Winter descends on the Corps

Our first stop this morning was the replica of Fort Mandan. We were anxious to visit this spot as the Corps spent a great deal of time here.

A very fine statue of Seaman adorns the riverside at Fort Mandan

A peek inside the fort as we enter.

 The parade ground

The bunks

Captin Clarks desk
and Captain Lewis's desk

Sacajawea's quarters with her papoose board

And her boots

The oven and bellows of the blacksmith. The Indians were amazed at the abilities of the blacksmith when he repaired a number of their iron implements.

The Mandans particularly appreciated this battle axe the blacksmith made for them at their request.

One last view as we leave, showing the flag

At the interpretive center Doc hung our with his pal, Seaman

We particulaly liked the bronze of Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea

On the way to Williston, we stopped at Fort Stevenson State Park because we had read they have a prarie dog town on the property.

They do, and we got some good pictures. John is very glad he brought along a long lens

"John, look at those beautiful flowers!"

"Yeah, pretty"

"They are really gorgeous"

"Stop and take some pictures"

"What!!"

"You have got to stop and take some pictures."

"OK"

   
For the past few days we have been wondering about  the bright yellow crop  that appears everywhere. It is Canola. Canadian scientists learned how to breed the undesirable characteristics out of rapeseed plants to make use of the oil rich seeds. Now we have "Canadian Oil" or Canola. The attractive flowers are a bright yellow.



We are inWilliston ND tonight and plan to visit the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers on our way to an overnight in Malta Montana. When the Northern Pacific railroad put a road across northern Montana, they built several towns along the way, naming them after European cities to make them sound more attractive to folks moving west.