Northcentral US with the Stocks 2012

[Ned]

The campground in Apple Valley, MN, is Lebanon Hills and is part of the Dakota County parks system.  You can reserve sites online at their web site here.

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

August 30 & 31, 2012 Days 13 & 14 Bismarck

Aug. 30?We got up early and did the 36-mile auto tour in reverse.  We saw 3 times as many prairie dogs running everywhere, some new white-tailed deer who crossed the road right in front of us (Picture 1), and 3 times as many bison.  Everyone was up and grazing, and there were many little calves out running around.  Yesterday, we saw no young bison at all.  However, we missed the elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats.

Nice weather, just hitting 80? with a very gentle breeze.  Today we saw more fields of white plastic rolls?and all that wheat I have been mentioning is really HAY!  What can I say except that I am a city girl? As part of 49?ers Day celebration at my college, I drew the lucky straw to represent my sorority in the cow-milking contest.  In all seriousness, I asked my future husband whether the cow I had drawn was a boy cow or a girl cow.  I thought dairy cows were a special breed of cow, just like a poodle is a special breed of dog.  It made sense to me!  Anyway, as we traveled today, we saw hay, hay, and more hay.

When we came into the KOA, the owner escorted us to a lovely, large, pull-thru spot, facing trees instead of RVs, but the TengoInternet didn?t work, so the manager moved us to another nice spot.  He really bends over backwards to make everyone happy, and it?s a real Pride of Ownership kind of park.  He?s owned it for one year, and he shared how hard he has worked to build it up and how glad he is that we are here.

Aug. 31?We were guided through the State Capitol (Picture 2) by a recent graduate of UND.  The capitol is one of the youngest; it was built in the 30?s.  Oily rags in a janitor?s closet caught fire and burned down the old building in 1883.  I didn?t do the math at the time, so I don?t know what happened in the intervening 50 years.  However, when they did get around to building it, it was during the Depression, so they didn?t spend a lot of money on interior decoration. They did have a nice entry, but it has been blocked off since 9-11, and you now enter through the basement. 

Their one big splurge was these huge lights (Picture 3) that cost $1,140 each, weigh 1,000 pounds, and use 109 light bulbs each.  The government is still thrifty because not one of them was lit.  They are in a lobby that is used for press conferences.

They also commissioned a Great Seal (Picture 4), which has an Indian on horseback pursuing a bison toward the setting sun, an anvil, a plow, a sledge, a bow with 3 arrows, a tree with 3 bundles of wheat, and a tree arched by a half-circle of 42 stars.  This is interesting because they were the 39th state admitted to the Union.  They made a bad guestimate as to in what order the states would be admitted, and they have never chosen to correct it.

Total cost of the building was $2 million.  It is done in a very simple art deco style and has some very pretty woods, especially the rosewood.  The building is 18 stories tall, and is the tallest building in North Dakota.  The capitol occupies the first 2 floors. The other floors are other state offices.  The capitol has no dome, and 80% of the capitol?s space is usable, whereas in Minnesota, only 29% is usable.  Now I?m anxious to see St. Paul.  Outside of the Senate and House of Representatives are these little alcoves, (Picture 5) each built with a roof-like structure to keep the echo down.  (Do they want to keep their conversations with the lobbyists secret?)

Both houses meet from January to March in odd years, and the members earn $152/day when in session and $427/month when not in session.  There are 97 members of the House.  The theme of the House is Moon & Stars. (Picture 6) They have all the latest electronics, but the furnishings are simple.  There are 47 members of the Senate.  The theme there is the Sunset.

They did put decorative, symbolic doors on their elevators (Picture 7)

In 1981, they built on a 4-story addition to house the State Supreme Court, at a cost of $10 million.  Justices have to be 30 years old and have lived in North Dakota for 3 years. They serve for 10 years. The appellant gets 30 minutes to state his case, and then the prosecutor gets 20 minutes.  If the appellant wants to rebut what the prosecutor says, he needs to have saved some of his 30 minutes, or he?s out of luck. That?s how they can hear 260 cases a year.  (And, they work 11 months a year!)  The walls are covered in a soft velvety material, which captures the voice so people don?t have to use a mike.  2 of the 5 justices are women, However, I was disappointed to learn that North Dakota has never had a female governor.

