Part 1
Day 10-13, 2025
Miles: 2,589
Months ago, as we were planning this trip, David asked me if there was a special place I wanted to go. Without hesitation, I said “Theodore Roosevelt”. Around a decade ago, I read several books about our 26th President. Usually, when I read more about a famous person from the past, I am disappointed. Probably because I see them through the lens of the present. Teddy, however, did not disappoint. He was a product of his time, of course, and had his foibles but Teddy’s accomplishments as President and his exploits and personality even before that, made me want to see where he had had a life changing interlude before his Presidency. His descriptions of the land in North Dakota and the way it looked and sounded and smelled was beguiling. The changes this environment made in him after twin tragedies of losing his wife and mother in quick succession was fascinating. Teddy himself was fascinating. I had to see the land he loved best until the end of his life.
When last we posted, we were in Milwaukee, WI visiting friends. We drove through Minnesota rather quickly. It’s a beautiful state but still looked like our home back in Maryland. We wanted those western landscapes! We stopped for the night at a lovely spot called Lake Carlos State Park in Minnesota and headed out the next morning with our goal to arrive in Theodore Roosevelt the next evening.
TRNP is divided in sections – a North Unit, a South Unit and Elkhorn Ranch (Teddy’s ranch for a time).
We took a hike in the North Unit, out on a trail into the stunning hills. We saw a very large prairie dog town. Acres of cute little furry friends going into and out of their burrows.
Jane
The Voyage of the Tramper 