Day 5

Day 5 - July 23, 2014 - Fergus Falls, Minnesota to Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota

Last night was a beautiful night camping out on Swan Lake in Fergus Falls. The campground was beautiful and quiet. The facilities were spotless and had warm water. What more could a girl ask for? I was up bright and early with the birds, packed up and yet again tried to find a local place to get a decaf and maybe a biscuit or something. Yet again, struck out. I guess things don't open up early in the West. So I stopped at the Prairie learning center and took this photo of Tycoon out in the wild.

After that we got on the road, but not for long. How can you pass up a giant prairie chicken? Really? A GIANT prairie chicken. So we stopped for a quick Tycoon and Erin selfie. Two things, I'm getting pretty good at this selfie thing. The focus can sometimes be an issue as I'm using a tripod and my D4 on a timer. But as you will see from later photos in the day, I think I might have this thing down to a science. Oh and did I mention a giant prairie chicken?

This photo in particular made me realize how fat I've gotten over the past few weeks. Ugh.

After indulging in our chicken we began motoring West to Fargo. Now, my only knowledge of Fargo is from the movie. So forgive me please for thinking it was a one lane road in to a town that lasted less than half a mile. Needless to say, it's a bustling metropolis for this part of the country! I had hoped to re-enact the scene from the movie where they are broken down on the side of the road, but what I found did not lend itself to my creative juices. A 6 lane highway and traffic lights as far as the eye could see. So I stopped at the visitors center and took this photo just to prove I made the effort. 

 

But as I was about to leave town I found this little gem!

So despite not finding a one horse town in Fargo, Tycoon and I kept moving West. Have you noticed our motto yet? Heading West! We stopped in Jamestown, North Dakota at the buffalo museum. Below you can see Tycoon's selfie with the worlds largest buffalo.

And me having some fun. 

Then I decided to take some pictures of Tycoon on main street and at the general store.

Yes, we had a bit of fun with the camera today. Stay with me here, there is only a ton more photos from today! Tycoon and I drove for a long way today, through a total of three states all of which I would consider very rural to say the least. It makes rural New Jersey where I'm from look like a metropolis. Normally I only feed Tycoon high test fuel. She is a picky eater and I accommodate her. Unfortunately today I looked and looked and looked for a gas station and in North Dakota this was the only one I found before I ran out of gas.

Needless to say I apologized profusely to Tycoon and promised that as soon as I found a decent gas station I would top her off to try and mix out that nasty gas. So in our search for another gas station we saw a few interesting things on the side of the road.

 

Look closely at this hill in New Salem, there is a massive cow standing there.

Not exactly sure what this is, but I thought it looked cool.

So after stopping in Bismark for fuel for all three of us. Premium for Tycoon, 5 guys for me and Winnie we continued on what would be the longest part of our trip. Exiting of the highway and making our way down Rt-85 through North Dakota in to South Dakota. Now, this is a two lane road, flat as far as the eye can see, and everyone is doing over 70mph and if you aren't you are being passed by someone doing close to 90. 

 

(I don't know if this video is going to be a decent enough quality to even show anything but we will see)

So, while on this drive this became one of the roads that I have fallen in love with on this trip. Although it really has no twisties to speak of it is just beautiful. The national grasslands as far as the eye can see, cows cows and more cows grazing. And the most beautiful weeds you have ever seen. I drove for hundreds of miles looking at these beautiful grasses that were blooming the most beautiful shade of yellow.  I knew that I had to find a place to stop and have a mini photo session. Not just for Tycoon, but for me too. Everyone has been saying I haven't posted any photos of my "bump" and Winnie. So I decided that this had to be the place to do it. So after testing a few spots with Tycoon (and curious cows) we stopped on a State Highway off of Rt. 85. I use the term highway loosely here.

These are the results of our photoshoots.

Tycoon first!

 

And then Winnie and me.

 

 

 

Needless to say I think I'm really happy with how they turned out. The weeds look exactly how I imagined and I'm so so happy I found this road to turn off on to. It was so hard getting them right. I was doing this all with my camera on a tripod and a timer. Testing, testing and retesting the focus points and trying to remember exactly where I needed to stand to even be semi in focus. I am not as sharp as I would normally prefer, but for this being basically a "selfie" I think they turned out wonderfully. 

After our side stop Tycoon and I continued out in to the wilds of South Dakota. Heading South to Mt. Rushmore. Yet again we had a hard time finding petrol. My apps were telling me at one point the closest gas station was 36 miles away, Tycoon was telling me she needed food in 26 or she was quitting her job. PANIC!  Needless to say we came coasting in to a small town right around the 26 mile mark, not on fumes, but probably close. 

As the sun started to dip low at the horizon Tycoon and I finally made it to Mt. Rushmore to get in a few more selfies before heading to camp.

Then we made our way down Iron Mountain Road to where our camp was for the evening. Now, Iron Mountain Road has to be the best kept secret or we motoring enthusiasts are just not paying attention! It is 17 miles, 314 curves, 14 switchbacks,  3 pigtails (squee fun), 3 tunnels, the 4 presidents, and 2 splits. I was grinning from ear to ear by the time I made it to the bottom and to Spokane Creek Cabins and Campgrounds

I will try and add the video I took of the road when I get better wifi.

So, I made it. Settled in to Spokane Creek and worked on the blog and photos while I sat and ate a veggie pizza made by Santa Claus. No I'm not kidding, Santa makes dinner. After watching all the kids and parents come in for ice cream I decided that the fat feeling from earlier in the day be damned, I needed a root beer float. So Darrell poured me some soft serve and I sat and finished photos while sipping on a float. Went back to my tent and settled in for a good nights sleep by the creek. Goodnight!
Oh and P.S.

 MOOOO