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beautifulbadlandsnd · 1 year

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A Killer Blizzard Convinced People to Restore the Bison Herds

Bison Power Bison may be the largest North American animal in North America, and that’s part of why they are celebrated every November 2. As you may expect, they are the stars of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. If you don’t believe me, just look where cars are stopped and cameras are clicking. And it was a killer blizzard that gave life to bison when their herds were nearly wiped out in…

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#beautifulbadlands #findyourpark #NorthDakota #Badlands of North Dakota #Beautiful Badlands ND #BeNDLegendary #bison #bison bison #bison latiforns #blizzard #buffalo #dead cattle #North Dakota Badlands #outdoors #Theodore Roosevelt National Park #winter kill #winter store

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saxmotorco · 1 year

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Take the Chevy and Check Out These 4 Best Views Near Dickinson, ND

If you’re looking for a great view, Dickinson, ND is the place to be! With its many parks and outdoor areas, you can take in some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. Here are four of the best views near Dickinson.

1. Oxbow Overlook

North Dakota is a state known for its wide open spaces, and there are few places more impressive than the Oxbow Overlook. Located just outside of Dickinson, the Oxbow offers visitors a stunning view of the Badlands.

The rocky landscape is unlike anything else in the world, and the view from the overlook is truly breathtaking. On a clear day, you can see for miles in every direction. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a casual observer, the Oxbow Overlook is definitely worth a visit.

2. Buck Hill Trail

If you’re looking for a great view near Dickinson, Buck Hill Trail is the perfect spot. The trailhead is a short hike to the top of the hill. From there, you’ll have panoramic views of the Badlands, the Little Missouri River, and the city of Dickinson.

The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, and it’s a great way to get some fresh air and take in the beauty of North Dakota. So if you’re looking for a scenic spot to relax and enjoy the views, Buck Hill Trail is definitely worth a visit.

3. Overlook Scenic View

Overlook Scenic View is another great spot to take in the beauty of Dickinson. The overlook provides stunning views of the cityscape and the surrounding area. Visitors can also see various wildlife, including deer, buffalo, and eagles.

The scenic view is located just a short drive from Dickinson, making it easy to get to. It is an ideal spot for a picnic or a hike. There are also plenty of opportunities for photography. Whether you are a local or a visitor, Overlook Scenic View is definitely worth a visit.

4. Edward Arthur Patterson Lake

Edward Arthur Patterson Lake is a great place to enjoy the outdoors near Dickinson. The lake is surrounded by forest and offers a great view of the surrounding area. There are plenty of trails for hiking and biking, and the lake is perfect for swimming, fishing, or relaxing. Edward Arthur Patterson Lake is definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for a great place to enjoy the outdoors.

The 2022 Chevrolet Camaro is a great choice for cruising around Dickinson. It’s comfortable, stylish, and has all the safety features you need, such as a HD rear vision camera, OnStar, and Chevrolet connected services. Visit us at Sax Motor in Dickinson to test drive one of our new or used Chevrolets.

#Sax Motor Co #Dickinson ND #Chevy Dealer #Chevrolet #North Dakota #Hiking #Outdoor Fun

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travel2unlimited · 4 years

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Moving on north to North Dakota, most certainly an underrated and undervisited state. Driving on seemingly endless roads across grasslands and beautiful landscapes in all directions was amazing - no people, just green everywhere, raw unadulterated nature, pastures, occasional wildlife, and the straight road cutting across. It gives you a perspective of how huge the USA is - to horizons lies endless expanse of green grassy plain with isolated badlands and hills. #travel2unlimited #travel #travelblogger #usa #roadtrip #acrossusa #natgeo #natgeotravel #northdakota #nd #endless #landscapes (at North Dakota) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFqHKAQDEM7/?igshid=bw34ckmpfgb7

#travel2unlimited #travel #travelblogger #usa #roadtrip #acrossusa #natgeo #natgeotravel #northdakota #nd #endless #landscapes

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outhereontheprairie · 5 years

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River and Badlands

This beautiful view was just outside our camp site at Juniper campground at Theodore Roosevelt North Unit in the badlands.

