Minnesota

I have had the pleasure of visiting Minnesota a couple of times before, thanks to the fact that a dear college friend, Melissa moved up to this part of the world.  However, Jess had not yet been here, so we needed to make sure to spend some time in this fair state.  In researching, I truly wanted to see the Boundary Waters between America and Canada, but I could not really figure out how to do that properly.  It seemed that we needed a boat and a guide to make it possible, and well, the van holds a lot, but we didn't pack a boat.  So, we took a different route.

As in North Dakota, Minnesota seemed to be searching for some roadside attractions, and so between Fargo and Minneapolis, we encountered many fabulously large attractions.  There was the World's Largest Prairie Chicken (if you don't know what that is, don't worry, I still don't really understand it).  There was America's Largest Viking Statue of Big Ole, but why he holds a sign that says "Birthplace of America," I haven't yet figured out.  And of course the World's Largest Crow which stood proudly at the center of a Memorial Park.  Again, I'm not totally sure...  But my favorite was probably the Largest Ball of Twine (Built by One Person).  It was in the tiny town of Darwin which was proud of their claim to fame.  The ball of twine which took this man twenty-seven years to build was on the town flag and proudly displayed in its own building.  There was even a Twine Ball Inn (which I'm not sure is actually still in use...).  Some of our drive took us on two-lane roads, my very favorite way to see America.  The towns each had a sign with their population number on it.  While most were in the high hundreds or low thousands, there were several that could easily be counted to, like 34.  

I know it is hard to see... but this is the ball of twine...

One attraction just outside of Minneapolis, I had already been to twice before, but it is sort of a right of passage for this area.  The Mall of America was a big deal when it was built.  I remember reading about it as a kid, and I believe even watching the Mighty Ducks visit the mall.  It is a spectacle for sure.  Not only is it a huge, multi-story mall, but there is a small theme park in the middle.  We rode the indoor roller coaster, because again, it is a right of passage, right?

We ventured into Minneapolis to spend a few days, but were surprised by what we found.  I had been warned by a friend at home about what was still going on in Minneapolis, and someone we met in Fargo gave a similar warning.  I listened, but felt like it was a big city, we would be aware of our surroundings and would be just fine.  What we discovered, though, was a seemingly empty city due to a combination of COVID restrictions and continuing protests. Restaurants were closed, a book store I wanted to visit was closed, art museums were open some days, but not Wednesdays.  Our hotel, while we felt safe within, was even closed up with the restaurant, bar and pool all closed.  So, while we felt safe, we quickly realized there would not be much for us to do in town, so we adjusted our plans, all for the best.

Researching Minneapolis ahead of time, there were a couple things I wanted to see before we left town. The first was the Mary Tyler Moore statue. The story of that bold, working single gal of the 70s took place in Minneapolis (even though it was filmed elsewhere). The iconic scene where she threw up her hat took place on a busy Minneapolis street corner. About 20 years ago, when the statue was put in place, Mary herself was there, bringing with her thousands of hats so that the whole crowd could throw hats in the air together.

The Minneapolis sculpture garden was also a place I wanted to stop, and it did not disappoint. Unique, huge statues were scattered around the park, and made for some fun photo shoots.

With our bonus day in Minnesota, we decided to head north to the scenic coastline, a place truly more our speed anyway. The Land of 10,000 Lakes likes to claim that they have more coastline than California, Hawaii or Florida. It depends, it seems on just how you define coastline, but if you include coastline of a lake, Minnesota far exceeds the other three. No matter what, the coastline of northern Minnesota that lines Lake Superior is stunning. 

We went to Tettegouche State Park and went for a short hike to see a stunning waterfall, one of the many in the area.  Palisade Head was next, providing sweeping views of the seemingly endless blue water. It is astounding to see the blue water meet the blue sky, but know that it is only a lake, not an ocean. Iona’s Beach was a lovely quick stop. It was a beach made up of small pink rocks. When the waves hit just right, the beach “sings”. As the waves retreat, the tiny rocks “tinkle” hitting one another creating a unique instrument of nature’s creation.