They are making the capitol more decorative by spelling out NORTH DAKOTA in petunias. (Picture 8)

Our guide shared her exciting news that her Concealed Carry Permit had just arrived.  She is a self-confident, physically robust woman in her early 20?s, but she says all North Dakotans are frightened.  She said the oil boom has brought a lot of scummy people, crime, homeless people sleeping in the trees, beggars, traffic, and that she doesn?t feel comfortable walking anywhere alone.  Men tried to kidnap one of her friends when she was in the Walmart parking lot.  Williston is the center of the Bakken formation, and the old people who have lived there all their lives have had to move out because of the violence and murders, high prices at their stores, inability to get into barber shops, etc.  I read a statement by a police lieutenant that said he never had locked his doors since the day he was born?in fact, no one knew where the key was for the lock, but he has put new locks on all the doors in his house since the oil boom.  Sounds like the Wild West!!

Staying at the KOA?good WiFi close to the office, where we are now, FHU, $43 with KOA card, spacious sites (I looked out the window, and told Dean that sites on both sides of us were vacant, only to find out that that is just grass.)

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

More pics

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

Ned, Lorna, and Paul--THANKS SO MUCH!  You have given this teacher a lot of homework and things to think about.  I'm sure I'll be asking more questions as I get into it, but it will take me a couple of days, as I am also working on cleaning the inside of the coach.  Dust blew in today while we were gone, and there is a fine layer everywhere.  And, I had already dedicated Sunday to vacuuming and scrubbing floors, etc.  Going through your suggestions will be fun!

Ned, I want you to teach me how to do that thing where you type "here" and underline and it takes you to a website.  That is so cool!  I hope it's not a trade secret.

 

[Ned]

Ned, I want you to teach me how to do that thing where you type "here" and underline and it takes you to a website.  That is so cool!  I hope it's not a trade secret.

To insert a link like that, you must be in the full message editor (not the quick reply editor), highlight the text you want to display, then click the Insert hyperlink icon (farthest left above the row of smileys) then insert the URL.

 

[Bonnie Lawrie]

Hi Linda & Dean,
    Thank you so very much for posting such interesting information and photos. I am enjoying YOUR trip! If you happen to be in Escanaba, MI around dinner time, you might want to go to the Stone House Restaurant for a delicious fish fry dinner.  Being a Yooper, I would highly recommend pasties, too. They are served in restaurants all over the Upper Peninsula.
                                                                                    Happy Trails,
                                                                                              Bonnie Lawrie

           

August 30 & 31, 2012 Days 13 & 14 Bismarck

Aug. 30?We got up early and did the 36-mile auto tour in reverse.  We saw 3 times as many prairie dogs running everywhere, some new white-tailed deer who crossed the road right in front of us (Picture 1), and 3 times as many bison.  Everyone was up and grazing, and there were many little calves out running around.  Yesterday, we saw no young bison at all.  However, we missed the elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats.

Nice weather, just hitting 80? with a very gentle breeze.  Today we saw more fields of white plastic rolls?and all that wheat I have been mentioning is really HAY!  What can I say except that I am a city girl? As part of 49?ers Day celebration at my college, I drew the lucky straw to represent my sorority in the cow-milking contest.  In all seriousness, I asked my future husband whether the cow I had drawn was a boy cow or a girl cow.  I thought dairy cows were a special breed of cow, just like a poodle is a special breed of dog.  It made sense to me!  Anyway, as we traveled today, we saw hay, hay, and more hay.

When we came into the KOA, the owner escorted us to a lovely, large, pull-thru spot, facing trees instead of RVs, but the TengoInternet didn?t work, so the manager moved us to another nice spot.  He really bends over backwards to make everyone happy, and it?s a real Pride of Ownership kind of park.  He?s owned it for one year, and he shared how hard he has worked to build it up and how glad he is that we are here.

Aug. 31?We were guided through the State Capitol (Picture 2) by a recent graduate of UND.  The capitol is one of the youngest; it was built in the 30?s.  Oily rags in a janitor?s closet caught fire and burned down the old building in 1883.  I didn?t do the math at the time, so I don?t know what happened in the intervening 50 years.  However, when they did get around to building it, it was during the Depression, so they didn?t spend a lot of money on interior decoration. They did have a nice entry, but it has been blocked off since 9-11, and you now enter through the basement. 

