July 11

We left Belle Fourche under cloudy skies that just got darker and darker as the day wore on. We used Hwy 85 due north out of town passing through the Theodore Roosevelt National Park – North Site on our way to connect up with Hwy 2 and turning east toward our stop for the day in Minot ND. We used Hwy 2 all day and managed to stay just ahead of a very, VERY large storm system, which we later learned on the local news, caused tremendous damage in some communities behind us. There were reports of baseball sized hail that we are very happy to report we missed by approx. 45 minutes.

We’ve decided to stay an extra day in Minot in order to allow this same storm system to continue its eastward path without us. While here we toured the Dakota Air Museum which is a sister facility to the Texas Air Museum in Houston TX. This means that the majorities of the planes in the museum are “air worthy” and are seasonally moved between the two locations.

Binge on airplane history buffs:

 

 

 

I have a few random observations to make about a road trip in 2016 as compared to our previous long distance m/c trips in 2002, 2005 and 2008:

·         The cost of motel rooms has doubled. The average cost is now approx. $100 as compared to the average of $40-50 the last time we were out & about and we are not using the major chains. We’re primarily using the smaller, older places to stay below the $100 mark and it’s been challenging.

·         The price of gas is actually a bit less than in 2008. We were averaging approx. $3.50 a gallon in 2008 and this trip it has been around the $2.80 mark for the 91 and the mid-grade approx. $2.60.  However, the mid-grade varies from state to state. In Utah it is only 88 and in Montana it is 89 with South Dakota ringing in at only 87. But here in N. Dakota it’s 89 and labelled Super Unleaded. The 91 grade is labelled Premium.

·         Internet service is now readily available and, in fact, most of the time it’s been a secure network requiring a password but speed has been all over the place.

·         Since we’re not camping this trip and are strictly hotel/motel we’re not meeting as many folks as in past trips. Time will tell how this works out as one of our favorite things about travel is meeting and talking to all the different people met in the campgrounds and while out on the road. So far Jay & I haven’t run out of things to talk about…stay tuned J

Travel on Hwy 2 continues on Tuesday July 12…stay tuned for more commentary from the road.