Lucy is Finally Back on the Road

[moosetags]

Lucy is still camped in Bottineau. We took off in Vivian on a mission of discovery to some of the small towns in this part of North Dakota. We went to Westhope, just south of the Border. We also visited Landa, Souris, and Carbury Dam, all in North Dakota.

We spent some time in each town looking around. All of these little town appear to be in severe decline. It is really sad to see these towns withering away. As we go through them we feel as if we may be some of the last visitors to ever see them.

Each of these towns have RV sites in their City Parks. If you have an RV and want to see these places of the past before they are gone, now or soon is the time.

We returned to Bottineau, picked up a pizza, and went back to Lucy to settle in.

Brian

- Cute little "canned ham" travel trailer from the 1950's.
- A newly painted mural in Downtown Bottineau.
- A stately old barn in Westhope, North Dakota.
- Another old barn with a rock foundation.
- A beautiful old truck wagon on display at a farm near Westhope.
- This Filling Station in Landa, North Dakota is very likely over 100 years old. It is a very nice unrestored example of an early filling station.
- An old abandoned church, also in Landa, has not seen a service in quite some time. It is sad to see the pillars of a community in this condition.
- Main Street in Souris, North Dakota.
- A 1950 Chysler Windsor Sedan on display with an old gas pump in Souris, North Dakota.
- Campground at Carbury Dam near Souris.

[DaveP]

Thanks, Brian!

[Antique Pedaler]

Originally Posted by Gene

I guess turtles use snowmobiles when they want to get somewhere fast.

Glad to hear you are finding CG’s without reservations. We have not traveled far, but the CG’s we use in Colorado and Utah have been booked up. A couple will fit us in because they know us, but we give them plenty of notice.

We like to ZAG when all others ZIG!

[Mollysdad]

While in Montana, we ran into those wheat combines. Since most farmers can't afford the equipment, a traveling band of workers bring several and for a price, harvest the wheat. The group we encountered at a motel were 'Luddites', a religious sect that spoke old English, "Thou". Most didn't drive so a pickup truck carried ten or so to the motel, causing us to think "rut-ro", but they were as nice as can be. The original Luddites were anti-technology, so seeing modern day combines run by them was a surprise.

[moosetags]

This was Lucy's last day in Bottineau, North Dakota. We plan to continue west tomorrow. We went out today and visited three more small North Dakota towns. Each seemed sadder than the last. The only commercial viability seems to be the towns' grain elevators. Grain is king in this part of the country, but it doesn't seem to be enough to keep these little towns going. Many of these towns have lost their US Post Offices. This, unfortunately, is the signal that the town is beginning to circle the drain. The small town Post Office has always been one of the main epicenters of small town life. It has been replaced by the modern metal weather proof mail boxes like you find in a big city suburb. It seems really sad to see these boxes on poles on a street corner.

The three towns that we visited today were Kramer, Upham, and Gardenia, North Dakota. All three are in pretty sad condition. Two of the three have even lost their local schools. As you can see in the pictures, many of the structures are literally falling down.

We made our way back to Lucy where we have settled in for the night.

Brian

Tonight's pictures include:

- Very old John boat in a yard in Kramer.
- An old home near the tracks in Kramer.
- An abandoned house in Kramer that appears to be the biggest house in town.
- Main Street in Kramer, North Dakota.
- 1905 School in Upham, North Dakota.
- The old Bank Building in Upham. Notice the mail boxes outside.
- Main Street in Upham.
- Large old house in Gardena, North Dakota.
- This house in Gardena has fallen in on itself.

[Gene]

It is sad to see the dying small towns. Mechanized and corporate farming has weakened them. In ND, the Bakken gas field has attracted labor because of high wages, but as the gas runs out, those towns will decline too. The post office is being weakened too, from within, and that also loosens the ties that bind us all together. Because rural hospitals are closing or can't keep up, seniors move to places with better health care. I question whether farmers do not have the large combines—many do, but they are in hock to the banks to pay for them.

Before 1920, the majority of Americans were farmers or lived in farming country. At independence only a few percent of Americans lived in cities (the largest, Philadelphia, had 50,000; NYC had 10,000). Things will continue to change and perhaps in a few decades food will be created by machines (Star Trek replicators?). The loss of the post office, newspaper and school pretty much dooms a town though the town was dying before that. There were no longer enough people to support the town. Houses can't be sold and are abandoned, making the place look worse and depressing property values more.

We have long been an urban society (suburbs often have more people than 1776 NYC) and nostalgia for small towns in inevitable, but it isn't what America has been for decades. We lived in rural America for a dozen years and were constantly traveling to the big city to get stuff and see doctors. The area seemed stagnant and locals resented newcomers. New ideas like organic farming and wine making were promoted, but most farmers ignored change and stuck to old ways of farming, producing lower yields.

Thanks for documenting the changes. Blue road trips are the way to see America and we'd like to do some more, but need to stay close to Barb's 96-year-old mother.

