*Part 3*
A Walk in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
We being this chapter driving West on Interstate 94.
We drove West from Minnesota into a red ominous sunset.
As day turned to night we found ourselves in the middle of a HUGE thunderstorm.
As day turned to night we found ourselves in the middle of a HUGE thunderstorm.
With no hotels in sight we drove on through the storm to the nearest rest area.
Here we stayed, hoping the trees around us would not blow down onto the car.
We slowly drifted to sleep only to be awaken by LOUD cracks of thunder and
bright flashes of lighting throughout the night.
bright flashes of lighting throughout the night.
This show of natures force proved to be both scary and amazing.
As dawn broke the storm faded to the East. Free to safely travel once again we drove on.
Feeling tired but relived, we needed to get out of the car.
We stopped for a short hike in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
An interpretive trail around the rim of the Painted Canyon told the story of the land.
This sign spoke of Theodore Roosevelt at age 24, coming to this area to hunt buffalo.
He arrived to find rain and only buffalo tracks in the mud.
Views of the low laying areas stretched off into the distance.
The illustration of buffalos here had me ready to hit the trail in hopes of seeing one
of theses mighty creatures.
of theses mighty creatures.
This informative post gave us a good idea of the trail that lead into the canyon ahead.
Happy to extend our time outside of the car, we took the one mile Painted Canyon Trail.
The trail lead down into the canyon.
All the rain from the night before teamed with the early morning sun
had encouraged a number of flowers to blossom on the trail.
The photo above is an aster flower with the playful name "Johnny-Go-To-Bed-At-Noon".
Named because it opens its flowerhead in the morning and closes before the heat of day.
I was surprised the the abundance of flowers...
...in this otherwise seemly arid area.
Looking around at the hillsides it was easy to see how Painted Canyon Trail got its name.
I was hopeful that we would see a buffalo during our short visit to the park.
However, much like Theodore Roosevelt's first visit to the park
we had arrived to find rain and only buffalo tracks in the mud.
As we got back into the car I quickly fell asleep to the sound of the road.
I look forward to sharing more of this adventure with you!
Follow this journey Westward with Part *4* of the USA Road Trip.