North Dakota - Canola and other types of oil

Who knew that North Dakota was an agricultural state.  It looks like Iowa!  They are the nation's top producer in everything from wheat, to beets, to canola.  And who knew that canola was a plant crop. It's the most beautiful sight, whole fields of bright yellow.

Canola - fields of gold

 Jade looked out the window and thought it was the sun shining on just one area. Even though the day was overcast, the fields were bright, bright, bright. It's where canola oil comes from. They process the plants for the oil and the "scrap" parts are fed to livestock.  No waste!  But I think we've seen enough farm and pastureland for awhile now.  It's been overcast but added to that is the smoke. The whole way across ND was dingy because of the heavy haze. We drove almost all the way across the state on Hwy 2.  Ended up spending the night in Williston.  Such a sad site.  We went from beautiful farmland to fracking land.

Buffalo Trails (Chip!) Campround, Williston, ND

Apparently, ND is in the middle of being exploited by the oil companies just like south Texas.  There are oil derricks everywhere flaring off the natural gas into the air. Even without the added smoke the place was just dusty and dirty and gross. The RV park we stayed in (the only one for miles or we would have gone somewhere else) was basically a worker camp.  There are vehicles from all over the US - people coming for the work in the oil fields. They had a help wanted sign up at Wal-Mart; they were paying $17/hr. The prices of food proved how they were able to pay that!  I've never been down to south Texas around Karnes County where all the fracking is going on but

Flaring off the natural gas - what a waste.

now I can only imagine. It's too bad they have to destroy a place.  The name of the geological area is the Bakken Formation and apparently is runs under Montana, ND and Saskatchewan. Because of the oil and gas development, ND has the highest employment rate in the US.  It's all about the money - seems like it always is.  

Teddy Roosevelt National Park

Two of the "strays" that the big guy called back into the herd.

We were glad to head south and we were richly rewarded in our journey.  The Theodore Roosevelt National Park is on the western side of the state and the landscape changes dramatically from the farmland.  It reminded us a little of parts of Arizona.  We have been to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest and it was similar to that. There are actually pieces of petrified trees in the park and the coloring of the landscape, while not as dramatic, was still beautiful. The girls were delighted to see the Prairie Dog "towns" in the park.  Acres of prairie dog mounds with the little critters running everywhere, sitting up on their haunches to stare at us, and then squeaking a warning to the others. It was hysterical, hundreds of them.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get a decent picture of them. I did get a decent picture of some bigger critters though.  We turned a corner and were greeted by an entire herd of buffalo!  Daddys, mommas, and babies. So huge!  And so close to us.  They walked right by the car.  Mya was a little freaked out!  A few of them has split off and gone to the other side of the road and I saw one huge male stick his head over the guardrail and "talk" to the others as if to tell them they were going the wrong way and to get back with the others.  And they did!!  He was trying to keep them all together and you sure could tell he was the boss!  The visitor's center was fascinating.  I always in awe

Teddy's first home in ND.  I want to spend the night here.

by the spectacular work the park service does to develop and maintain the parks and the interpretive information they provide.  Roosevelt said that he would never have become president had he not visited ND. It was a life-changing experience for him. He went from a privileged city politician to an avid conservationist and outdoorsman because of his experience there.  Instead of wanting to kill everything, he realized the importance of preserving these beautiful places.  I forget how many parks he is responsible for adding to the park system but it was a lot. We got to see his original cabin (the one further into the park at Elk Ranch doesn't exist any more).  I wanted to stay the night there - so cute.  He even had a waffle maker!!  Go figure! And a buffalo hide for a blanket.  So quaint.  

Thank goodness for Teddy.

Remember the movie "Night at the Museum" - flashback!

If I was independently wealthy, I think I would spend my life visiting every National Park in America.  Every time I visit one, I'm so disappointed that I didn't pay more attention in history class.  There is so much fascinating information that explains so much about our world today. As a teacher, I wish there were a way for all students to experience this first hand. As someone who lived in the same place for 48 years, I am finally getting so see all those things I may  have heard about but didn't really appreciate until now. Feeling a little like I'm making up for lost time. I so hope the girls look back on this and at some point realize the gift we are giving them. They keep saying all they want to do is get home - and all they care about is whether the campground has good wifi.  It's a little frustrating.  But then I remembered the summer before high school when my grandparents took me to England.  I was such an ass.  God bless you, Nana and Grandpa for putting up with me.  And thank you for the experience, even if I didn't appreciate it then.  If I'd only known . . .