Confessions of a Hit and Run Tourist - Day One

[Riverbrian]

I have recently completed a solo 18 day road trip covering 8 ballparks, 9 games, 14 states, national parks, normal tourist traps and not so normal stops. My fairly new 2022 Kia Seltos had 6,400 miles on it before the trip and the journey tacked on 8,522 additional miles. Some of you may find this interesting and some may say what's the big deal, it's a crazy man with a torture filled vacation plan. I was encouraged to tell the story here by individual day because it would be a very lengthy post if not broken down by day. Some days are not that interesting, some days were more interesting than others and some days need a new adjective, but each day was different and they were days that I couldn't experience in my living room. 

Feel free to comment, shake your head at my moments of stupidity or tell your own experiences of the places I experienced. This is hit and run tourism... I didn't have a lot of time to hit all the stops but I wanted to hit all the stops because who knows if I would ever be back in any of the areas travelled. I researched and scheduled the trip to the minute and followed the schedule to the letter. 

Day One - July 29 - Grand Forks to Belle Fourche, SD: 

After getting some work done in the morning, I was packed, fueled and ready to go, Departing Grand Forks, ND around noon. This was just going to be a drive day through territory I've been through multiple times just to get myself closer to where I'm going.

The trip started off with a quick development, about 10 miles into my 8,000 mile plus journey, just outside of Thompson, ND on I-29, I took a rock chip to my window, which meant I would have to stare at this rock chip for the next 7,990 miles plus yet to go. I also had some unplanned annoying hitchhikers that jumped into my car at the very beginning that had to be dealt with. I had planned for dinner in Bismarck, ND but was leaving a little hungry so I stopped at McDonalds for a quick tide me over Double Cheeseburger/Fries to eat along the way. I have only had my car since February and I don't think I've ever had a fly in the car but while ordering at Mickey D's, 3 flies decided that they wanted to tag along for the trip. A fly in the car can be a little distracting, especially when they are the sort of fly that isn't content hanging in the backseat. Trying to get them out of the car takes your complete focus on them, you watch for them to land on any window and then you open that window and the air would push them back in. If they land in swatting distance, you swat at them and this is usually unsuccessful because you have the handicap of trying to keep the car in a designated lane at 80 mph... I actually accidentally swatted myself in the head hard enough trying to remove a nearby fly that I momentarily forgot why I was in the car in the first place. You may think what's the big deal, flies in the car? All in all, it's not a big deal but I want to be clear that I got the last of the flies out of the car around Valley City, ND. That is two solid hours of fly focus, which only breeds an acute hate for the creatures and getting them out becomes the single most important thing in your life for that time frame. The only benefit of the fly battle was.... For two hours, I didn't really look at the rock chip and when I finally got them all out... I felt amazing. There was a sense of achievement that produced a happiness that put a pep in my step. 

Stopped in Bismarck for a quick burger at Scotty's Drive-In -- home of the Rebel Burger. A food warning is probably necessary, my meal choices are not always going to be pretty. Just imagine in your head what a Polar Bear would order when visiting some place and that's what I do. OK... Yes, I know I had a burger for lunch but the burgers at McDonald's require a different classification so they don't really count so this was my first Burger of the day. The Rebel Burger is a big step up from fast food that you can get fairly quickly. It hit the spot and I was ready for the rest of the journey south to South Dakota. 

I chose the Enchanted Highway South because someone or someone's took the time to build a bunch of large metal sculptures and place them along a single stretch of highway about an hour west of Bismarck, if you build it they will come, the road ran south, so I did what we should all do if someone creates something, I took a look at it out of respect and I drove the highway to look at Giant Metal Geese, deer, grasshoppers, fisherman, pheasants, a giant metal Teddy Roosevelt as if he wasn't scary enough. Here's the deal, the road was going my way, the other roads going my way didn't have a Giant metal Tin Family waving at you. If you ever find yourself in Regent, ND because you got hopelessly lost on your way to Vermont. Just know the enchanted highway is there for you. 

Scenic is not an adjective that you use for eastern North Dakota so maybe I'm just comparatively impressed by actual scenery when I come across it. After this journey, I am able to say unequivocally that the line between the midwestern plains and what I'll call the western landscape begins West of Bismarck. This is where the hills start to appear along with broadened vistas that go on for miles and the introduction of buttes of all shapes and sizes. The Buttes become more impressive as you cross into Northwestern South Dakota. Nobody lives in NW South Dakota, you go many miles without seeing a man made structure but the Buttes are standing taller and herds of antelope a hundred strong are roaming in the open fields. The scenery has begun and it is going to continue nearly non-stop.  

I arrived in Belle Fourche South Dakota at a reasonable hour and spent the night. Day one is in the Books. I am scheduled to leave in the morning at 6:27AM. 

[Squirrel]

Metal sculptures are cool. Love them!

 

Btw … two burgers in one day? Not Chinese food? I thought you loved Chinese food?

[Riverbrian]

7 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Metal sculptures are cool. Love them!

 

Btw … two burgers in one day? Not Chinese food? I thought you loved Chinese food?

Chicago needs a nearby park with sculptures of the missing tops in this park. 

 

[Squirrel]

57 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Chicago needs a nearby park with sculptures of the missing tops in this park. 

 

No, these are commemorating the Dr. Seuss story 'What Was I Afraid Of?', so these are just as they should be  

[Vanimal46]

If you’re taking a long road trip, there’s a 100% guarantee you’re going to get a chip in the windshield. I still haven’t fixed the one I received driving from Texas to MN last fall… 

[Riverbrian]

On 8/19/2022 at 9:09 AM, Vanimal46 said:

If you’re taking a long road trip, there’s a 100% guarantee you’re going to get a chip in the windshield. I still haven’t fixed the one I received driving from Texas to MN last fall… 

I was hoping to set a record. If its going to be replaced, it's going to be replaced. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Aha! It’s just like Star Wars starting with episode 4….

good thing I read the scrawling yellow text