Tettegouche State Park

Pallisade Head

Iona's Beach

Just driving along the coastline was a treat. It was very reminiscent of our time in Maine with lush greenery meeting a rocky coastline of endless blue. One of my favorite sites were the roadside collections of lupines. I had dreamed of seeing them in Maine when we went a few years ago, but we were a bit late for them, and I was terribly disappointed. As a kid (and a teacher), one of my favorite picture books is Miss Rumphius. It tells the story of a woman who was told by her grandfather to do three things in her life: travel the world, live by the sea and make the world more beautiful. She struggles with the last one, but finally decides to scatter a large amount of lupine seeds throughout her small town. A new dear friend of mine, Mr. Lou, who visits our school and shares stories with our students, brought lupine seeds (to go along with the story, one of his favorites as well) for us all the last time he visited our class in person, just before shut down. They have reseeded themselves in my own back yard, but the climate does not seem to be right to make them want to bloom. No matter what, seeing these lupines along the side of the road, in deep purple with small scatterings of pinks and whites filled me with joy.

We spent the night in Duluth, a relatively small town with a bustling sea port and beautiful views of Lake Superior. I was sorry for the reasons that changes needed to be made in our trip, but I’m so thrilled with the opportunities those changes provided.

North Dakota

Few people I know have been to North Dakota, and it seems that few people ever really travel to this state.  But that doesn't mean that there is not a lot to be seen here, at least by some standards.

Jessica and I drove just about the entire length of the state.  Theodore Roosevelt is on the far western side of the state, and our next destination, Fargo, was on the Minnesota border.  This is a large state, but it is one of the very smallest as far as population goes.  In fact, there are fewer than one million people in this great state.  

After the buttes of western North Dakota, there are open expanses, vast prairie lands, pastures, and wind farms that take up the majority of the landscape for hours on end.  But the great people of North Dakota knew that there needed to be something to attract people here, so they created HUGE (pun-intended) attractions.  There was Salem Sue, the world's largest holstein cow.  Sandy, the world's largest sandhill crane was created by a farmer who enjoyed the creative challenge.  Dakota Thunder, the world's largest buffalo (bison) sits at the edge of a Frontier Village and the National Buffalo Museum.

A few weeks ago, my mom saw this story on CBS Sunday Morning.  In case you don't have the eight minutes to watch it, I'll give a brief recap.  For years, the small town in Northern North Dakota, Rugby, had claimed to be the center of North America.  But, one night, after a few drinks, the people of the small town of Robinson, a little south, decided that in fact, the geographical center of North America ran right through the very bar they were in.  To settle the dispute, a scientist plugged in latitude and longitude numbers and discovered that the geographical center of North America happened to be in the small town of Center (yep), North Dakota.  Luckily, Center was also the one closest to the interstate.  We made a detour to Center, and shockingly struggled to find the marker, a few miles outside of town, but after asking some very friendly locals, we were able to step foot in the geographical center of North America.

So, after a full day of driving and many very exciting stops along the way, we made it to Fargo.  While Trip Advisor doesn't list many attractions here, there is a lively vibe to Fargo.  It is a hipster town, a blue dot in a red state, a young city with a big heart.  Once again, everyone we encountered greeted us with warm welcomes going above and beyond.  Two friendly locals, after learning where we were from asked, "Why are you here?"  I'm not sure they are used to people visiting, but that does not mean they don't know how to host!

We stayed just a few blocks from the adorable downtown street of Broadway which stretches about five blocks long with a little of the entertainment district expanding just a bit beyond.  These blocks are full of funky new restaurants, breweries, ice cream shops, collectibles stores and scattered businesses.  Painted benches, wall murals, uniquely painted bison statues, creative bike racks and outdoor seating options graced the road adding flair.  

The border here between North Dakota and Minnesota is a river flanked on both sides by green space with a great pathway through it.  I enjoyed a walk in the morning and was shocked by the wildlife right here in the bustling city!  Rabbits scurried across the path in front of me, a turkey wallowed in a dirt spot in the middle of the grass, a groundhog (perhaps marmot) sat perfectly still on a log, camouflaging himself and what I believe was a very young beaver hurried to hide in the bushes.

