28 August 2012
We have covered approximately 1000 miles since we left Rapid City last Tuesday. We are now in Duluth, Minnesota which sits on the southwest point of Lake Superior the largest of the 5 Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in the world. We are loving being here.
Gordon Lightfoot sang of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in the late 1970's and was our introduction to his music which we have loved ever since. The bulk iron ore carrier the Edmund Fitzgerald went down in November 1975 with the loss of all 29 crew, in Lake Superior.
Our road to Duluth ...
We left Sheridan Lake about 11.30am after last
goodbyes. Traveled down Highway 16 into Rapid
City headed for Eddies Truck Centre for the RV
chassis check. We left at 5.00pm! But all good!
We traveled east on I- 90 to Wall and booked into
the Sleepy Hollow RV Park. Far enough for one day.
The next day we set out for Pierre (pronounced
Pier) the capital of South Dakota and the second
smallest capital in the US. Pierre lies in the Missouri
River valley and forms an oasis in the largely treeless plains of central South Dakota
There are acres and acres of crops with banks of silos on each property.
From Pierre we travelled due north through the centre of the state following the Missouri river which integrates into a vast lake system. We were to get close and personal with the Missouri river for the last time at Bismarck in North Dakota.
Today I offered to drive for the first time! We were on a long 2 lane highway and the opportunity to change drivers took 70 miles - thank goodness - then white knuckles, total concentration, little conversation, anxiety and tension filled the drivers seat!! Oh bless ... a gravel road so better change drivers! Buggar!
Actually our day was to take a dive as we ran into 20 miles of road works in the late afternoon and picked up 3 stone chips into the front windscreen - a large truck coming from the opposite direction at speed. We found a place to stay the night at Linton, just over the border in North Dakota - a small RV park - booking in by the honesty system as it was fairly late. For those interested it is not far from the birthplace of Lawrence Welk.
The next day we drove into Bismarck, capital city of North Dakota. We went 'off road' onto a secondary highway for a closer look at the Missouri river - it was a beautiful morning; the sun was behind us as we were going west; undulating hills, small communities and endless fields of sunflowers nodding 'good morning' as we passed. It was a pretty valley with crops as far as the eye could see.
We had the RV serviced at Kupper Chevrolet in Mandan. What lovely people! Brad the service manager was a star - he was sure we would fit into the lube bay and we did - just! They also attended to the stone chips on the front windscreen. We were at Kuppers for about 3 hours. Then found an RV park; Trevor assembled our new portable barbeque and we had steak and salad for dinner.
On Friday 24 August we woke to thunder and light rain. It was windy too. To go or not to go???
We decided that if the weather was lousy we might as well be driving. We left the RV park at 11.00am on I-94 heading east for Valley City about 130 miles away. The weather cleared once we were on the way but became very hot and humid as the day wore on.
Valley City is nestled in the Sheyenne River valley. It was founded in 1872 with the name of Second Crossing of Sheyenne when the Northern Pacific railroad crossed the river there. We visited the Rosebud Visitor Centre: home to 'Rosebud', a renovated 1881 Northern Pacific Superintendent's Car. The centre features interpretation of the history of the Sheyenne River valley. Valley City is also known as the City of Bridges.
We stopped at the Wagon Wheel RV park which sits atop the highest hill for miles - and has a good view. BUT - it was very exposed!
In the early evening the wind picked up considerably.
At about 9pm there was thunder; then thunder storm warnings started flashing on TV over the regular program.
I was worried; Trevor not visibly. I got up and dressed. I admit I was a bit panicked. We were so exposed on the top of the hill. Trevor said 'what do you want us to do ...'??
Finally I went to bed but it was a short night. The winds buffeted the RV. I think that I felt every buffet but must have slept for I woke up at 6.00am to quietness! Then we had a really heavy rain shower which by 7.30am cleared and a beautiful day!
11.30am Saturday 25 August
Driving through Fargo and Moorhead and across the
border into Minnesota. We are headed for Detroit Lakes east on Highway10. Now more rolling hills and farm lands -crops and stock. Much greener with lots of trees. We are on a secondary highway which is far more interesting though generally not such good driving.
We have clocked over 5100 miles (hence the service in Bismarck) We have done about 4000 kms since we purchased the RV!
Detroit Lakes is on the Detroit Lake. It is quite large -
population 8500 and very pretty. Everyone appears to be on holiday??
Of course! It's the weekend!
No wonder we are finding it difficult to find a spot to stay.We finally book into the Forest Hills Resort which is set on a golf course - rather a good one even to our untrained eyes. It also has parking for RV's.
There are lots of permanent homes, gardens and trees. Golf buggies flying around everywhere. It was lovely! We just sat outside in our new outdoor chairs - paper, sudoku and the odd (very odd) fly.
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| Detroit Lake |
