Badlands ND

The North Dakota badlands within Theodore Roosevelt national park is without question one of the most spectacular areas we have ever seen. We hope this is a preview of what we are getting ready to see moving west. The park is separated by a north and a south area, the first is a 14 mile drive around the little Missouri river through forests up mountains and ending at oxbow overlook which was occupied by a heard of wild buffalo when we were there. The south is a 36 mile loop drive that took us 4.5 hours and was by far our favorite. While in the south we saw thousands of prairie dogs (we understand they live in tight family units and are as Missy says “cuter than crap”) a huge mule deer (pictured) Buffalo within 6 inches of the truck and some white tail.

The ability to see the layers within the mountains that are as old as 60 million years is humbling and the colors that are glistening in the sunlight are breathtaking. We hope you like the pictures.

For Cheryl… Theodore Roosevelt came to ND in the early 1880’s to hunt Buffalo and because of this trip became a conversationalist, the first to become president. He was known to have said that he would have never become president hadn’t it been for his experiences in ND. He as you pointed out he resided in NY, but came to the Dakota’s often. Another neat fact is that he went bear hunting while President in Ashville NC and after days empty handed his aides were said to have located an injured and sick bear that they captured and brought to camp tied up. Theodore refused to kill the animal and the result was the term “Teddy bear”

Off to SD tomorrow for what looks to be a weeklong stop.