Their one big splurge was these huge lights (Picture 3) that cost $1,140 each, weigh 1,000 pounds, and use 109 light bulbs each.  The government is still thrifty because not one of them was lit.  They are in a lobby that is used for press conferences.

They also commissioned a Great Seal (Picture 4), which has an Indian on horseback pursuing a bison toward the setting sun, an anvil, a plow, a sledge, a bow with 3 arrows, a tree with 3 bundles of wheat, and a tree arched by a half-circle of 42 stars.  This is interesting because they were the 39th state admitted to the Union.  They made a bad guestimate as to in what order the states would be admitted, and they have never chosen to correct it.

Total cost of the building was $2 million.  It is done in a very simple art deco style and has some very pretty woods, especially the rosewood.  The building is 18 stories tall, and is the tallest building in North Dakota.  The capitol occupies the first 2 floors. The other floors are other state offices.  The capitol has no dome, and 80% of the capitol?s space is usable, whereas in Minnesota, only 29% is usable.  Now I?m anxious to see St. Paul.  Outside of the Senate and House of Representatives are these little alcoves, (Picture 5) each built with a roof-like structure to keep the echo down.  (Do they want to keep their conversations with the lobbyists secret?)

Both houses meet from January to March in odd years, and the members earn $152/day when in session and $427/month when not in session.  There are 97 members of the House.  The theme of the House is Moon & Stars. (Picture 6) They have all the latest electronics, but the furnishings are simple.  There are 47 members of the Senate.  The theme there is the Sunset.

They did put decorative, symbolic doors on their elevators (Picture 7)

In 1981, they built on a 4-story addition to house the State Supreme Court, at a cost of $10 million.  Justices have to be 30 years old and have lived in North Dakota for 3 years. They serve for 10 years. The appellant gets 30 minutes to state his case, and then the prosecutor gets 20 minutes.  If the appellant wants to rebut what the prosecutor says, he needs to have saved some of his 30 minutes, or he?s out of luck. That?s how they can hear 260 cases a year.  (And, they work 11 months a year!)  The walls are covered in a soft velvety material, which captures the voice so people don?t have to use a mike.  2 of the 5 justices are women, However, I was disappointed to learn that North Dakota has never had a female governor.

They are making the capitol more decorative by spelling out NORTH DAKOTA in petunias. (Picture 8)

Our guide shared her exciting news that her Concealed Carry Permit had just arrived.  She is a self-confident, physically robust woman in her early 20?s, but she says all North Dakotans are frightened.  She said the oil boom has brought a lot of scummy people, crime, homeless people sleeping in the trees, beggars, traffic, and that she doesn?t feel comfortable walking anywhere alone.  Men tried to kidnap one of her friends when she was in the Walmart parking lot.  Williston is the center of the Bakken formation, and the old people who have lived there all their lives have had to move out because of the violence and murders, high prices at their stores, inability to get into barber shops, etc.  I read a statement by a police lieutenant that said he never had locked his doors since the day he was born?in fact, no one knew where the key was for the lock, but he has put new locks on all the doors in his house since the oil boom.  Sounds like the Wild West!!

Staying at the KOA?good WiFi close to the office, where we are now, FHU, $43 with KOA card, spacious sites (I looked out the window, and told Dean that sites on both sides of us were vacant, only to find out that that is just grass.)

 

[jagnweiner]

Linda-

We have a cabin just east of Park Rapids and if I weren't out of the country I'd probably be there right now. It's a neat little town. After Labor Day most of the crowds should be gone.  As far as things to do, Itasca is the top attraction. Downtown is nice.

I can't think of any real fine dining options; nice restaurants tend to go in and out of business rather quickly. Companeros in Dorset has good Mexican, but that's starting to get a ways from Itasca. For breakfast, the West 40 just west of PR on Hwy 34 is very good. Rockys has a pretty good pizza and the Schwarzwald downtown has decent German food.

Have fun and enjoy.