Making the most of our time here, we enjoyed eating!  A hip restaurant in a basement off of an alleyway in an old boiler room provided me with a divine candied bacon BLT.  Breakfast from a coffee shop allowed us to taste the famous caramel rolls.  (Why do we not have these cinnamon-bun like creations drenched in caramel?)  Rolled ice cream from a Thai shop reminded us of our time in Asia where we first had rolled ice cream.  My first ever cidery was a true delight!  Not enjoying beer, I have found a real liking of cider, but it is not always readily available in the south.  This local cidery was a true delight for me!  One of their creations, Trail Magic, is different every year as it is created from donated apples from locals.  Tacos, ordered off of a menu printed on an old vinyl wrapped up our culinary delights in this fair city.

Caramel Roll

Before leaving Fargo, we had to make a quick stop by the visitor center to see the famous wood-chipper.  If you've seen the movie, Fargo, you know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't, well, don't ask...  As it turns out, the city didn't always accept their connection to the Coen Brothers film, but after the city decided to embrace the connection, they tracked down the movie prop and it is certainly a draw for the tourists!

I asked the locals we encountered about winter.  They all sort of sighed before answering.  It sounds truly brutal, with much of the day in darkness and months with snow on the ground.  It is only the truly hearty who can survive here, and perhaps that is why their hearts are so big!

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

When I told people I was coming to North Dakota, they almost all said, “Oh, Mount Rushmore!” I would say, “No, I’ve been there, but that’s South Dakota.” They would say, “Oh, the Badlands!” I would once again say, “No, that’s South Dakota.” (More on that in a minute.) Then, they would say, “Well, what is in North Dakota?”

Before planning for this trip, I probably would have had similar questions. Very few people I know have been to North Dakota, but that’s part of what makes it so intriguing to me! Thankfully, Niki, our 50 by 50 inspiration, had been here and had tips galore to share. Her advise steered us to a little known National Park. Theodore Roosevelt, our conservationist president, loved this part of the country. He ranched here, escaped here, and learned about conservation here. It is because of him that we have an expansive National Parks system, and so it seems only fitting that this park was named after him. 

This National Park is not a massive one. An hour and a half around a loop drive can show you a majority of the southern part of the park, but we all know that a drive around means you miss out on so much more.

One of my first questions to a ranger was about the Badlands. I have visited the Badlands National Park in South Dakota, and yet, this area had also been referred to as the badlands, so I asked for clarification. It seems there are several sections of badlands in the Dakotas, named such, I believe, for their lack of ability to harvest nor pass through on ox and wagon. The ranger proudly boasted though, that the badlands here are the oldest.

Jessica and I both love camping and hiking. There is something rejuvenating about it. So, we decided from the start that we wanted several nights at the park. Setting up our tent, blow up mattresses and chairs always takes a little bit of effort, so you want to make sure you’ve got time to really enjoy the home you just built. Our site had bison droppings and a snake slithering toward it when we arrived, truly welcoming us properly. My favorite times at our campsite were our evenings of playing cards, strolls around the campsite, watching stars appear, reading with no distractions and watching bison wander calmly through. Camping allows for the smaller pleasures in life to become the highest priorities.

The weather made our time in the park a little more trying with highs in the upper 80s and 90s, two full days of wind gusts in the upper 20s, and strong thunderstorms two nights (one with a tornado watch), but we made the most of it and found lots to enjoy in this great park.  Like most places with lower humidity, shade made a huge difference, but the terrain of this park did not provide a lot of shade. There were trees, yes, but aside from the cottonwoods in our campsite, they were more sporadic, and also quite “limby,” so getting under their shade was problematic.

The park is made up of a seemingly endless amount of buttes as far as the eye can see. A butte may appear like a mountain, but the difference in their categorization has to do with how they are formed. Mountains grow up from the ground while buttes are broken down from erosion. So, at one point, all of this land was the same height, but years of erosion have created buttes and canyons. The tall buttes have clearly distinguishable lines of color showing age and periods of erosion.

Wildlife in the park was plentiful! There are no bears in the area, so that made life a little easier taking away that fear. Bison were everywhere, sometimes on their own, sometimes in large groups of thirty or more. They wandered across the road and through campsites, showing that this land was theirs and not ours. We did some research and learned that these are bison, not buffalo, even though for years, Americans have used the terms interchangeably. 

