Moving Around with Glenn, Linda and the Girls: Day 46 - July 20, 2011

If you remember, Monday we toured the Scenic Loop Drive of the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and were so impressed that we took over 1000 pictures. Well, today we toured the Scenic Drive of the North Unit of TRNP and took almost as many (thank God, the north unit drive is not as long)! Many people regard the North Unit as the more attractive of the two major portions of the park and we think they may be right! The canyons seem steeper, the river bottomlands lusher, and the blue, black, red, and beige stripes on the buttes more pronounced! Sadly, most people do not see the beauty of the North Unit because it is 52 miles from Medora but, we're here to tell you, it's definitely worth the drive...even on a very, very windy day like today! And a bonus of today was that we were "up close and personal" with two herds of buffalo! I mean they were on the road, crossing the road, blocking cars, beside the road...I guess you get my drift! You won't believe the pictures! It was amazing and so exciting! Prior to leaving for TRNP's North Unit, we visited Teddy Roosevelt's Maltese Cross Cabin and the Harold Schafer Heritage Center. The Heritage Center honors Schafer's life and his gift of restoring Medora. He was the force behind the development of Medora as North Dakota's #1 vacation spot and a fascinating and extraordinary entrepreneur!

I just finished posting yesterday's blog activities and pictures and Glenn is editing today's pictures and getting them ready to post. We probably took at least 200 pictures of the buffalo but, have no fear, we won't include all of them on the blog!

Whoops! We just realized that it is 2:00 am! How time flies when you are having fun! I guess you will have to wait until tomorrow for the pictures...sorry again! We leave tomorrow morning for Hardin, Montana and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument but, before we leave Medora, I must tell you that my latest obsession is Teddy Roosevelt and his life and accomplishments! I truly understand his obsession with Medora and North Dakota's Badlands! We are too!!!

Built in 1883, Theodore Roosevelt's one and one half storied Maltese Cross Cabin was considered a "mansion" in it's day with three separate rooms (living room, bedroom, and kitchen) and upstairs sleeping loft for the ranch hands. My how times have changed!!!

The Harold Schafer Heritage Centers pays tribute to the "man who saved Medora". He, unsuccessfully, ran for governor in the 1960's; however, one of his sons, Edward Schafer, was elected Governor of North Dakota and served from 1992 to 2000, and was US Secretary of Agriculture from 2008-2009, appointed by President George W. Bush.

Jack is a volunteer from Wendell, Minnesota who comes to Medora once a year to "help out" during tourist season. Apparently, Medora has a very popular and large volunteer program.