The northern unit rock formations are very different than the south unit. They are sharper and more defined. We could only drive 6 miles into the park because part of the road washed out. It was nice but not as nice as the south unit. Since we were heading right by there we had to stop.
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| Large buffalo alongside the road |
The northwestern part of No. Dakota is where they recently found oil. Lots of farmers are now instant millionaires. They drill a new oil well about every 3 weeks. The roads are loaded with trucks and there is dust everywhere. We hit a rainstorm driving through there and our motorhome and car are now filthy. So much for washing them.
We then moved on up to another National Historic Site called Fort Union Trading Post right on the border of No. Dakota and Montana. Got another stamp. This fort was never attacked. From 1828-1867 Fort Union was the most important fur trading post on the Upper Missouri. Here, seven Northern Plains Indian Tribes, including the Assiniboine, traded buffalo robes and other furs for goods such as cloth, guns, blankets and beads. This fort was a bastion of peaceful coexistence, annually trading over 25,000 buffalo robes and $100,000 of merchandise.
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| Leaving Fort Union Trading Post parking lot |
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| Entering Fort Union Trading Post Parking Lot |
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| Officers Quarters at Fort Union Trading Post |
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| Office of the Trading Post where all the trading was done. Clerk in period dress
Not a very big Fort but again it was interesting. They had a working blacksmith there. You could go into a large teepee and see what it looked like inside.
After this we drove on Rte 2, (must be the worst road in the state)....we drove over loose peastone gravel for miles and miles and miles. At least 10-15 miles. Our windshield on our car has lots of nicks in it and a small crack. We haven't even gotten to Alaska yet. The pocket where our windshield wipers are was full of gravel.
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| This is the condition of our car. No car washes around here and most campgrounds do not allow you to wash your vehicles. Our motorhome looks just as bad. Jesse is not a happy camper...ha-ha.
Tonight we stayed in a VFW parking lot. After that terrible road, we settled in and went in and had a few BEERS!!!!!!!!!!
JUNE 24, 2012
Left this morning to head to Glacier National Park, St. Mary, Montana. We had the longest day driving so far. We arrived at Glacier around 6:30PM. Glad to be here and settled in. Our site overlooks Glacier National Park and the mountains. It's beautiful.
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