Prairie dogs were in huge supply; their towns were marked on the map of the park. Some of my favorite parts of hikes were the walks through their towns. They scurried about, chirped at us and wagged their tails before going back into their burrows. This is a favorite video of ours, so we walked through the towns calling “Allen” and “Steve,” but no one responded. Researchers have determined that prairie dogs have a complex language system and even have different sounds for color and number. We heard many a variety of chirps and squeaks! 

We spotted deer and rabbits (one that even hopped toward me on the path before stopping to scratch his ear within a yard of me, so I almost gained a pet bunny!). Prong-horns were a common site as well. Through some research, we learned that they are not actually antelope. While they look fairly similarly, antelope are of a different genetic make up found in Africa. A major difference is that antelope have antlers (that come and go), but prong-horns have horns. So, the classic song has two out of the three animals named incorrectly. 

One of our favorite creatures to spot was not an uncommon one, but they are rare to see in the wild. When this became a park in 1954, a few of the horses living here eluded capture. Their descendants are now carefully managed, but still remain wild and free to roam the park. There were birds a plenty, and they happily sang throughout the day. Crickets, too, usually an evening sound, could be heard throughout the day across the grasslands. We saw a snake, but thankfully at a safe-distance and with no visible rattle. We heard coyotes at night, but never saw them. And the elusive porcupines kept to themselves.

Our first hike was one from Peaceful Valley Canyon. We had to cross the Little Missouri almost immediately (little being a key word). It was no more than ten yards wide and at its deepest was about a foot and half deep. So, besides the difficulty of taking on and off our boots, it was pleasantly refreshing. The rivers here are muddy, because of continuous erosion. We walked through prairie dog towns and winded through the valley of the buttes, but perhaps unwisely we chose the ten mile loop instead of the five. Parts of the trail were tricky, crossing over tiny muddy tributaries, but mostly, it was fairly flat, walking through sage brush and prairie grasses. The most remarkable part of the trail was after just a slight climb we ended up on a prairie plateau with nothing visible for as far as the eye could see. It was a drastic change from the desert/tundra-like valley we had just walked through. It was also a reminder that this whole area at one point had been like that. The tall land provided us with sweeping views of the landscape and made the hot long trek well-worth it.

The petrified forest was another part of the park that we wanted to see, and it did not disappoint. The starting point for the trail is a little out of the way, along a dirt road that is not accessible after heavy rains. There are two small sections of the park that are parts of petrified forests, and we chose to visit the southern one. For about a quarter of a mile along the trail, you find petrified tree stumps and logs littering the ground. It was fascinating to see, and mind-boggling. Chips of “wood” are scattered about but if you touch them or attempt to lift them, you see that in fact, they are stone, despite their appearance. From a little internet searching, what I understand is that this area was once (millions of years ago) a warm climate with lots of water, not too dissimilar to the Everglades. Heavy rains buried the trees under lots of mud, depriving them of oxygen which helps them to deteriorate. Instead, minerals that help in rock formation attached to the trees and slowly, while keeping the appearance of trees, they turned to stone.

The one near perfect day that we had, with clear skies and highs in the mid-70s we should have spent hiking, but we chose a different rejuvenating option. We chose to have a lazy start to the day, then spent the afternoon with our chairs down by the river, watching bison doing the same thing on the other side. We chose to read, they mostly lazed about and tried to rid themselves of the flies. Sometimes just being is the best way to enjoy nature.

We spent more time in the town of Medora than we originally planned because of the weather. Niki had described it as “a sweetheart of a town,” and she was not wrong. Year-round it boasts a population of about one hundred twenty people, but that swells during the summer months. There are about a dozen gift shops, ice cream parlors, fudge shops, a candy shop, a handful of restaurants and a putt putt course and playground perfectly themed to the area. An art gallery and small museum about the inventor of Mr. Bubbles was a great deterrent on a hot blustery day. There is a large manor where the founder of this town, a wealthy Frenchman and his wife (who the town was named after) once lived. There also, shockingly, is a booming theatre industry, where, during the summer months, multiple performances occur each day in multiple venues. On a particularly hot blustery day, we chose to spend $15 to sit in air conditioning for an hour, and enjoyed it much more than we anticipated. A Theodore Roosevelt expert, and look-alike, shared knowledge of the President, his love for this part of the country, and interacted with the audience in a truly captivating way. We missed out on the ever popular Medora Musical, but then again, we must leave something to come back to!