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

\
    Thank you so very much for posting such interesting information and photos. I am enjoying YOUR trip! If you happen to be in Escanaba, MI around dinner time, you might want to go to the Stone House Restaurant for a delicious fish fry dinner.  Being a Yooper, I would highly recommend pasties, too. They are served in restaurants all over the Upper Peninsula.
         

Bonnie, we'll definitely try your suggestions-the pasties for sure.  I'll have to look at the map for Escanaba.

If you just want to reply, you don't have to quote.  Just hit "Reply" at the bottom, and write what you want. 

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

Scott, thanks for the restaurant info.  I don't mind cooking, so we only go out if there's something special, like Bonnie's pasties, or it"s super late when we pull in and i don't have any reheatable leftovers.

I'm looking forward to shopping at Summerhill's closing sale (they shut down on Sept. 9) in Park Rapids.

I am thinking of trying "Bad to the Bone BBQ" in Laporte, but it's only open Thurs.-Sat. after Labor Day and Brigid's Cross Irish Pub & Restaurant in Bemidji.  A friend in the area recommended Sparkling Waters and Tutto Bene in Bemidji and Douglas Lodge, but they didn't score very well on Trip Advisor, so I put them on a back burner. 

Do you know anything about any of these? 

 

[jagnweiner]

I'm afraid not, Linda. We don't eat out that often either. I have eaten at the Douglas lodge and it wasn't bad, but that was at least 7-8 years ago.

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

Sept. 1 & 2 Days 15 & 16 Bismarck, ND

Sept. 1--We enjoyed the North Dakota Heritage Center right next to the Capitol.  It had outstanding exhibits on their fossils and about Plains Indians.  They had a great duck-billed dinosaur mummy (Picture 1)  (not a fossil because it is mummified?think Egyptians?instead of fossilized).  They actually have the mummified skin and you can see the scales.  It was found by a high school sophomore  on his uncle?s farm, and he named it Dakota. He died 65 million years ago.  He was a 3? ton dinosaur.  He died by the side of a river and was quickly buried by river sediment; some of its soft tissue mineralized and turned into rock.  He died a little before the big dinosaur die-out.

This museum taught me a lot.  We had devoured the information in the Beringia Museum in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, and I thought I understood it all.  I had taught my students about the ?land bridge?, but I thought it was kind of like hopping from little island to island, and small.  I learned there about its size and wished I could go back and re-teach. This map shows the huge land mass up outside of Alaska that is named Beringia, (it?s brown), and where the ice had melted is all brown.  This was the migration route of the Asians who followed the bison.  I knew what it looked like up by
Alaska, but not further south, especially not into Central and South America.  I found it fascinating, and Dean went on ahead, so there are no more pictures.

However, in the background you can see a birchbark tipi.  Now, I taught about the Plains Indians in my 3rd grade classroom.  I read many books and even visited them so I would be knowledgeable.  I learned and shared Plains Indians? myths with my students.  I burned sage in my class, as they would do, to purify before gatherings.  I played Native American music from the Plains Indians.  So, I was surprised to learn that they built permanent structures of thick birchbark. I learned so much at this museum.

The museum told the history of North Dakota.  I learned that after Norwegians, the next highest group of immigrants were the Russians.  The last section was wonderful displays of the birds of North Dakota.  This museum is worth of its AAA ?gem? rating.

We came back to the KOA and discovered we had electrical problems.  The owner and his brother worked on it for a couple of hours and discovered that the problem is the park?s, not ours.  They said they would get the electrician to come out?not likely on Labor Day weekend (at least in California).  We do have 30 amps, but that isn?t enough to keep the coach and my husband happy.  On this 99? day, the AC in just the front half sucks most of the juice, so we will eat out at Ruby Tuesday?s (I really enjoy their salad bar.)

Sept. 2?I spent all day plotting and planning the new information given me by RVForumers.  I?ve changed our routes in Minnesota and Wisconsin to include many new and interesting sites.

We still only have 30-amps.  One of the reasons I chose this park is that I needed 50 amps so I could vacuum and wash.  We haven?t used AC all day, despite it being in the high 80?s, so we could wash.  I?m going to ask for a partial refund tomorrow.  Any ideas on how much I should ask for?  I?m paying $42/day.