We camped here with my brother and his girlfriend. What a fun fall weekend! One of the last warm ones.

For anyone who thinks ND is all just flat prairie - you’re wrong!

It is so much more.

Talk about a great place to camp!

#north dakota #badlands #fall #theodorerooseveltnationalpark #camping

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frivolousphantasies · 6 years

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Get to know your followers!

thanks @existentialisthicc for tagging me!

Rules: Answer the questions (which you can change if you don’t feel like answering certain questions) then tag some followers you want to get to know better!

(12 & 13 are missing?? I just noticed??)

I. Nickname?

I have a few: Rayn, AJ, and Ri

II. Gender?

Male

III. Star sign?

Scorpio

IV. Height?

5’2”

V. Favorite feature?

This is gonna sound weird but I like my hands??

VI. Favorite color?

Any bright purples or blues

VII. Favorite animal?

Cats but I also like turtles and those goldfish with the big eyes

VIII. Average hours spent sleeping?

8 or 9 during the summer, 6 or 7 during the school year

IX. Dogs or cats?

Cats!!

X. Number of blankets you sleep with?

Just one or two

XI. What’s your dream trip?

Tour of Europe

XIV. How many followers do you have?

237

XV. How many pets do you have?

Four

XVI. Best places to visit in your town or country?

Lmao what my town is boring,, but the badlands in ND are beautiful

XVII. Favorite ice cream flavor?

Mint chocolate chip

XVIII. How often do you read?

Pretty often, usually just various articles

XIX. Favorite study locations?

I literally can’t focus on school if I’m not at school so.... school unfortunately

XX. Favorite book series?

I haven’t read one in a while but I loved reading Warriors and Harry Potter when I was a bit younger

uuhhh I don’t feel like tagging so whoever wants to do it just say I tagged you!!

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michael-massa-micon · 6 years

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North Dakota - August 2002 http://michael-massa-micon.tumblr.com As you drive west from Mandan, ND, you drive through what a lot of people would describe as empty land. It isn’t empty. It is filled with beauty. MWM #Badlands #Mandan #North Dakota

#north dakota #mandan #badlands

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cruisingwiththecropps-blog · 7 years

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, ND

We somehow got lucky once again. We went to the Cottonwood Campground in the park the night before to scope it out. The camp host told us it was half first come first serve so if we come back in the am before 11 we should get a spot. When we arrived right at the gate at 11 am the ranger told us all large RV spots were full. We decided to take our chances and headed to the camp anyway.

They were indeed full, but Kevin has a way of convincing people to help us. And when he does it he is totally being sincere, and usually we end up with a spot. It's like he is Dale Carnegie or something. Anyway, the kind camp host called a no-show from the night before and sure enough their plans changed and we could have their spot for one night only. Perfect! We were super grateful. AND it only cost us $14 for the night! I love the US National Parks system.

The park is small, so we were able to do it in one day. And come to find out if really isn’t conducive to back country camping so that wasn’t an option after all. We spent the day doing short hikes and driving the scenic drive. We saw a ton of animals and I kept singing this song much to everyone chagrin.

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We went to the welcome center to get our coffee mug, Christmas ornament, pin for Day’s hat and a premium T. We also took in the informational video. I love a good video on a park. I am a visual learner. We also toured Theodore’s cabin.

Come to find out ol’ Teddy was a huge conservationist, and he is the one responsible for starting our national park system. The Badlands of North Dakota was where he came to mourn when on the same day he lost his wife and his mother. It is a tragic story, really, and truth be told the Badlands of ND, beautiful as they are, do kind of have a loneliness to them. Perhaps it is because there isn’t much around and it is pretty desolate place. He sought solitude, and that is was he found here.

After taking in a ranger talk at the campground on the park animals, we headed back to our home. We love our home. She had been our loyal steed for the past 70 days, providing shelter and transportation. Is it wrong that I am already mourning having to sell her?