Playground in Medora

Everyone that we met in this town blew us away with their kindness. The shop-owners, wait staff in restaurants, and rangers all went above and beyond, carrying on conversations and greeting us with warm, genuine smiles. The woman in the office for the Roosevelt Presidential Library, where we sort of accidentally inserted ourselves, could not have been friendlier and shared information with us about the upcoming build (scheduled to open in 2025). The gentleman in the candy shop led us to the Theodore Roosevelt play along with other helpful hints.

On our last day, we chose to drive an hour to the North Unit of the park, still under the same name, but a total separate piece of land. More buttes, vast landscapes, and canyons formed by the Little Missouri greeted us in the North. There are supposedly a herd of long-horns there as well as big horned sheep, but they wisely sought refuge elsewhere in the heat of the day. Cannonball Canyon was a unique geological area where, somehow, of which I still don’t understand, round, reddish rocks have formed and appear to litter the ground. 

We chose a four-mile loop hike in the park that took us through strikingly different landscapes in a short amount of time. Starting at the base of the buttes, we ended up climbing through a dense forest before arising on top of a butte with incredible views. A lookout point shows where the river takes a sharp curve because an ancient glacier blocked its way. And now the slow moving river floods frequently providing a perfect place for cottonwood trees to thrive.

On our last night in the park, we drove further into the park to watch the sunset from a high peak, Buck Hill. The light danced across the canyons and buttes, creating soft golden hues. Anytime I get to watch the sunset seems like a gift, and watching it from such a stunning vista was a lasting gift. Not only was the view and the color of the sky incredible, but the amount of wildlife we saw on the road to and from added to the excitement. A herd of bison, including many young ones crossed on the road in front of us. Turkey and deer used a similar crossing spot. Horses seemed to know that their silhouettes were best admired in the setting sun, and so they strutted around and did their best to make drivers stop and notice them. An owl swooped low on the road just in front of us, but the porcupine stayed hidden. 

I’m not sure if and when I’ll make it back to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, but I’m so very thankful I’ve gotten to see the beauty it provides of this unique landscape and thriving wildlife. Let me know when you’re ready to come, I’ll happily help you plan your trip!

Where the Buffalo Roam, Where the Deer and the Antelope Play

I'm not sure if those lyrics have ever felt more real than they did today. We saw buffalo (perhaps raised ones, sure) munching on prairie grasses and deer and antelope feel right at home in wide-open fields. They all felt so comfortable even, that when a small crew of them considered crossing the road, and I came to a complete stop, they took a full minute to consider their options and calmly chose instead to stay on the same side of the road.

State 46

Our goal today was to get safely from Colorado into our next destination of North Dakota.  One route took us through Nebraska, which was a new state for me.  So, that meant it was important to ensure we did something there, because driving through doesn't count.  Our first stop was Scotts Bluff, a National Monument in southwestern Nebraska.  After miles and miles of continuously flat lands, we approached obtrusive buttes, jetting straight up from the plains.  Scotts Bluff was once an important landmark for the pioneers who set out on the Oregon Trail, helping to guide their journey as it was easy to spot.

Like all National Parks properties, it was well-taken care of with great signage.  We were able to drive up to the top of the Bluff and walk around for a few minutes where the views went on for miles.  In fact, Chimney Rock, another milestone on the wide-open prairie was clearly visible twenty-three miles away.  There were a few longer trails that we could take, but we had a long drive ahead of us, and, well, the nice ranger warned us from the start about rattlesnakes, so, that was enough of a deterrence.

