Bismark and Beyond

“At its best, travel must challenge our preconceptions and most cherished views, cause us to re-think our assumptions, shake us a bit, make us broader minded and more understanding.”

Arthur Frommer

Leaving the beautiful Badlands of North Dakota included beautiful scenery and driving through lots of farmland. Momma Dog said she had never seen so many cylinder shaped bails of hay before. We parked in Bismarck, North Dakota for a few nights beginning Friday, September 6, 2019.

Since Big Dog could still not get the levelers to work, Momma Dog called an RV fix it guy to visit us at our KOA. He diagnosed our problem as a possible circuit board issue and was unable to fix it. So we remain unleveled-and a bit of movement is felt as we move about our home on wheels. We have a service appointment in the Atlanta area in early October.

Then we had two full days and nights of heavy rain. We went on walks in-between showers and one day I was able to scoop up an entire piece of wet pizza from the ground and eat it before the humans noticed. This skill is well known by all coon hounds-and I was rather proud of myself.

Our next stop was a Fargo area winery. We drove down a 1/2 mile muddy road, arrived at the E Winery and realized we might get stuck by morning-again due to lots of rain. So we moved to a nearby small RV park connected to a Days Inn. There was a gravel lot here so Tana’s approximately 30,000 pounds would not sink into the ground. The humans ate at “The Country Kitchen,” and left me behind on guard duty. It continued to rain, but we all slept well. I think I heard the humans singing, “Rain, rain, go away-come again another day!”

Alice O’Brien State Park in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota was our next home for six nights. We enjoyed yellow leaves falling, hiking and cooking out and even gazed at the Friday night harvest moon-and I didn’t even howl. Yes, it did rain some more-and the humans enjoyed the 50 degree temperatures on several days. They wore jeans, flannel and fleece-and even tried out our heat pump.

On Sunday we hiked to Alice Lake and the St. Croix River. Somehow the map did not assist our return to camp-and we saw parts of the state park that we did not know existed. I was so glad to get home (after our three hour adventure) for water and a nap and food.

On Saturday night, the humans found an Uber driver (from China) to pick them up and take them into Minneapolis for a dinner at Spoon River Restaurant and a play called “The Glass Menagerie” written by Tennessee Williams in 1944. This was performed at the beautiful Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis. They had a nice date, and found another Uber driver (from east Africa) to bring them back to me. This play did not have any canines as characters, so I saw no value in learning about it.

Goodbye Minnesota-you were beautiful! Our next adventure leads us to West Des Moines, Iowa for one night on our way to see some Smith humans and dogs in the Kansas City, Missouri area.

Our next “parking place” is Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site in Lawson, Missouri. We had a huge grassy site, complete with chiggers-and Momma Dog and Big Dog have the bites to prove it. My humans, along with more Smith humans-Reid, Pat, Rachel and Ben toured the Watkins Mill, built in 1860. I stayed behind in guard-dog mode (aka nap mode.) Later the humans grilled burgers and created lots of tasty side dishes. And I heard the sweetest dish was Key Lime Pie-created by Rachel Smith. The humans laughed and talked and picnicked by lantern light and enjoyed a camp fire. I came out for dog treats and some attention from time to time, but still prefer the inside life-especially at night.

On Thursday, I stayed in Tana for a relaxation day with air conditioning. All six of the Smith humans experienced the amazing World War One Museum in downtown Kansas City. Big Dog and Momma Dog were amazed and overwhelmed at the artifacts, art and exhibits. They saw trenches, tanks, gas masks, poppies, uniforms and more. And of course, they enjoyed being there with their kin-folk. Momma Dog’s lunch in the “Over There” restaurant was chipped beef on toast served on a metal plate.

The humans spent some time at the home of the Kansas City Smith family. I did not get to see Max and Sam-and am still crying about that in my sleep.

All the Smith humans ate at Stroud’s for dinner. This is a famous chicken dinner place where food is eaten family style. I did receive a doggy bag and give it a paw up. My humans were so happy to spend time with niece Abbie and Rachel and nephew Ben.

We left the Watkins Mills State park the next morning and spent the night in Joplin, Missouri. We were tired and rested up for our next stop-Hot Springs, Arkansas. I am hoping there might be a special bath area for canines there.

Interestingly, Hot Springs National Park is within the city of Hot Springs. The park service owns and manages the eight historic bath houses. The bath houses were used for improving health and their use diminished in the 1950’s. One has been converted into a craft brewery and Big Dog had a delicious local beer and Momma Dog had a root beer float-both made with water from the “hot springs.”

The humans experienced a drive up to Hot Springs Mountain to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. They talked about seeing Sugarloaf and Music Mountain from the tower. They hiked down and had an Ecuadorian lunch and filled Momma Dog’s water bottle with delicious spring water from a tap.

The thermal water that flows from the springs begins as rainwater, is absorbed into the mountains north east of the national park, and is carried 4000 to 8000 feet underground, where the earth’s extreme heat raises its temperature to 143°F. The purified water makes its way back to the surface the cracks and pores in the rock in the form of hot springs. The entire process takes about 4000 years!

We left Hot Springs on September 25 bound for Texas. Momma Dog and Big Dog have some Texas business to take care of before we go to Atlanta. They say they are seeing their doctors and dentist and friends, and I will miss the pretty sights of all the places we have been. I think I am getting accustomed to RV life.

Thanks for reading my travel blog. I do enjoy your comments and questions about our lifestyle on the road. The humans are getting excited to spend some time with Joanna and Jennie and Steve in Atlanta. And just in case you haven’t heard, the family is welcoming a new “happy camper” in January 2020. Jennie and Steve Sankey are expecting a baby girl, and I can’t wait to meet her and sniff her.

My humans are planning to park Tana in Atlanta (that rhymes) for awhile and I will keep you posted on our next adventures. I hear rumors of a Thanksgiving trip to Arizona.

Kind regards, sniffs and woof-MAGIC