Rest Day #3 (Dickinson, ND)

Date: Monday, 1 August 2016

Time on Bike: 0

(Uploaded from Chinook, MT on 4 Aug 2016)

A rest day! Needed by all!

We can sleep in on our rest day. And we did! Left the hotel about 9:30 am for a day in Medora, ND and the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Stopped at the same visitor’s center off Interstate 94 that I was at yesterday. Looked for the guy that told me I can cycle that 8 miles in less than 45 minutes to let him know I DID IT!! Some pictures and on to Medora.

First thing I needed to do in Medora is go to the PO and retrieve the replacement air mattress that Coleman sent for the defective one we brought on the trip.

Piece of cake!! As a matter of fact, everyone was very nice and helpful.

Stopped by Dakota Cyclery to say hello to Jan, one of the owners. It was her address that I used for shipping the replacement Coleman air mattress. Bought some Jelly Belly Power Beans (you can’t have too many!) and a Maah Daah Hey Trail Water Bottle. Got to leave some money here!!

And then we went into the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I got to use my Senior Pass/Golden Eagle Passport for the first time! It’s official, I am a Senior Citizen over 62!!

We all three (Bunny, Woz in his Guide-Dog-in-training jacket, and me) went into the visitor’s center.

Bunny was wearing her UVA Track T-shirt we got at one of the many track meets we have gone to. The guy behind the counter asked if we are from Virginia. John is a student at JMU and this is his summer gig! How cool!!!! We talk about Virginia a bit and soon after Kaitlyn asked about Woz. Sorry John, came back to get your picture, but you were on lunch break.

Kaitlyn tells us where she goes to school a lot of students are volunteer puppy raisers. Where do you go to school we ask? She tells us the University of Georgia in Athens. That is where Bunny’s brother lives and we have bumped into numerous students that are puppy raisers when we have visited him. Small world!!

Poster from the men’s bathroom! Not a typical sign you see in a restroom.

Enough said!

We visited Theodore Roosevelt’s house Maltese Cross Cabin behind the visitor’s center.

And then headed out to drive the 26-mile loop through the park. I took more pictures than you want to know about. Here is a quick slide show!

We decided to do an early dinner/late lunch in Medora. I have had a hankering for spaghetti for days. They apparently don’t eat Italian food in North Dakota as we have not been able to find a place to get spaghetti. I had asked Jan about it and she recommended her favorite pizza place in Medora, Badlands Pizza & Salon. The restaurant is left in the picture below.

Finally! Spaghetti!! But I will have to get it without the meatballs… they had pork in them.

Woz is just perfect!

We met a couple who portray Theodore Roosevelt and his second wife Edith. They are dog people who rescued their current pup! He is a school teacher during the year and a real history buff. They do this gig during the summer months. Woz liked them immediately. He can tell good character, even if it is the President!

We find out we picked a great day to visit. Not crowded at all. The busy days are Thursday to Sunday, so Monday was the perfect day to take our break!

Back to Dickinson and getting more provisions at WalMart.

A great vacation day was had by all!