 

[Billy Bob]

Hi Dean & Linda I have been following your post and have enjoyed the info. & photos. Dean hope that you are doing Ok now. Sorry you had to miss your Alaska trip this, hope you can make it next year.
You asked for 50 amps & paid for them I would  ask for half price 30 amps sucks when you need 50 for your rig

 

[MN Cake Eater]

Hello Dean and Linda, I'm assuming you must be in Minnesota by now. 

Today around 3:45pm, I was driving North on Interstate 35W thru Bloomington and seen a Airstream Motor Coach going south.  Any chance that was you?

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

Hello Dean and Linda, I'm assuming you must be in Minnesota by now. 

Today around 3:45pm, I was driving North on Interstate 35W thru Bloomington and seen a Airstream Motor Coach going south.  Any chance that was you?

I'm pretty sure that was us.  There aren't many Airstream coaches--most are trailers.  We were on 35W, but I'm not sure of the time.  I'm sorry we didn't get to meet you.  We have had a good time here, and we are leaving the Twin Cities tomorrow morning.  We are headed to Wabasha to the National Eagle Center tomorrow.

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

It is going to take a few days for me to get 2 weeks of logs with pictures posted.  Please be patient with me.  Linda

Sept. 3 Day 17 Jamestown, ND

We traveled 100 miles to the National Buffalo Museum.  It has good parking for any size RV and is open until 8 PM.  On the grass hills, buffalo were grazing, including this white buffalo.  (Picture 1)  Yes, he is white!  However, it had just rained for about half an hour, and buffalo find wallows (large shallow holes), urinate in them, and then drop and roll, covering themselves with their own urine.  Yuck!  But, that?s what the flies think, too, so they stay away, which is good because bison have anemic little tails to brush them off.

The museum is in an old building, but they have put a lot of effort into it.  Museum admission was $4; everything else was free.  They had lots of free printed information, many bones, fossils, pictures, buffalo jewelry, and quite a bit about the Native Americans, as well as an observation deck (with a hole 4? in diameter that could cause big problems if a lady caught her heel in it). The stuffed brown bear from Alaska in the museum was definitely out of place (Where is the Border Patrol when you need them?).

I thought it was interesting because I learned a lot and worth the low cost of admission.  Dean didn?t.  They also have the largest buffalo statue in the world.  It cost a lot and the governor came to unveil it, but it?s seen better days and didn?t impress me. 

In a pen outside are 2 very active billy goats and 2 Rhode Island Red roosters (Pictures 2 & 3).  The billy goats ran around, played, and jumped, just like a winning Super Bowl team.  They tired, and one goat went over to eat.  A rooster charged him, pecking at his eye area.  The goat shouldered the rooster, and he flew, only to attack the goat?s hindquarters.  The goat chased the rooster for about 6 steps, and the rooster quit.  I thought they put on a good show!

There is a frontier town (free) with about 15 stores, a pony ride ($5), and a stagecoach ride.

Staying at Jamestown WalMart.

 

[Wendy]

You take your time. We can enjoy your travels in small bites

Wendy

 

[MN Cake Eater]

Enjoy your drive down beautiful Hwy 61!  Plenty of things to see and do!

Lake City-Beautiful Lake Pepin.  The birthplace of water skiing.

Wabasha-Nat'l Eagle Center.  Also the the inspiration to the Grumpy Old Men movies.  Check out Slippery's Bar (about 6 blocks north of NEC) for pictures and props from the movie.

Kellogg-LARK Toys.  Right on Hwy 61, just 7 miles S. of Wabasha.

Have a safe trip!

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

Sept. 4 Day 18 Detroit Lakes, MN

As we drove to the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site?Oscar Zero.  I saw one swan a swimming and 2 golden eagles. The gentleman I had talked to earlier told me that they had parked 91 semis, and we would have lots of room for our RV.  The site was NOT RV-friendly, so Dean had to detach the Jeep, back up, and re-attach.  But, he was VERY happy with his tour.

Since Dean was the only one to go in (more mis-information?I was told I would only be able to see a small part of the site and would not be able to get down to where the interesting part was), Dean did the following write-up:

The Air Force chose North Dakota for a variety of reasons.  Vast open spaces were required (the size of New Jersey).  Low population density was necessary to reduce civilian casualties in the event of a massive first nuclear strike.  Also, North Dakota is closer to the Soviet Union than many other states. 

