Medora, Part 2

Wednesday we drove over to Dickinson, ND to get groceries and diesel and decided to stop at the dinosaur and mineral museum. The museum was awesome, and I personally enjoyed the mineral exhibit more than the dinosaurs. In the same complex there was also a county museum and a pioneer equipment museum. After the county museum we walked over and were entertained by an elderly couple as Jack and the husband walked among the old farm equipment, and his wife and I discussed canning pickles and beets and sauerkraut. We did get groceries and diesel, and on the way out of town, a Dairy Queen :-)

Thursday we drove back to the Chateau to see the stables and the caretaker's cottage. Both in very poor shape, and to get to them we had to walk down a steep road -- walking back up was a CHORE! Of course we were also battling a 40 mph "breeze". Thankfully they had thought to put a bench halfway up. We made good use of it. We also checked out the gift shops and got a bargain on a sweatshirt (for me) and a free T-shirt for Jack. We also toured the local museum, and at the last minute decided to visit the Harold Schafer Heritage Center. What a neat surprise! Harold Schafer was a Bismarck native who started the Gold Seal Company which sold Glass Wax, Snowy Bleach and MR. BUBBLE bubble bath. In 1965 he discovered Medora and he is responsible for the Medora Musical and for updating the stores in Medora and made it the number 1 tourist attraction in North Dakota. Medora has a volunteer program which gives volunteers a very nice place to stay and meals both free. Volunteers come from all over the US, and can stay from a season to a week or two. They staff the various gift shops and eating establishments in Medora.

Today (Friday) was our last day here, and since the weather was beautiful and NO WIND, we drove through the TR National Park one more time. Saw 2 bucks butting heads, several wild horses, some buffalo, and the always charming prairie dogs! Then we drove up to the Painted Canyon visitor's center where we took more pictures. Since it was almost noon, we drove 24 miles west to Beach, ND, and toured their Golden Valley County Historical Museum. By the time we got back to camp, the weekend influx of trailers had begun. As we walked through the campground after supper, we noted that there were only FOUR campsites that were open. By the time we came back from our walk, the campground was full.

Tomorrow we get into Central time in Bismarck, ND. We'll be staying at the KOA.