It was a cool (64 degrees) morning to start the day in Jamestown, North Dakota, and it did not get that warm all day, with temperatures near 70 degrees all day. The ride today was relatively short at less than 200 miles total, but that short distance allowed me to visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and the nearby re-creation of Fort Mandan (www.fortmandan.com), where the Corps of Discovery spent their winter home in 1804. The 1804 Fort Mandan was built on the east banks of the Missouri River while the Mandan village of approximately 5,000 inhabitants was on the west bank. Although the re-created fort is also on the banks of the Missouri River, it is not at the same location as the original. Many changes of the river and other factors did not allow this.
It was a good side trip for which I had planned, thus the relatively short travel day.
The ride from Jamestown to Minot was typical of the last two days riding, with the exception that instead of the endless flat lands some hills began to appear as I travelled further west, and the countryside became somewhat less lush, indicating less moisture. And the travels re-united me with the closeness of the Missouri River.
It has been several years since I was last in Minot, and there have been many changes since my last time here. Most changes are attributable to the Bakken Oil Fields - US and ND reports that 7.4 billion barrels of oil can be recovered from the Bakken and surrounding fields using current technology.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakken_formation)
The point is, Minot has changed...a lot....and oil is the reason...principally. The unemployment rate for the state is 3%.
Motel rooms are at a premium, and the shopping center parking lots are full.
North Dakota is now a booming state.
I guess my Blue Label Scotch wouldn't be $7 a shot anymore in Minot! LOL
ReplyDelete