By the way, crossing Montana is even more desolate. I usually brought a gas can just in case we couldn't find a station, but the only place we ever needed it was in the middle of Montana, not even going to Alaska or far north Canada.

[Boondocker]

My brother and niece are in town for a visit and we were just this morning talking about how were were essentially the end of the last generation of kids to grow up on standard/typical family farms. We had a variety of livestock an raised a similarly wide range of crops. Now farms like ours are largely extinct, killed off by finical pressures, unable to compete with massive scale operations in crops and largely factory-type livestock set ups. Every farm like ours that vanished pushed its neighborhood closer to what you are seeing. It was inevitable, I suppose, but a little sad. Things move on I guess.

[moosetags]

Lucy broke camp in Bottineau this morning and we headed west across the North Dakota hinterland. We covered about 200 miles and have wound up at a campground in Williston, North Dakota. The campground is a run down old KOA that has morphed into a oil field workerbee place. It will be fine for one night.

Only a few days until we get into MOOSE COUNTRY.

Brian

- Older combine on ND 5 this morning.
- Coming into Minot, North Dakota.
- The 1918 Minot Central High School. It is still in use today.
- The 1908 St Leo's Catholic Church in Downtown Minot.
- Main Street in Berthold, North Dakota.
- The 1914 Mountrail Country Courthouse in Stanley, North Dakota.
- The 1940 Regis Theatre in Stanley. Only the center of the original marque is left.
- The 1910 Williston Train* Depot.
- The Grand Theatre in Downtown Williston, North Dakota.
-The old time still active J.C. Penney store on Main Street in Williston.

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by Boondocker

My brother and niece are in town for a visit and we were just this morning talking about how were were essentially the end of the last generation of kids to grow up on standard/typical family farms. We had a variety of livestock an raised a similarly wide range of crops. Now farms like ours are largely extinct, killed off by finical pressures, unable to compete with massive scale operations in crops and largely factory-type livestock set ups. Every farm like ours that vanished pushed its neighborhood closer to what you are seeing. It was inevitable, I suppose, but a little sad. Things move on I guess.

Hi Rodney. I like your assessment. In talking with some North Dakota farmers, I became aware of some issues that make North Dakota farms different. There are no big corporate farms in North Dakota. Many years ago North Dakota enacted laws that tightly control farm ownership. This was done to insure the continuance of family farms in North Dakota.

A farm or ranch in North Dakota can be incorporated, but there can only be a maximum of 15 shareholders. All the shareholders must be blood related with no further relationship than second cousin.

This is how North Dakota has made things work.

Brian

[moosetags]

Yes, there is such a place as McCabe, Montana. We noticed it on the map and had to go. McCabe is reached after a ten mile trek up a dirt road. Once you arrive, There is not a lot left to see. The population is about 30. There is an old school and the remnants of a post office. We looked around, took some pictures and headed down to Culbertson.

From there, we stopped in Sidney, and Glendive before arriving in Miles City, where we got Lucy a campsite at the KOA.

We had a nice dinner in Lucy before settling in for the night.

Brian

Tonight's pictures include:

- 1920's filling station on the dirt road to McCabe.
- The 1918 McCabe School in McCabe, Montana.
- The remainder of the McCabe Post Office.
- McCabe and Main.
- Barn just outside of town.
- A 1908 Commercial Building in Culbertson, Montana.
- The 1927 Richland County Courthouse in Sidney, Montana.
- The 1947 Central Theatre in Sidney Montana.
- The 1906 Glendive train Depot.
- The 1936 Montana Theatre in Miles City, Montana.

[dbj216]

Maybe not the nicest town in America, but you can cross it off you bucket list. Yes, I've been to McCabe MT and have the tee shirt to prove it.

It won't be long before you will be tracking down the moose and applying tags to their little ears so you know which ones are yours.

David

[moosetags]

Lucy broke camp in Miles City this morning and headed out across the Montana Prairie. We stopped at several towns along the way, and crossed into Wyoming late this afternoon. Not very far into Wyoming, we arrived at Ranchester, a small town between the Montana Line and Sheridan. We got Lucy a nice campsite at the Lazy R Campground. We have been staying here since 2007. Ranchester is right at the base of the Bighorn Mountains where we like to do our Moosing.

We got Lucy all settled into her campsite, and headed* up to the mountain to look for Mooses. We had a total of six Moose sightings. We stayed on the mountain until after sunset, when we came back down to Lucy.

Brian
- Lucy and Vivian all set to head out this morning in Miles City.
- The 1913 Rosebud County Courthouse in Forsyth, Montana.
- The very nice 1930 Roxy Theatre in Forsyth, Montana.
- Someone's dream home on the farm a long time ago.
-*The 1917 Hotel Becker in Hardin, Montana.
- I-90 near the Montana/Wyoming line. It's just like I-75 at Ocala.
- Moose calf near Burgess Junction.
- The calf's Mother checking us out.
- Another Calf and Mom Pair along Alt US 14.
- Another cow we spotted along the highway.