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#cruisingwiththecropps #northdakota #north dakota #trnp #cottonwoodcampground #theodorerooseveltnationalpark #maltesecrosscabin #travel #winnebago #winnebagolife

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beautifulbadlandsnd · 1 year

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Drive One of These 3 Spectacular Backyard Winter Road Trips

Stay warm while you are on a winter road trip Yeah, I don’t want to freeze my face in negative temperatures, either – and especially not if the wind is blowing. Yikes! So, let’s consider a warm winter road trip. Last week I shared how you can visit bison in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This week, we suggest staying warm on one of these road trips in the Badlands. Believe it or not, it…

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saxmotorco · 2 years

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5 Great Outdoor Activities Near Dickinson, ND

Dickinson, North Dakota, is a great place to explore. Residents and visitors can enjoy everything from museums and parks to hiking trails! If you’re looking for fun things to do near Dickinson, ND, take a look at this list of 5 great outdoor activities.

1. Explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park

The Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a national park in the badlands of western North Dakota. This stunning parkland has beautiful natural scenery and a diverse collection of wildlife. The wild horses and herds of buffalo will amaze you, along with prairie dogs and many bird species.

An excellent way to explore the park is by hiking one of its numerous trails. Trails range from easy day hikes to more strenuous climbs and river crossings.

2. Visit the West River Community Center

The West River Community Center offers a variety of fun activities. The center provides arts and crafts, fitness classes, computer services, and a library.

The West River’s pools and water slides will put a smile on anyone’s face. If climbing is more your thing, they also have a rock climbing wall for teens and a playground for kids of all ages.

3. Walk the Crooked Crane Trail

The Crooked Crane is a popular walking trail for locals and visitors alike. The relatively flat route is 2.5 miles of paved trail, which goes partially around Patterson Lake. The gorgeous scenery is excellent for walking, jogging, or cycling and is dotted with benches along the way. The area also includes playground equipment for the kids.

4. Stop by the Dickinson Extension Research Center Floral Gardens

Another fun option is the Dickinson Extension Research Center Floral Gardens. Located on the west end of Dickinson, this hidden jewel is an oasis of trees, flowers, fruits, and vegetables.

This beautiful garden is a great place to watch the flowers grow and learn more about gardening in North Dakota. With numerous trails and walkways, there’s plenty to do and learn. Relax or get ready to get your hands dirty with their classes for both children and adults.

5. Camp at Little Missouri National Grassland

As if all these activities weren’t enough, several campgrounds are also located near Dickinson, ND. The Little Missouri National Grassland is a great place to enjoy a bit of outdoor adventure. Located in western North Dakota, Little Missouri is the largest grassland in the country with over 1,000,000 acres.

There are a variety of campgrounds at Little Missouri with varying amenities to suit your needs. Whether you’re looking for a secluded outpost or a full-service RV park, you’ll be sure to find it in this beautiful area. The public areas are free to visit, with lots of space for hiking, horseback riding, fishing, and small game hunting.

With so many things to do, you’ll never get bored in Dickinson! After you’re done exploring, stop by Sax Motor and check out our great lineup of new cars. We’ll be happy to show you around and schedule a test drive!

#SaxMotorCo.#Dickinson ND #GreatOutdoors

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ryderwriter · 3 years

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Handicap Accessible Projects, Attract More People to the TR National Park

More people can access the TR Park when multiple projects now underway, finish. The park is remodeling, rebuilding, adding facilities and making more of it handicap accessible. From trails, to visitor centers to bathrooms, the north and south units of the Theodore Roosevelt National park will look different. Before tourist season 2021, work crews make major repairs and upgrades to the Peaceful…

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outhereontheprairie · 6 years

