May 25 -- Bismarck to Minneapolis

Today was primarily a driving day. The Eastern half of North Dakota was very flat with lots of farms. Parts of it would rival Kansas in boredom, but we were listening to David Baldalci's latest novel, Simple Genius, and time went very fast. Our first stop of the day was at a Frontier Village with a National Buffalo Museum. Their claim to fame was the world's largest buffalo. If you haven't guest, it was just a statue. Our next stop was in Fargo, ND, to see its one and only highlighted attraction, the Fargo Theater. There's not a lot going on in that town and before we knew it we were in Moorehead, MN. They run into each other and we didn't even know when or where we crossed the line. We arrived in Minneapolis around 4:00, checked into the hotel, rested for a couple of hours and then tackled the Mall of America. What a monster! But, Jeanine tell Bryan he would love it. Not only does it have 520 stores, 50 restaurants, and the world's largest indoor amusement park, it has a Lego Imagination center that would challenge any kid at any age. The camera man in the glass cage and the clock are both made out of legos. We ate dinner at the Mall in Wolfgang Puck's Express restaurant. Great food. We are scheduled for a tour of Minneapolis at 10:30 tomorrow and we then have a better idea of the city hightlights. We have now been in 49 states--only 1 to go.

May 24 -- Billings to Bismarck

Today we managed to add another state to the number of states we have visited--North Dakota. So far we have covered the Western half and we were surprisingly impressed. Our first stop was at the Teddy Roosevelt National Park. (Yup, that senior pass got us in versus pay the $10 admission fee.) Starting at the Visitor's Center and being told the 'loop" was 36 miles and would take at least 90 minutes, we decided to see the museum, watch the film, visit Teddy's log cabin, and then drive just a little ways into the Park. The first wild life we spotted were the prairie dogs. Then the wild horses. Then the buffalo. Then the mule deer. Then many, many more prairie dogs and buffalo. (Can you find the prairie dog in the fifth picture?) When two of the buffalo bulls starting butting heads right next to our car, we decided it was time to move on. The Park is several thousand acres and includes Teddy's original ranch that he purchased in 1883. It covers lots of the North Dakota Badlands and had some great vistas. 36 miles and 2 hours later, we were leaving the Park. Around every turn was a new experience and we just kept going. Leaving the Badlands we encountered emerald green rolling hills void of trees, but with lots of rocks doting the landscape. It looked like pictures we have seen of Ireland, but they didn't have the rock fences. The skies were blue and the temps in the 50's and 60's. It was a great day for traveling. We are spending the night in Bismarck with its art deco style capitol building and emphasis on Lewis and Clark. At the Missouri River water front they have a park dedicated to Lewis and Clark. It has a replica of the barge the explorers would have used on the River.