Scotts Bluff was a perfect stop for Nebraska, but there was much more fun to be had in Nebraska!  When Atlas Obscura mentioned Carhenge, we knew we needed to stop.  Jim Reinders had lived in England for years, and like the rest of us, he became enthralled with Stonehenge.  So, upon his return to his small town of Alliance, Nebraska, he decided to honor his late father with an art tribute of extraordinary standards.  With his family's help, they constructed Stonehenge in just a few days.  We could see it a mile away, and remarkably, it truly resembles the real thing that sits across the ocean.  Tacky?  Sure.  Bizarre?  Absolutely.  Astounding?  For sure.  Definitely worth the slight detour.

After that, it was five hours of open road through northern Nebraska and South Dakota.  We made a pit stop for a mouth-watering burger in Rapid City (mine included fried cheese curds), but otherwise, it was wide-open.  By wide-open, I mean we went miles without seeing a tree.  We went miles without seeing any sort of structure other than a fence.  And yet, even more remarkable was the distance that we could see.  Vast expanses of open fields, rolling gently into the sunset as far as the eye could see.  

Excuse the bug-filled windshield

Our cow game was a huge success today, the only difficulty was knowing when one herd ended and the next one began to count our points fairly.  

State 47

Tomorrow, we set off to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park where we hope to roam and play with even more buffalo, deer and antelope (and if we're lucky, a porcupine, too!).

Traveling to Denver

The drive from my house to Jessica's house is about 18-19 hours, a trip that I made last summer during the height of the pandemic so that the two of us could still spend some time together over the summer.  We went camping in Colorado where we were able to social distance like champs!  One would think that making the trip again, a year later, would be daunting to some.  But no, I love the excuse to see the countryside through the windshield and great audiobooks with some pop-music every now and then keep me going strong!

For me, there is something about crossing the Mississippi River.  It's not something I see frequently, but it sets a boundary for me, a home of familiarity for me.  Crossing it, I feel like the hobbits who crossed the border line of the Shire for the first time.

That being said, I sort-of bee-lined it out of the southeast, knowing that those states are close to me, and I can visit them anytime.  Although, I must admit that it is those places closest to me that sometimes don't get the attention they deserve.  Driving through rural, western Arkansas made me want to make a special trip sometime to see the Ozark Mountains and try out the Arkansas wine country (I'm confident it's like Napa, right?).

Last year, Kansas was a new state for me, so I took my time traveling down interstate I-70, stopping in Wamego (the self-proclaimed home of Dorothy and the yellow-brick road), America's Most Artistic Giant Toilet, a giant statue of the legendary Johnny Kaw, World's Largest Czech Egg, the North Pole of Kansas, and the World's Largest Easel (and painting).  You're already planning your trip to Kansas, aren't you?

So, this year, I once again wanted to enjoy Kansas.  Driving the hundreds of miles straight across the state on I-70 is not the most thrilling of ways to see the state, especially since I had already taken all of the little detours close to the interstate just last year.  My mom recently sent me a blog post about the best road trips in each state, and I realized that the Prairie Trail Scene Byway was not too far out of the way, so I took that side trip which weaved through one-stop-sign towns through the middle of Kansas.  

I stopped for a minute in Canton where the sounds of birds far-outweighed the sounds of cars.  The town's claim to fame is having the last built Carnegie Library and two water towers: one for hot and one for cold water.  Which begs the question, why don't we all have that?

Cold and Hot

My next stop was a much livelier town, whose proximity to the interstate no doubt contributes to its success.  Lindsborg, which in Swedish translates to Linden Castle, is a thriving tiny town with a population of a few thousand people.  This "Little Sweden" is proud of its heritage.  Dalas (Swedish painted horse statues) adorn the sidewalk, each uniquely created and painted to match the storefront.  My favorite was the one painted like a grapevine in front of the local newspaper.  Yes, I thought it was going to be a wine shop when I approached, but reading the "Heard it Through the Grapevine" description then made perfect sense!  There were local art shops, cafes, a Swedish bakery, restaurants, gift shops and a toy store.  Main Street was bricked, adding nostalgia, and every person greeted me with a warm welcome.