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Former Wesleyan Methodist Church, Almont North Dakota by Arielle Seibold-Galston Via Flickr: For more details, and to read ahead, check out my extensive blog entry on this wonderful hidden gem of a town: pictureprairieplaces.weebly.com/adventures/quaint-and-bea... I have my favorite spots in North Dakota. Obviously my home town of Garrison is one of them. And Lake Sakakwea which is by Garrison. I still have a soft spot for campy old Medora and the musical. The badlands are always stunning. I developed a deep love of the Lake Metigoshe area and the peace gardens, as I went to both when I was young and when I was a teenager with my high school. My dad's house in Bismarck is nice, and the city itself has grown so much and is so full of amazing things to do. And then there is Almont. Oh, Almont. I'm not sure how I discovered it, but my first visit was packed into a car with my mom and dad and possibly brother just after his graduation from high school in 2009. It was gray and rainy but I wanted to see it so we all went. If you search my flickr you can find the crappy, grainy, wonky photos I snapped out the car window on my stream somewhere. Almont is about a ten minute drive from the interstate and it's some of the most beautiful ten miles you'll drive anywhere in ND. It's a land filled with buttes and hills topped with big rocks and rock formations. The area doesn't feel like anywhere else in North Dakota. And I love it. And the town of Almont is so quaint. It has so many neat old buildings, and a commitment to it's history because it has a great town website. A little primitive, but great. It has so much information and photos, as you'll see as the weeks go by. So let me introduce you to Almont :) This says that it is "Saint Mary Queen of Peace" but I believe that, as far as my research goes, it was the old Wesleyan - Methodist church in town. The history says that it was first organized in 1924. And the first wedding was in 1930, as you can see below. There are whole stories that go with the history of this church and you can read it all here, under the heading "Almont Wesleyan Methodist Church": www.almont.us/History/churchhistory.html

#North Dakota #ND #North #Dakota #Almont #Morton County #Morton #church #Little White Church #Wesleyan

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playicarus · 7 years

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DEV Blog 10 - Corruption of Light by BK Ha

Greetings, Riders! Its BK again, the lead designer for the Riders of Icarus development team at WeMade. I am excited to announce the Corruption of Light update! Riders can look forward to a level cap of 55, 2 new areas to explore, and more unique mounts to tame. Take a look, Riders!

ReBlog Event

Get us to 50 total ReBlogs by March 26th on this post for chance to be 1 of 10 winners to receive 100 Elluns! Be sure to leave your In-Game Character Name and Server Name in your ReBlog!

Official Rules>> http://forums.icarus.nexon.net/discussion/20815/

Ellora Sanctuary and Windhome Canyon

Welcome to Ellora Sanctuary, a beautiful, mystical and lush land, home to the Light Elves who inhabit and protect it under the blessing of Daleroth the World Tree. After the War of Light, the Light Elves made it their mission to guard the Demonic Stone under Ellora's command. The opposing forces, known as the Chaos Elves, raided Ellora Sanctuary to obtain the Demonic Stone.

The Dragon Knights of Hakanas are helping the Light Elves, but are in a state of chaos due to the powerful attacks of the enemies. In order to save the awakened Princess Lania, the Demonic Stone must be kept out of the Chaos Elves clutches. It is the Rider’s duty to recover it!

New Dungeon Forgotten Shrine

The Forgotten Shrine is a new dungeon in Windhome Canyon available to level 54 Riders. In the Forgotten Shrine, Riders will battle Yorminsul from the Chaos Legion, who has occupied the shrine with the goal of obtaining the Demonic Stone. Before the sanctuary is dominated by the Chaos Elves, Riders must defeat Yorminsul and safely recover the Demonic Stone.

Be careful of the dungeon bosses’ power! Yorminsul transforms into the Exalted of Chaos and becomes stronger. His combat pattern changes abruptly, therefore Riders must always be on their best guard. Yorminsul uses the "Seeds of Disorder" skill and attacks party members with his powerful hypnosis or summons shadows to raise the pressure of battle. More than ever, the cooperation of party members is extremely important!

In the Forgotten Shrine, Riders will come across a magnificent, giant armored bear by the name of 'Zaminus'. Zaminus possesses quick movement speed and is useful for ground battle. This familiar raises all attack stats making it a highly desired mount to tame. The mark recipe drop is very rare and can be obtained from raid bosses and dungeons.

New Field Bosses

'Prion Roa' and 'Lenazar' were formally Light Elves. However, they became influenced by chaos and transformed into Chaos Elves. These new Field Bosses are skillful at using the power of chaos and it will be difficult to take them down.

Riders can fight Prion Roa in Ellora Sanctuary. We recommend that Riders assemble a 10-member team to engage in battle. Prion Roa uses the 'Seduce' skill and immobilizes all nearby enemies for 7 seconds, therefore Riders must quickly avoid it. Prion Roa also summons gigantic Dyraths, therefore, it's best to quickly deal tons of damage on her to make the battle easier.

