After leaving Grand Forks early afternoon I didn't want to go too far before camping so drove about 100 miles toward Devil's Lake where I'd been told there was lots of camping. I think lots is an overstatement but I did find the Graham's Island State Park with great views and a nice spot.
Friday morning the 18th I left early so I could get in a good day. North Dakota is mostly level farmland without many attractions unless wheat or corn are of special interest. The plan was to make it into Montana that day. Following US Highway 2 west I drove about 300 miles before arriving in Culbertson, MT around 2pm local mountain time. That is when the curiosities began.
Crossing from ND to MT I was trying to decide whether to head northwest toward Glacier National Park or South West toward Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. As will become abundantly clear, I was being guided and thankfully listened.
The welcome center in Culbertson is clearly not a government one. It's a small brick building with very few markings and a small additional sign that says museum. A young man probably about 17, also unusual for welcome centers, greeted me. Come to find out this is mostly a local town initiative and they do it incredibly well. After a couple of hours of exploring one of the most comprehensive and impressive local history museums I left, together with information and maps covering all of Montana and Wyoming.
With the attendant's assistance (I never did get his name) I decided on heading south first, toward the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. I chose a small-unpaved road to begin the trip. 40 miles and a very dusty Tacoma later, I was looking longingly at the farms along the road for a repeat of the Grand Rapids experience. I came close to stopping at a few but they just didn't give me the right feeling. The gravel road ended at a town named Richey with nothing resembling a campground on the map for many miles.
Heading through town toward Hwy 200 where the next turn came, I saw a couple of guys talking by their trucks outside a bar. My friendly hello was greeted with one of those, "great, another lost tourist" blank stares. Upon asking if there was any camping in the area they both immediately pointed and said, "top of the hill, go left, there's a park". And that was that. I wondered what sort of park this might be. The town was certainly not the wealthiest looking. As I crested the hill, a sign pointed out Hwy 200, so at least I was heading in the right direction for leaving. Taking the left I spotted a small scruffy looking park just down on the right. The sign said, "Richey City Park, Restrooms Closed, Tourists Welcome". Slightly amused I turned in and stopped.
With nobody around and no obvious camping spots I headed toward a home across the street to ask questions. As luck would have it, nobody was home and I was wondering if I was allowed to camp overnight or if I'd be arrested in my sleep. It's about 6pm by this time and becoming very windy. A that time one of the guys from outside the bar drives up and says, "yes, this is the park and yes, you can stay overnight".
I begin to put up my tent as he drives off, wondering if he came to check on me or if he really had some reason to be heading up a deserted looking gravel road. 5 or 10 minutes later as I was still struggling with my tarp and tent in the wind the guy returned. He said I should pull up under the pavilion to block the wind and avoid the likely rain overnight. The sky had started looking ominous so I took the tent in that direction and pulled some tables out of the way to make space, pulling the truck up to the edge of the concrete to protect the tent from the wind. The rain started to sprinkle in large drops so I pulled the drivers' side up on the concrete out of the weather to access my gear without getting too wet. As is starts to spot heavier I decide to bring the whole truck up there with my tent so I can access both sides and the back too. Not 5 minutes after completing the table and pole avoidance game the lightening, torrential rain and then buckets of hail all came down around me. The vehicle, tent and I all remained safe, dry and dent free.
I sit here 30 minutes later writing this and the storm has passed, the birds are chirping, the trees rustling and I'm thankful for being more in touch with the universe than ever before. To those who say what a wonderful coincidence, I say believe what you please and I will continue to attract wonderful coincidences. Listen with your feelings and not your mind and it's amazing what can be experienced.
Friday morning the 18th I left early so I could get in a good day. North Dakota is mostly level farmland without many attractions unless wheat or corn are of special interest. The plan was to make it into Montana that day. Following US Highway 2 west I drove about 300 miles before arriving in Culbertson, MT around 2pm local mountain time. That is when the curiosities began.
Crossing from ND to MT I was trying to decide whether to head northwest toward Glacier National Park or South West toward Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. As will become abundantly clear, I was being guided and thankfully listened.
The welcome center in Culbertson is clearly not a government one. It's a small brick building with very few markings and a small additional sign that says museum. A young man probably about 17, also unusual for welcome centers, greeted me. Come to find out this is mostly a local town initiative and they do it incredibly well. After a couple of hours of exploring one of the most comprehensive and impressive local history museums I left, together with information and maps covering all of Montana and Wyoming.
With the attendant's assistance (I never did get his name) I decided on heading south first, toward the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. I chose a small-unpaved road to begin the trip. 40 miles and a very dusty Tacoma later, I was looking longingly at the farms along the road for a repeat of the Grand Rapids experience. I came close to stopping at a few but they just didn't give me the right feeling. The gravel road ended at a town named Richey with nothing resembling a campground on the map for many miles.
Heading through town toward Hwy 200 where the next turn came, I saw a couple of guys talking by their trucks outside a bar. My friendly hello was greeted with one of those, "great, another lost tourist" blank stares. Upon asking if there was any camping in the area they both immediately pointed and said, "top of the hill, go left, there's a park". And that was that. I wondered what sort of park this might be. The town was certainly not the wealthiest looking. As I crested the hill, a sign pointed out Hwy 200, so at least I was heading in the right direction for leaving. Taking the left I spotted a small scruffy looking park just down on the right. The sign said, "Richey City Park, Restrooms Closed, Tourists Welcome". Slightly amused I turned in and stopped.
With nobody around and no obvious camping spots I headed toward a home across the street to ask questions. As luck would have it, nobody was home and I was wondering if I was allowed to camp overnight or if I'd be arrested in my sleep. It's about 6pm by this time and becoming very windy. A that time one of the guys from outside the bar drives up and says, "yes, this is the park and yes, you can stay overnight".
I begin to put up my tent as he drives off, wondering if he came to check on me or if he really had some reason to be heading up a deserted looking gravel road. 5 or 10 minutes later as I was still struggling with my tarp and tent in the wind the guy returned. He said I should pull up under the pavilion to block the wind and avoid the likely rain overnight. The sky had started looking ominous so I took the tent in that direction and pulled some tables out of the way to make space, pulling the truck up to the edge of the concrete to protect the tent from the wind. The rain started to sprinkle in large drops so I pulled the drivers' side up on the concrete out of the weather to access my gear without getting too wet. As is starts to spot heavier I decide to bring the whole truck up there with my tent so I can access both sides and the back too. Not 5 minutes after completing the table and pole avoidance game the lightening, torrential rain and then buckets of hail all came down around me. The vehicle, tent and I all remained safe, dry and dent free.
I sit here 30 minutes later writing this and the storm has passed, the birds are chirping, the trees rustling and I'm thankful for being more in touch with the universe than ever before. To those who say what a wonderful coincidence, I say believe what you please and I will continue to attract wonderful coincidences. Listen with your feelings and not your mind and it's amazing what can be experienced.
1 comment:
Gotta love those coincidences. Especially when it involves hail. I haven't played around much with Blogger, just WordPress. Looks like a nice interface.
Your trip so far seems "blessed" in so many ways. I trust your luck will hold out :p
bonne chance. J
Post a Comment