At the peak of Minuteman Missile deployment, there were missiles located near 6 Air Force bases in Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

The Air Force grouped its Minuteman force into 6 wings.  Each wing had 3-4 squadrons.  Each squadron was divided into 5 flights, and each flight was responsible for 10 missiles. 

The 321st  Strategic Missile Wing based at Grand Forks Air Force Base is shown on the map. (Picture 1)  (Please excuse the picture quality?there was a nasty glare on the glass cover  which affected the focus.)  The 321st consisted of 3 squadrons?the 446th (top section of the map A, B, C, D, and E).  The 447th (middle of the map F, G, H, I, and J) and the 448th (K, L, M, N, and O), the O being Oscar, the site I toured.

Each of the letters A-O represents one flight of 10 missiles.  Each dot represents a silo.  Each star represents the missile alert facility for that flight.  The Oscar Zero Center (missile alert facility) is at Cooperstown, North Dakota.

The missile alert facility is the control center for a flight.  It consists of the above-ground portion, living quarters (Picture 2), recreation facilities (Picture 3), dining (Pictures 4 & 5), administration, maintenance, and security areas.  The elevator and ladder to the below-ground section is behind a secure door controlled by the missileers (launch control officers) 60 feet below ground in a blast-resistant, secure area. 

The underground area, including ladder, elevator, and two rooms that are behind blast doors, is inside a 4+ feet reinforced concrete and steel wall.  The first room is a support facility that contains air vents, filters, back-up generators, etc. (picture 6 & 7).  All of the equipment is bolted or welded to the floor.  The floor is mounted on shock absorbers.  The blast door for this room weighs 14 tons. (picture 8)  The door and locking pins are manually operated (hand-operated hydraulic pump).

The second room, the launch control room, is even more solidly built.  The launch commander?s console (picture 9) and the deputy launch commander?s console (picture 10) are shown.  All areas below ground are controlled by the missileers. 

Day-to-day operation of site security is handled by two 3-person teams.  The teams alternate to provide 24-hour coverage.  These 2 teams cover 3 days and are then relieved.  The 2-person missileer crews serve a 24-hour shift in the launch control room.  When their relief arrives, the existing crew must allow access to the elevator room.  The relief crew then goes down to the support room and checks out all the equipment, then closes and locks the blast door.  Then they report to the launch control room, the blast door of which must be opened from the inside.  The relief crew takes over the duty, and the original crew returns to the surface.  The blast doors are closed and sealed when the original crew leaves the launch control room.  Anything that the launch crew might need during their 24-hour shift, including food, must be brought down with them.  Should anything delay the relief crew, the original crew stays there.  The room must never be unmanned.

The Oscar Zero site is de-activated because of the START treaty, and silos have been filled in.  However, there are still some squadrons functioning elsewhere. 

Staying at Detroit Lakes Walmart?because we are having trouble with our Motosat.  As I understand it (pardon me, Techies), there was an update that we have to install.  But Dean?s e-mail is out on a cloud.  However, our 6-year-old travel MAC, doesn?t reach out to the cloud,  So, Dean was somehow able to transfer it from the cloud to somewhere that our e-mail could reach, and he got the update.  He wanted to be in a place without trees so he could get our Internet going, but it still doesn?t work.  We could have stayed in a Passport America park with everything for only $15 a night if we had known.  Now he has to find another treeless spot tomorrow and work with a Motosat techie.

I would not choose to spend the night in Detroit Lakes again, even at the RV park.  The whole town is by the railroad tracks, and the trains ran all night.  They didn?t just blow their whistle; they sang a whole concerto.  And, there must have been at least a dozen trains.  AND, it rained hard intermittently, which made loud noises on our roof.  Decidedly, not a good night?s sleep.

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

More pics....

 

[Dean & Linda Stock]

You take your time. We can enjoy your travels in small bites

Wendy

Thanks.  It's really hard for me to leave anything dangling, though.  I have a real need to complete (my son's phrase for me), and it really bothers me if I don't.