Riders will also face Lenanzar, the field boss of Windhome Canyon. Lenanzar uses the 'Large Thunderbolt' skill that drops around 20 thunderbolts, and generally uses AoE thunder and fire skills. To minimize the amount of damage received from wide-area attacks, Riders must be sure to stick to the roles of their classes to defeat Lenanzar; we recommend a fast mount to evade him.

New Mounts

The three most eye-popping familiars of Ellora Sanctuary and Windhome Canyon are Dredrum, Bruniche and Torkai.

Dredrum

Dredrum's large size, overwhelming appearance and effect of raising Max Health and Overall Defense makes it optimal for Tanker style classes.

Bruniche

The lovable and mystical Bruniche possesses the effect of raising Magic Attack and Magic Critical Damage, making it a popular choice for Magic style classes.

Torkai

Torkai is a unique and beautiful Legendary mount with impressive abilities. Among the familiars introduced, Torkai possesses the fastest movement speed, the best effects, and attributes. We believe this familiar will be coveted by many Riders, and seeing that it's the best familiar, taming it won't be easy!

Lair of Ma'art

Many Riders from the community have asked us if there are plans to expand and add familiars from higher-level areas to the Lair of Ienos. Essentially Lair of Ma'art is an expansion of the "Lair of Ienos" that focuses on tamable familiars from Tritael Rift, Cloying Wastes and Exarahn Badlands. Lair of Ma'art can be entered by Riders over level 49, and the entry pass can be obtained through daily quests.

Unlike the Lair of Ienos, a special legendary familiar named Magma Beast is tamable in the Lair of Ma'art. This familiar possesses a unique appearance. The recipe can be obtained through the lair's boss, Ma'art, at a low chance.

This is only a brief introduction to the Corruption of Light update coming up on March 22nd. We hope our Riders will enjoy exploring these new areas, battling new foes, and more importantly taming new familiars! See you in the skies of Hakanas, brave Riders!

#Riders of Icarus #games #gaming #video games #mmorpg #mmo

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dailynynews-blog · 6 years

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North Dakota State Map, Capital, Universities, History, Population, Facts

New Post has been published on https://www.usatelegraph.com/2018/north-dakota-state-map-capital-universities-history-population-facts/

North Dakota State Map, Capital, Universities, History, Population, Facts

North Dakota is a state in the midwestern and northern regions of the United States. It is the nineteenth most extensive, the fourth smallest by population, and the fourth most sparsely populated of the 50 U.S. states. North Dakota was admitted as the 39th state to the Union on November 2, 1889. The state capital is Bismarck, and the largest city is Fargo.

North Dakota weathered the Great Recession of the early 21st century with a boom in natural resources, particularly a boom in oil extraction from the Bakken formation, which lies beneath the northwestern part of the state. The development drove strong job and population growth, and low unemployment.

North Dakota is known for its sparsely populated rural landscape, for its long winters that on colder days produce beautiful sun dogs, and for being the childhood home of Lawrence Welk.

State of North Dakota

Flag Seal

Nickname(s): Peace Garden State, Roughrider State, Flickertail State Motto(s): Liberty and Union, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable Demonym North Dakotan Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Largest metro Fargo metropolitan area Area Ranked 19th • Total 71,230 sq mi (183,640 km2) • Width 335 miles (539 km) • Length 211 miles (340 km) • % water 2.4 • Latitude 45° 56′ N to 49° 00′ N • Longitude 96° 33′ W to 104° 03′ W Population Ranked 47th • Total 755,393 (2017 est.) • Density 11.70/sq mi (3.83/km2) Ranked 47th • Median household income $57,415 (25th) Elevation • Highest point White Butte 3,508 ft (1069 m) • Mean 1,900 ft (580 m) • Lowest point Red River of the North at Manitoba border 751 ft (229 m) Before statehood Dakota Territory Admission to Union November 2, 1889 (39th) Governor Doug Burgum (R) Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford (R) Legislature Legislative Assembly • Upper house Senate • Lower house House of Representatives U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R) Heidi Heitkamp (D) U.S. House delegation Kevin Cramer (R) (list) Time zones • most of state Central: UTC -6/-5 • southwest Mountain: UTC -7/-6 ISO 3166 US-ND Abbreviations ND, N.D., N.Dak., Nodak Website www.nd.gov

