while it resembled the Badlands in South Dakota it had a lot of green grass and flowers added in. It was beautiful. This park is an under promise and an over deliver kind of place. It is relatively small but had great vistas and herds of bison. If you ever get a chance make sure you do the loop drive up to Buck’s Hill and check out the view. I will bet you the price of a campsite that you will not be disappointed! By the way the campsites here are only $10 a night however since we are traveling with senior citizens ours was only $5 for the night. This place is a deal by any standard. After our tour we came back to the campsite and had a spaghetti dinner made by Lyn with puto for dessert. Yum Yum!!! At 9 we went to the amphitheatre and were treated to a show abut the “bad “animals of the park and a little history about Theodore Roosevelt’s connection to the park. So after hearing an interesting talk about local residents, which included mountain lions and rattlesnakes. (Oh lord here we go again.) we carefully walked down the trail back to camp and we all went straight to bed. What a fun unexpected treat this park is. If you are ever in the area you should make the effort to come here and remember if you do not like it your first nights on me! Oh and by the way we found out late that they do have regular bathrooms here we just happened to be near the only pit toilet in the park. Here is a short video of our campsite. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152582295258130&set=vb.752963129&type=2&theater

This was written yesterday and today we wake up in Minnesota to the sad news that Lyn's Mom died of a heart attack at 1AM this morning. (We do not have all the details yet.) We are headed home. It will take us two days to get home and then we are off to the Philippines. Lyn's Mom was a very strong woman who raised 7 children. She will be missed. God Bless our family during this difficult time.