We are about to leave North Dakota. Graham's Island was by far the nicest State Park we stayed in. I'm really thinking that State Parks are first choice for our go to overnight stays. After all, it is the State putting their best welcoming foot forward. I also look for bodies of water:) We have settled into to a two day pattern. Drive one day, stay two nights, drive again. This allows us to enjoy the journey along the way and get to learn about each State as we go through.
Williston, is an Oil Drilling Boom Town. I was wondering if we were going to see the oil drilling outfits from our Lewis and Clark State Park site but we didn't. There were Oil drilling sites everywhere there. It has greatly increased the population of that city making 6th largest city in the State now. Can't say it changed the city for the better as far as aesthetics go. Big industrial oil yards everywhere through town. It had the feel of an industrial town. Steve looked up the pay, 22.00 dollars an hour for teachers. For oil workers average mean salary was 78,000. For some reason they are having a hard time finding teachers. Ya think? 19 open positions unfilled. It is also the highest average rent for the whole state.. Average rent tops New York City and Los Angeles, average rent is 2394.00 a month for a 700 square foot one bedroom apartment. We saw hotel rooms advertising at 1000 a month. Hmmm.
The park itself was pretty and well organized. The hosts there were super nice and let me know that if we intended to stay at Graham's Island we had better make reservations. We promptly did.
This park reminds me of Fort Stevens in Oregon. 181 sites. I can't believe how spacious and private the sites are. AND GREEN GRASS! Mosquitoes were a slight problem, but not too bad. Our site was a triple, but I'm here to tell you all the sites were very spacious, allowing for large swaths of grassy area.
Campers are similar everywhere. People were playing bean bag games, riding their bikes, barbecuing, walking their dogs. Just a slice of America.
Tomorrow, we head into Minnesota. First stop is Leech Lake, yes Leech Lake:) Happy trails!
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| On our "hiking trail" about two hours. I don't know if this is
prairie grass or just natural grasses but in the three
State Parks we were in, this is how they created the
trails
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| This is called an "ice house". It sits right on the ground |
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| We thought they made a mistake giving this to us for 20.00
a night! It was a triple but they don't distinguish
by designation, just by amount of RVs (I guess)
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| Different view. |
Wonder why it's called Leech Lake ??? Better do a leech check :) Beautiful & lushly green !
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