Day 13- Monday June 20, 2022, Moving from Devils Lake ND to Roughriders Cpg., Minot ND

Finally the heat subsided to 70 F in the morning , and with A/C off it seemed tolerable, again. It never did get to 97 F , and stayed around 92 F which was hot enough. With that stiff wind 20-30 it felt like a furnace in your face. We saw a Harris' Sparrow at the feeder before I put I the feeders in their case, There were no Hummingbirds that ever came. I don't think there were enough flowers in the park!

We were on the road by 9:30 and as Ruth wanted to "attack" the trailer cleanliness, when we arrived at Minot, so we  had plenty of time to do that when we arrived at 2:00.

But I had promised we would stop for breakfast at Burger King for a egg, sausage croissant. Lo and behold after parking the trailer on the street, and walking across to the door, it said "use drive through only." So I walked to the drive through and no answer. 'Nobody home'. The marquee was lit and advertised "Open" . No dice!

We ended up having a very fine biscuit and gravy, with a couple of eggs,  down the street at "Mr. and Mrs. J's". Made out better than Burger Kong me thinks!  

It was noticeable as we drove west still on US 2, that there were fewer pot hole lakes and ponds, but still some. It appeared as though we were able to identify many birds "on the fly" after all these years of perfecting that skill. Crows and Ravens become much easier (Tail shape and nose shape). Vultures are easy, some hawks are , and today I spotted  a Black Tern heading across the bow of the ship as we traveled at 60 mph. Certainly Robins and Cardinals and some woodpeckers are easier to identify, as are Eagles, Blue Jays, Red Winged Blackbirds, (they are so numerous). Ring Billed Gulls, if you can see the beak, can be identified.   It is important to know what birds might be in that area, either by their summer, habitat,  migration time, or permanent status. We did identify 21 bird specie today. None were new on the trip except the Harris Sparrow that we saw in the campground before we left Devil's Lake.

An example of tough identification happened yesterday when we saw our first Meadowlark. Was it Eastern or Western???   (We are on the line between Eastern and Western). The only way to be sure was to compare it to its song on "Merlin" that Ruth has  on her i-phone.. There is a distinct difference although they are similar.

Some of the elevators and silos at Denbigh, ND

By the amphitheater there is the stage at the Visitor's Center

At the Visitor's Center in White Horse Hill Two days ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some history. (Below)

 It was interesting that east of Minot we began to pick up towns that have an English "ring"to them. Towns with the names like, Berwick, Leeds, Penn, Rugby, Surrey, Tunbridge, and York. It seems that an Englishman who worked for the Hudson Bay Co, in the 1700's, was given a grant of many 100,000's of acres across into  (what is now) Canada. He gradually sold off parcels (some after ND became a state when a person could receive 180 acres for $18.00, work it for 5 years and it was his).  Along the Red River of the North, the Germans settled in large numbers and German was a household language up until recently when just singing groups carry on the language. There is a German Festival in the summer in Fargo and MANY German bands! How about the "Oom-Pah-Sters"?

By the way Rugby, ND, is the geographical center of North America.

This area of North Dakota has less pot hole lakes, but more rivers. Some of these rivers are National Wildlife Refuges, (Des Lac, Souris), and we may get to as many as 4 of them from Minot. Each is about 45 minutes to 1 hour distant, and the weather will play a key factor. (Prediction is for rain all tomorrow morning. Weather is a big factor on our trips, especially when seeking birds outdoors.

One of the earlier explorers in this area, LaVerendrye (Pierre Gaultier), said that he was "astonished" by the Mandan (and other tribes)  and the level of development of the natives. They had established trade with other tribes and the white man, using Hudson Bay as the means to do that . (The rivers flow north from this area like the Red River of the North., the Fox (WI) and the Bighorn (MT). The Mandan had identified over 349 kinds of plants that they used for food medicine, dye and rope among other uses. As an aside, LaVenendrye took his four sons with him on the journey. The story of La Verendrye's life is  amost interesting one in the 1700'so in unexplored land.

Our campsite  #14- At Roughrider RV Minot ND

A view from down the road a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived on the NW side of Minot a mile or so outside of town in a park that has been around a while. It is well cared for , with gravel pads, and all facilities. There is plenty of space to allow good  visiblity from the trailer.  We are surrounded by huge Cottonwood poplar trees, where the Baltimore Orioles and Robins are having a great time.

The Roughrider Park from the air. Our site is dead center

The pond behind our trailer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

As I write this a thunderstorm appraoches and one can smell the moisture in the air. MMM Sweet!  Temp has dropped 10 degrees while I write this. From 85 F to 75 F. It is scheduled to get to 58 tonight.

We got settled in, did the sweeping, vacuuming,  dusting, from all  the wind and sand dust, washing      of the floor, and the inside is quite "spik and span" now. 

Supper was spaghetti and blueberry muffin. Simple but after the fine breakfast we had,  neither of us were that hungry. 

Just a few photos tonight, as we traveled only 123 miles.  Catch  you tomrrow as the wifi here is excellent. (Yes I do this on the cmputer!)

Ah that cool breeze feels great!--Jim