When given the opportunity to take a two-lane road or an interstate, for roughly the same amount of time, I will always choose the two-lane.  I love an opportunity to see the countryside, with less concrete.  Driving Highway 4 across the center of Kansas (I passed a town that was the geographical center!) was a delight!  There were enough cars around that I never felt unsafe, but for an hour of my three hour journey, the only car on my side of the highway that I encountered was one that was passing a tractor.  The tiny flat towns that dotted the landscape provided fuel when need be and a sense that I wasn't alone.  (Although, keep in mind that listening to a thriller about women going missing in a small town is not the best when stopping alone in small rural towns.)

One way that I found to entertain myself on the long, flat stretches was to spot something tall up ahead, usually a slender silo or a water tower, and then see how many miles until I reached it.  Many things were three, four or five miles.  Two different destinations I spotted on the horizon were eight miles away.  Eight.

My next destination was fourteen miles on a gravel/dirt road where I had to dodge the prairie dogs that scurried eagerly across the road.  But, Monument Rocks, a National Natural Landmark was well worth the detour.  Pulling up alongside these imposing chalk pyramids, in the middle of prairie lands, completely alone, was extraordinary.  They are on private land, but you are allowed to walk amongst them and wander among these towers where swallows have created colonies.  A couple other people arrived, but sharing this natural wonder in the middle of no where was not difficult.

I-70 finally beckoned me back, and I must admit that slowly watching the Rocky Mountains come into view is an astonishing site.  I'm thankful now for a few days with Jessica before we set off on another long driving day.  But if you haven't truly seen Kansas yet, give it the time, even just the vast expanses of fields is an amazing site to see.

RANDOM STATES

It's become a tradition.  Instead of asking, "So, Rebecca, what are you doing for the summer?", it has become, "So, Rebecca, where are you off to this summer?"  Usually, my response is met with praise, excitement and a tinge of jealousy.  This year, I have gotten more looks of confusion, even though, let's face it, most of us are up for going just about anywhere right now.

My dear friend, Niki, shared a challenge with us years ago that she was working on completing: See 50 states and 50 countries by the time she turns 50.  I loved this challenge, and immediately accepted it as my own.  Well, I'm at the point now, with 45 states under my belt, that now I'm headed to see some that are not usually on the top of anyone's bucket list.  Sure, I still have Hawaii left to see, but I wasn't sure how to work that into a road trip as of yet...  Thankfully, my ever-faithful travel buddy, Jessica, has accepted this challenge as her own as well, so I do not have to venture out on my own!  While the world continues to deal with a global pandemic, we decided it was not the best of times to travel internationally, yet, so, we decided it would be the perfect year to check off some of those "random states."

I decided to drive out to Denver instead of fly to Jessica, partly because of the fun of road-tripping and seeing new places, but I will admit, a larger part of it is so that I do not have to worry about limiting my packing.  I am a horrible packer, a what-if packer.  If one is needed, then three must be necessary.  Plus, we're going to be doing a lot of camping on this trip, and well, the way we camp is not the kind that fits in a backpack.  Most people refer to the kind of camping we do as "car camping".  Meaning, we sleep happily in a tent, but the car, loaded down with everything we could possibly need, is parked right next to us.  So, fitting all of that into a suitcase and onto a plane seemed a bit out of the question.  In fact, fitting all of that into my tiny hatchback car seemed a little bit of a squeeze.  So, my parents, VERY generously, let me borrow their minivan.  Trust me, I can even hear the jealousy in your fingertips as you're scrolling and reading that.  I know you're picturing yourself driving cross-country on the open road in a sexy minivan with sliding back doors and cup holders for all of the sippy cups.  Sure, it may not be the most appealing thing for a single gal to drive, but when you're idea of packing light means only taking half your belongings, then packing for a month-long trip with camping gear, a minivan is perfect. 

While there may not be a whole lot of "destinations" where we are headed, using websites like Atlas Obscura and Road Trippers gave us a plethora of destinations, most of which include seeing the largest of something.  I guess, in wide open spaces, might as well create the "World's Largest ___" whenever possible.

You've probably got some guesses as to where these random states may be, but for now, I'll leave that for the upcoming posts.  I am notorious about letting my blogs slip, not finishing the entire trip.  I'm determined to see this one through this year, even if it means finishing it from my couch upon my return.  I love blogging on my trips, as much for myself, as a record of my travels, but I truly appreciate you following along as well.

Let the tour of "Random States" begin!