HISTORIC ISSUES
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Vol.17
No.2 - 7/15/1882 |
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Courtesy of the New York
State Historical Association Library, Cooperstown, N.Y (.PDF files)
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April 2009
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February 2009
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New York Canal Times -
Online newspaper
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Mercury Media Group
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Homeward Bound (Part 6)
By Curt & Mariel Richardson |
When we bade farewell to Glacier National Park early in the morning, there was a cloud bank hanging low over the mountains. As we started climbing higher, we were soon shrouded in fog, which slowed us down. After reaching the crest and starting our descent over the east side of the Rockies, the fog finally lifted.
The great wheat fields on the flat prairie were a stark contrast to the rugged mountains that we had just descended. “Amber waves of grain” aptly describe the vast expanses we were driving through. By the end of the day, we had driven 498 miles eastward with about 300 of them past the fields of wheat, waving in the breeze.
This was a record driving day for us. Small towns, where large grain storage buildings are the outstanding feature, appeared every few miles along the route. The fields were planted in strips about 250-300 yards wide and were separated by the same width of bare ground.
I was told that they did it that way so that after the wheat harvest, when the ground was plowed and fitted for the next crop, there wouldn’t be a lot of newly plowed ground for the wind to blow away.
We saw many poor looking homesteads and did not see any impressive ranches as you might expect. One assumption is that these places belonged to the tenant farmers and that the absent landowners had their homes elsewhere.
We crossed the border into North Dakota and found a nice campsite for the night in a three-year-old campground in Williston. This was not a very busy place as there was only one other camper. We were able to check our e-mail.
The next day, our destination was the north section of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We had enjoyed the south section so much on the way out in June that we had to compare the two.
Our trip started with about 20 miles of stop-and-go construction. I let Mariel drive for a while so I could take more pictures of the wheat fields as we now headed south. The wind was blowing quite hard and the grain stems were moving like ocean waves.
Several weather-beaten and collapsing, ancient buildings, barns and houses could be seen along the way. This is a bit of history that will soon be gone forever. If buildings could talk, imagine the stories that they could tell about the hard times of the past in these North Dakota prairies.
We finally came upon the North Dakota Badlands where the national park is located. The Badlands in the north are really pretty compared with the Badlands of the south section of the park. The of colors of the layers of silt, clay, limestone and other deposits laid down millions of years ago were brilliant in the sunlight.
Our first stop, as usual, was at the visitor center for an orientation. This was a great way to learn about the geological history of this area. We also picked up a map of the 14-mile scenic drive.
We took advantage of a couple of hiking trails along the route. We were informed that a herd of buffalo (bison) had recently been seen. Five miles down the road we found the side road that would take us to where they had been sighted. Sure enough, there they were!
We were probably within 100 feet of a heard of 45 that included large bulls, cows and calves. While we were watching them, one came very close to the RV. We took a lot of pictures.
Two miles further, we stopped at the Juniper Campground and reserved a campsite for the evening. We continued on the drive to Oxbow Overlook. After exclaiming over the beautiful view, the high winds forced us to have lunch in the RV before we retraced our path to the trailhead of the Caprock Coulee Trail. This is a 1.6-mile self-guided trail through the badland coulees (dry water gulches) and grassy plains. Some rough spots on this trail need attention.
We returned to the campground to attend a 4 p.m. ranger walk and program about beavers in the park. This was disappointing as we did not see any beavers, but we did see several broken dams that the maintenance cleared out to prevent flooding. It seems to me that this is counter to preserving the natural status of an area established as a national park.
After dinner we rested up for the 8 p.m. ranger program. Mariel woke me, saying that she heard some strange noises outside and wondered if there were buffalo around. I ignored her and we got ready to go to the program.
With our mosquito nets in hand, we stepped outside. There they were! A large herd had come into the campground and were milling around in the open mowed area between the RVs campers and tents that encircled the field. It was quite a sight. There were close to 50 of them.
To be continued.
The Richardsons live on Pumpkin Hook in Van Hornesville.
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