Day 45 - July 19, 2011 - Medora ND

It was a busy day after a late start.  Since we had plans for tonight we decided to make it an "easy" day in Medora.  We started with a late breakfast at Elkhorn Cafe before going to the Billings County Courthouse Museum.  A stroll around town and into some of the shops was fun...particularly Western Edge Books, Artwork, Music www.westernedgebooks.com!  And guess who we met there...the Mayor of Medora, Doug Ellison!  Now we have met 2 mayors on our trip!  And we met his wife, Mary, who had a small role (OK...one scene!) as "Rita" the waitress in the movie Wooly Boys when it was filming in the area.  If you haven't seen it it's a comedy about good friends and bad habits...and, yes...we bought it along with several books.  They own the bookstore which has a hugh western americana selection of books, artwork and music. They were really fun and interesting people...we could have spent the afternoon visiting with them!  Emily, it made me think of you and Hugh and all the fascinating people you meet on your trips! 

Touring the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame was fun and interesting.  Then we headed back to the motor home to take the "girls" for a walk prior to leaving for the Pitchfork Steak Fondue and Medora Musical. 

It was hot (high 90's) but didn't feel bad because the humidity wasn't that high today and there was a continuous breeze.  Then, about 5:30 we had a thunderstorm.  We headed on over to the Pitchfork Steak Fondue and before we finished our meal the rain quit and the most beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky!  Absolutely gorgeous!  And yes...I got pictures!  The musical was great...all about North Dakota, Teddy Roosevelt and the grand ole USA!  This is the 46th year for Medora Musical and it's quite a production!  And the Burning Hills Amphitheatre is first class!  It was another great day, and evening, in Medora!

Breakfast and Around Medora

Love this bookstore!  The owners are "the best"!  And the flowers in the front are beautiful!

Mary autographing the movie...yes, we had fun!  Hopefully they have fond memories of us too!

More "Around Medora"

St. Mary's Catholic Church, built in 1814, is the oldest Catholic church still in use in the state of North Dakota.

Billings County Courthouse Museum, once the courthouse for Billings County, now displays frontier farm and ranch memorabilia, including extensive collections of barbed wire and military and western firearms.  It was pretty impressive considering only 100 people live in the town year round!

North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame is an award winning interpretive center exploring the exciting and often colorful history of the badlands and North Dakota's Native Americans, ranching, rodeo and the western lifestyle of the northern plains horse culture.

The nationally acclaimed Pitchfork Steak Fondue was featured on the national television show, Best Of, on the Food Network!  Steaks are loaded onto pitchforks and fondued western style. Notice the rainbow after the thunderstorm!  Laying in the valley were about 10-12 pronghorn antelope!  Maybe they were hoping someone would toss them some steaks!

 

Medora Musical is a professionally produced, high energy, Western style musical dedicated to the legacy of America's 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt, and the time he spent in North Dakota's Badlands, and pays tribute to American patriotism and the old-west way of life.

What started out an "easy" day ended up being a fun, and diverse day!!!  Needless to say, we were a little tired when it ended!