[Gene]

There have been several moose attacks on people this year in Colorado. With more people in the back country, the mooses may be upset. And less experienced back country visitors may be doing dumb things. A really big telephoto lens is a help.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by Gene

less experienced back country visitors may be doing dumb things.
.

That's frequently a problem.

[moosetags]

Lucy is still camped in Ranchester. We took a quick run into Sheridan to get a few things at WalMart. SuEllyn got a haircut, and Vivian got a bath. We returned to Lucy for lunch before heading back up the mountain.

We had five more Moose sightings today, Two cows with their calves, and a bull.* We are happy to see that all the female (cow) mooses we have seen this year have had calves.* Their coats also look healthier than usual.* We have seen years when only a few had calves.

We got back to Lucy just before dark.

Brian

Tonight's pictures include:

- The famous Mint Bar on main street in Sheridan, Wyoming. It has been operating at the same location since 1907.
- The 1923 WYO Theatre in Downtown Sheridan.
- Ranchester from about half way up the mountain.
- A Moose cow and her calf in the willows along US 14 ALT.
- Another shot of the cow and her calf.
- A nice Bull Moose spotted along the highway.
- Another shot of the Bull.
- We spotted this Cow and Calf in the RV dump Station at Burgess Junction.
- Another shot of the Calf and his Mom at the RV Dump Station.

[moosetags]

Lucy is still camped in Ranchester, Wyoming. We spent the morning hanging out at the Campground. This afternoon we went up on the mountains. We stopped briefly and explored Dayton, a little town right at the base of the Bighorns. Dayton had one of the first Woman Mayors in the Country in 1880. I did a little more research and found that women were given the right to vote and hold office in Wyoming in 1869. This was 51 years before a woman could vote in New York City. Who would have thought?

We had four Moose sightings today, Both were cows with their calves. We got back to Lucy right before dark. We have had a nice dinner and have retired to Lucy for the night.

Brian

Tonight's pictures include:

- Main Street, Dayton, Wyoming.
- The 1880 Crochan Building on Main Street in Dayton.
- The brand new Stadium at Tongue River High School in Dayton.
- Moose calf along a lake.
- The Mom was grazing nearby.
- Real Cowboys wrangling a runaway cow along US 14 ALT. It was a show to watch. Hopefully you can see the cowboy at the left center with his lasso in the air.
- A few miles west of the Cowboy show, we ran into this large herd of sheep being driven across the highway into a lower pasture. The herd size was at least 1,000 animals.
- There is open range here and cattle can be found on the roadway.
- A calf Moose grazing.
- His Mom was nearby.

[moosetags]

We are still camped in Ranchester. We headed up to the mountain one more time today. We didn't have much luck today, not a single Moose sighting. We still had a good time in the mountain scenery.*We decided to come back to Lucy early. We had a very nice dinner at the Wyoming Buckshot Saloon in Ranchester. While we were there, we got to partake in some of the local Friday Night saloon culture. It was quite interesting.

We went back to Lucy to settle in for the night.

Brian

Tonight's pictures include:

- Main Street, Ranchester, Wyoming.
- Some of the Trees are already starting to turn in Ranchester.
- Mountain views in the Bighorns.
- The cattle run free in the Bighorns.
- Checking out one of the remote campgrounds deep in the Bighorn National Forest.
- A whole stand of yellow turned trees on the mountainside.

[dbj216]

Glad you didn't mistake those cattle for moose. Another interesting small town in a beautiful area. You folks sure know how to explore America in your Airstream.

David

[Gene]

Saloon culture in the movies means a cage for the band so they are not injured by the beer bottles (empty of course) thrown at them, a few fist fights, tables overturned, waitresses harassed, beer, peanuts and whatever you don't want to know about on a slime covered floor. Not all saloons are quite like that, though Barb and I met in one 35 years ago and have been together ever since. The saloon was not like the movie version though it was sort of rowdy. The blues band that was playing that night played at a concert here last night so we went to see them again—the leader is 68 now. Hope you enjoyed saloon culture.

Glad to see moosing has been productive.

[moosetags]

Lucy broke camp in Ranchester, and we headed out across Wyoming on US 14A. This road is difficult for a travel trailer to negotiate with 10% downgrades and very tight curves. We did see a couple Mooses along the Highway this morning. Lucy and Vivian handled the roadway just fine.

After coming down from the mountain, we passed through Lovell and Powell on the way to Cody. Late this afternoon we arrived at the ranch of our friends Larry and Mary Anne. We got Lucy plugged in and joined Lary and Mary Anne for a really nice steak dinner.

We retired to Lucy and settled in for the night.

Brian

Tonight's pictures include:

- Morning mountain view in the Bighorns.
- Moose off in the distance along the highway.
- Moose crossing in front of us on US 14A.
- !0% grades along US 14A.
- One of the runaway truck ramps along US 14A.
- 1950's Art Deco gas station in Lovell, Wyoming.
- The 1950 Hyart Theatre in Downtown Lovell, Wyoming.
- The 1936 Vali Theatre in Powell, Wyoming.