North Dakota state symbols

The Flag of North Dakota

The Seal of North Dakota

Living insignia Bird Western meadowlark Fish Northern pike Flower Wild prairie rose Grass Western wheatgrass Insect Western honeybee Mammal Nokota horse Tree American Elm Inanimate insignia Beverage Milk Dance Square dance Fossil Teredo petrified wood Song “North Dakota Hymn” Other Chokecherry (state fruit) State route marker State quarter

Released in 2006 Lists of United States state symbols

Geography

North Dakota is in the U.S. region known as the Great Plains. The state shares the Red River of the North with Minnesota to the east. South Dakota is to the south, Montana is to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are to the north. North Dakota is situated near the middle of North America with a stone marker in Rugby, North Dakota marking the “Geographic Center of the North American Continent”. With an area of 70,762 square miles (183,273 km2), North Dakota is the 19th largest state.

The western half of the state consists of the hilly Great Plains as well as the northern part of the Badlands, which are to the west of the Missouri River. The state’s high point, White Butte at 3,506 feet (1,069 m), and Theodore Roosevelt National Park are in the Badlands. The region is abundant in fossil fuels including natural gas, crude oil and lignite coal. The Missouri River forms Lake Sakakawea, the third largest man-made lake in the United States, behind the Garrison Dam.

Education

Higher education

The state has 11 public colleges and universities, five tribal community colleges, and four private schools. The largest institutions are North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota.

The higher education system consists of the following institutions:

North Dakota University System (public institutions):

Bismarck State Collegein Bismarck

Dickinson State Universityin Dickinson

Lake Region State Collegein Devils Lake

Mayville State Universityin Mayville

Minot State Universityin Minot

Dakota College at Bottineauin Bottineau

North Dakota State Universityin Fargo

North Dakota State College of Sciencein Wahpeton & Fargo

University of North Dakotain Grand Forks

Valley City State Universityin Valley City

Williston State Collegein Williston

Tribal institutions:

Cankdeska Cikana Community Collegein Fort Totten

Fort Berthold Community Collegein New Town

Sitting Bull Collegein Fort Yates

Turtle Mountain Community Collegein Belcourt

United Tribes Technical Collegein Bismarck

Private institutions:

University of Jamestownin Jamestown

Rasmussen Collegein Fargo and Bismarck

Trinity Bible Collegein Ellendale

University of Maryin Bismarck

#North Dakota #States and Capitals

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sheri-s-incredible-journey-blog · 6 years

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November '17

November 4th, then November 10th and now I am finally finishing this post on December 2nd!

The last 4 day sailing trip was the most challenging of all my cooking/sailing experience and if I hadn't already decided not to do it anymore, well... good thing.

Our last trip we had Captain Dave (who is the owner of Manitou) and it was the wine trip. A 4night/3 day full boat and we immediately headed out to the lake. We were sailing with incredible wind and made the destination of Charlevoix in one day, whew! Last trip we made it on the second day.

We left early the next day and headed right back out into it... and we proceeded to have 2 full days of 15-20Knot winds which for those on deck it was amazing! For those of us down below (and in this case only Harriet and me) it was 8 solid hours of trying hard not to fall over or throw up. Actually H got sick both days and I never did but thought I was going to pretty much the whole time. H is a real trooper and rallied to do her part. Remember we still needed to make food for 31 folks, no matter what!

On a schooner, things in the galley are always on sticky mats, so that they won't fall while we are heeling (rocking side. Because this was a wine trip all hors d'oeuvres and dinners were paired with wines, our apps were a bit more "sophisticated" than normal. I had made lovely pear chutney to go with brie cheese for an app when I was overcome with major nausea and went up above for a bit of air and horizon. (For those that may not know, seasickness is always lessened by being on deck and looking at the horizon.

In the three minutes that I was on deck, we hit an enormous wave just right and crashed down and with that crash ALL things in the galley that were not literally tied down ended up on the sole in a pile with the chutney at the very bottom... wtf!!

