6/6/22 Dickinson, T Roosevelt South, N Dakota

 Monday, June 6

49 degrees and overcast this morning as we set out to explore.  Just outside the campground there is a pullout having to do with interesting rock formations referred to as Cannon Balls.  We are set to pull in, read and check out some rocks.  BUT this bison wants to check it out too.  We wait a bit in the road and then decide to move on and let the bison enjoy the area.  

We see a few more bison along the road,  They can way up to 2,000 pounds and can sprint up to 30mph - faster than us!   

A  flock of turkeys on a green hillside really stand out.  This Tom is showing off to the ladies.

We do a short walk in the rain at River Bend Overlook, where the CCC built this pavilion back in the 1930s. Quite a view! 

 

A few pretty flowers and a curious rabbit are along the path.

At Oxbow Overlook the rain is a little heavier, so we decide this would be a good time to have breakfast.  Hot oatmeal hits the spot as the temperature has dropped a few degrees to 46 and windy. This is where the road ends, so we turn around and head back.  We've only seen a few other cars this morning.

We stop to watch these two bison, but one of them continues walking slowly but steadily towards us.  When he is about 10 feet away, giving us the stinkeye, I suggest to Greg that maybe it is time to move on. A little intimidating, yes?

The bison is no longer guarding this pullout we tried earlier, so we check out a few "cannonballs". Interesting rocks that formed within the badlands and are just now being exposed due to erosion.

Our plan was to explore here and then take 85S to the Southern Unit of the park.  But it is pretty cold and dismal, so we decide instead to move on to the town of Dickinson and do some chores/errands.  We'll come back to the park later,

This is a small church we pass on the way to Dickinson.  It is actually larger than many of the tiny churches we've been seeing!  This one happens to be a Ukranian Catholic church but many others were Lutheran.

Dickinson is a sizable town compared to those we have been seeing, with a population of around 25,000.  It has a small college and a few museums (including a Ukranian one), but we are there for more mundane matters.  First stop is the post office - check. 

 Then we go to Tiger Truck Stop to get gas and use their showers.  We've read of folks using Truck Stop Showers but this is our first experience.  And it is a good one - each shower is in an individual small room and they are absolutely spotless!  

 

Next stop is a Wash N Go laundromat.  We are the only people there and it too is very clean.  The big machines make the job go quickly!  We're on a roll!

The local Ca$h-Wi$e Foods is our next stop.  Not a huge store, but we are able to find what we need.  Then we hit a Jimmy John's for a sandwich (I know, we just bought all that food and we're eating out, but it was so convenient and I love their bread).  

Final stop is the local library which is very nice and friendly.  It is still raining outside, so we spend a couple of hours catching up on emails, doing some blogging and looking at magazines and newspapers. 

We were considering boondocking in Dickinson (there is a local brewery which allows it), but decide instead to head to the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt which is about 45 minutes away.  That way, we'll be set for tomorrow.  

The entrance to the southern portion of the park is through the small town of Medora which has various small attractions that could be interesting on a different day. In the park we see interesting rock formations, a small prairie dog town and then we reach Cottonwood campground.  We are surprised that it is almost full!  We snag site #70.  The rain has mostly stopped, just a light drizzle now ( but there is a pretty good downpour after lights out).  We have clam chowder for dinner and settle in for the night. Tomorrow is SUPPOSED to be nice weather.