340 miles mostly straight north from Belle Fourche, SD to Williston, ND, the center of Bakken oil field activity. Cool and cloudy this morning with sun and strong winds from the NW in the afternoon.
US 85 took us pretty much straight north from Belle Fourche into North Dakota. It wa a great 2 lane highway with very modest traffic.
I have a quest on my trip to visit our national parks along the way. The Theodore Roosevelt National Park honors the Ranch and land Teddy bought in 1884 when he came west to mourn and recoup after the loss of his wife and his mother, both passing within an 11 hour period. At the time of their deaths he was serving as a NY state legislator. After several years of ranching and living a natural life in the badlands of the Dakotas he returned to military and public service, ultimately as Vice President and President. He was known as the first conservation president because of his love of nature developed in North Dakota.
We met Frank at the Theodore Roosevelt Visitors Center. Frank is from northern Illinois and is traveling by bicycle from Anacortes, Washington to Bar Harbor, Maine. He's 67 years old and is averaging 60 to 70 miles per day, camping out most of the time. It makes touring by motorcycle sound like taking a nap. Quite a guy!
If you've never been to North Dakota like me, this is what it looks like so far. I found myself thinking that North Dakota makes Kansas seem like an interesting topography!!
Rick had a friend from his home town who has been working in Williston by the name of Matt. Matt was working when we arrived in Williston so we decided to crash at a Buffalo Wild Wings we stumbled onto. Inside we bumped into another friend of Rick's from Buffalo named Jeff. Turns out most people from Buffalo, WY seem to be supporting the still modestly booming economy in the Bakken!! Shown here is Matt's son Tyler and wife Terry, Rick, and Rick's friend Jeff. Matt, not shown, works 18-20 hours a day in the oil fields and had to take an emergency phone call, then go back to work after dinner! I'm glad I don't have to work any more! Thanks to Jeff for letting us crash at his place for the night. 👍
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