The only "good" thing about all of this is guests are so accepting and happy for whatever can be done because they are so impressed that we could come up with anything let alone something that tasted good too!

So that was the end of that... had dinner with all the crew before I left and then headed into the rest of this adventure.

I took 6 days to drive to Port Townsend, WA... staying at Airbnb’s along the way. It is always interesting staying in people's homes and always a unique experience. Almost always really nice, I have been fortunate (although I do have a story for later).

Traveling through the west I was again reminded how incredible this country is. If you have never ventured on a road trip cross country I highly suggest it! I think because I am in such a different place than the last time I traveled (1998) my perspective has changed quite a bit. The flatness that is the Midwest was beautiful and much more interesting than before. The badlands of the Dakotas still takes my breath away, the Rocky Mountains as you approach from the east just stand up right out of the earth, so big and bold. And as I came into Washington, the eastern part of the state is a plateau with grassy land and mountains in the distance. Coming up the peninsula heading to Port Townsend, the landscape changed drastically to huge evergreens, rocky shore and the ocean! I missed the ocean, especially the smell~

In Port Townsend I had a wonderful visit with my friends Susanna and Michael. They rent a very cool small cottage and I got to sleep in their landlord's granddaughter's playhouse. A bit of a hobbit house in the backyard and it was fun! We did a bit of the tourist thing along with a visit to the farmer's market and a hard apple cider festival. Ate some yummy food, played some games and had some great conversations. What more can you ask for?

I left S&M and drove to my friend Bev's house in Redmond Oregon. The trip there was just amazing, I left PT and went down Rt. 104 along the coast, rocky, damp and so very green and then I left the peninsula, drove into Oregon and… just like that I was in high desert with creosote bushes, rocks, sand and pretty much nothing else! Wow all in the space of three hours~

I ended up spending a week there and really enjoyed myself. Bev is an old friend and a fairly recent widow and still having a difficult time adjusting. We didn't do too much, went out to breakfast and lunch, I cooked dinner a couple of nights, spent an afternoon at her son's house playing a game with the family and basically just hanging out. Something I needed to do. Traveling is exhausting!

From there I drove to Oakland, Ca. where my friends Jess and Shannon live. I have known Jess since she was 4 and I catered their wedding three years ago. They own a lovely little house with an awesome backyard in the heart of the city. We ate some great food, went to the farmer’s market, ate more great food, went to a Day of the Dead festival that was pretty awesome, drank many whiskey drinks with this incredible mixer that was sweet and spicy and the drink was the best! Unfortunately the store that sold the mixer was closed when I left the area! L Maybe that was a good thing? L

After 4 days in Oakland I headed to central California… with no real plan and no more folks to visit. I was planning on camping for a few days hopefully in a free area (lots of free camping on National Forest land). That did not work out so well… mostly because the sites were so remote and vague that I didn’t feel comfortable staying so I ended up at an Airbnb or hotel. The one place I was sure I could camp in So Cal is a place called Ocotillo Wells, a state recreation area that has awesome free campsites in the desert with picnic tables, ramadas (a shade canopy) and fire ring. I stayed there for a week when I traveled the country 20 years ago. So off I went to OW, arrived on a Thursday (needed to be there early as it is a very popular weekend destination for off roaders) to find many open campsites and I was psyched! And then I got out of my truck and the wind was blowing about 15 mph, in the desert, out in the open with sand going everywhere. And I said to myself… self, do you really want to try setting up your tent in this? I talked to the campers next to me and they told me the wind was supposed to keep up until the next day, sooo… off I went to find another place to stay. I was bummed!

If you have never stayed at an Airbnb it works like this: you look at all the offerings in the area that you want to stay within your price range (mine is always under $50) and needed dates, you then send a request to the homeowner that you would like to stay there and they get back to you fairly quick. If they accept your request Airbnb then charges your credit card and you are all set. Like yelp there are reviews for the place below the listing so you have a pretty good idea of what you are getting into… most of the time. This time, not so much… I followed directions and headed to the Salton Sea (in So Cal), took a left where I was supposed to and continued driving into the desert. So far so good and then I saw some graffiti on some rocks that said “The Slabs” and knew that was what I was looking for, so I continued to drive for another mile or so and realized that as I was wandering further into the desert there were more and more trailers, huts, hovels, RVs and general encampments and suddenly understood these folks were all squatters! I arrived at my camp and the first thing I asked was are you a squatter and he said yes he had lived there for 15 years. Oh boy. He showed me to my “room” which was a 12x12 wooden box, insulated and covered on the inside with blue plastic and no windows… in the desert! The man was very nice and was so proud that he had a generator and Wi-Fi along with a trailer facility that was the ladies room (he rented out three different spaces). It had a toilet with water in it and to flush you poured in a bucket of water and when I asked where it went he said into a hole in the desert floor. Let me be very clear the man was extremely nice and I got great vibes from him but I was pretty clear that I could not stay here… what to do, what to do? While the owner went to town, I set up my laptop to check messages and while online I heard scratching and finally a mouse came from the ceiling and into my “room”. And that was it for me, the way to get out. Mind you I am not afraid of mice, rats or any rodents really but I knew that this was my way to leave and get my money back. So I am waiting by my truck when he arrived back and I just sort of flipped out, said how I had seen mice (wtf?), was petrified and could not stay in a place that had rodents, he was very nice (I can only imagine what he was thinking in his head), I asked if I could get my money back, he said yes and I left… whew! Drove 40 miles or so and got a hotel.

After that experience I decided that I needed to head towards Arizona a bit earlier than planned but my friends MeiMei & Bruce were very gracious and told me to come on over. So this is where I have been since November 4th.

I flew to Vermont on Thanksgiving night for a retreat and meetings for Dinners with Love and arrived back this past Thursday. My plan is to leave early next week and head to Texas where my niece Michele lives and will spend the holidays with her and her husband. Mike (my nickname for her) is a Christmas freak and it will be a lot of fun spending time with her.

As soon as I reached MeiMei & Bruce’s house I started earnestly looking for work. I applied to 20 jobs or so with only one call back. I have been pretty bummed and am thinking my age is starting to work against me. The one call back I got was the only job I actually wanted and after a second phone interview yesterday I got the job, yay! So I start in January at Texas A&M University for a company called Campus Cooks. I will be the cook for a sorority of 48 young women making lunch and dinner M-F. It pays very well, the hours are no more than 43 a week, if school is closed, and I don’t work but do get paid. It is a national company and all they do is provide cooks for frats and sororities, so if I like it and they like me then hopefully I can stay with them for a few years and try out different campuses. If I don’t like it then the gig ends in May and I will seek another new opportunity.

My plan is still to head to Europe in May and depending on whether I want to go back or not to A&M in the fall will determine how long I stay!

Wow, this is a long post, hope it is not too boring and I will again try to not wait so long and have to write a novel!

Happy Holidays to all of you, may the season be filled with love and light! xo

November 4th, then November 10th and now I am finally finishing this post on December 2nd!

The last 4 day sailing trip was the most challenging of all my cooking/sailing experience and if I hadn't already decided not to do it anymore, well... good thing.

On a schooner, things in the galley are always on sticky mats, so that they won't fall while we are heeling. Because this was a wine trip all hors d'oeuvres and dinners were paired with wines, our apps were a bit more "sophisticated" than normal. I had made lovely pear chutney to go with brie cheese for an app when I was overcome with major nausea and went up above for a bit of air and horizon. (For those that may not know, seasickness is always lessened by being on deck and looking at the horizon!)

So that was the end of that... had dinner with all the crew before I left and then headed into the rest of this adventure.

My plan is still to head to Europe in May and depending on whether I want to go back or not to A&M in the fall will determine how long I stay!

Wow, this is a long post, hope it is not too boring and I will again try to not wait so long and have to write a novel!

Happy Holidays to all of you, may the season be filled with love and light! xo

November 4th, then November 10th and now I am finally finishing this post on December 2nd!

The last 4 day sailing trip was the most challenging of all my cooking/sailing experience and if I hadn't already decided not to do it anymore, well... good thing.

So that was the end of that... had dinner with all the crew before I left and then headed into the rest of this adventure.