Day 10

Alexandria, MN to Bismarck, ND

Day 10

Trip: 300 miles

Total Distance:

1,960

The days are starting to run together a little.

We left out of the parking lot of Walmart in Alexandria, MN this morning and drove west on 

I-94. 

It seems we will be on this interstate all through North Dakota. It cuts straight across the state from east to west.

Don't know much to say about ND. It seemed like an uphill battle all the way to Bismarck. 

FYI: The elevation here is 1700 ft.

So we really are climbing.

Adam is getting his math done on the road.

(P.S. Natalie did her work too, but she didn't want me to take her picture)

I tell the kids everyday we travel for the whole day is a school day. It doesn't matter what day of the week it is. 

Saturday or not.

Don't feel sorry for them though, we really didn't bring much. They can get it finished in about 30-45 minutes if they try.

Then they can look out at the landscape

I really do like these trees.

When we crossed into Fargo, North Dakota, we noticed how they decorate the noise barriers.  

Here we are crossing into North Dakota!

More decorative barriers

Did you know there are sunflower fields here on both sides of the road. Fields of corn, hay, and sunflowers. We also saw cows, horses and buffalo.

Natalie was the first to spot the buffalo. We even saw a white one.

Plus we had really gusty winds that blew the RV all over the road. 

Forecasted at 20 mph.

  

Look at the white caps on the lake!

Looks like an ocean here.

Can you see the uphill climb we are on?

I think I can,

I think I can,

I think I can.

said the little red engine.

We arrived at the Bismarck, ND KOA Campground about 4:30pm and settled right in.

They are full, but had a site for us to squeeze into.

We don't mind, we spent the night in a Walmart parking lot.   :)

We will be here for a few days. Laundry needs to be done. They have a heated pool, playground. Interesting sites to see and investigate.

There is a frost advisory for tonight.

But daytime temps for today are

 73/37, sunny & no clouds.

Day 8 & Day 9

Door County, WI to Menomonie, WI

Trip 280 miles 

Total Distance: 1,420

Our Route:

We took hwy 57 back down the Peninsula to Green Bay, WI where we picked up hwy 29, through Wausau and Eau Claire. We then drove on to Menomonie, WI where we stopped at Twin Springs Campground for the night.

The Bridge at Green Bay over the Fox River

Looking North at the River

The landscape

Mallard ducks

Clouds

More clouds and landscape

Menomonie, WI to Alexandria, MN

Day 9

Trip: 200 miles

Total Distance: 1,620

We left out of Menomonie fairly early, but Dad decided the fuel filter needed changing so we pulled over in the Walmart parking lot. Perhaps that was causing our problems with the engine skipping. After buying a fuel filter at the local Ford dealership (they couldn't help us change it til Monday), Dad tried to change it himself, but didn't really have the right tools. We gave up and drove on to Minneapolis/St. Paul. 

There we looked up another Ford Service Center and they took good care of us. 

You should have seen the way Dad drove that RV right into the bay. He had about 3 inches on either side and people were standing up in the waiting room watching him.

A real pro!

We felt like clapping.

The folks at Tousley Ford in St. Pau, MN are good people.

We drove off around 5pm right in the middle of rush hour traffic and construction work.

Unfortunately, the engine started skipping again not long after we got back on I-94.

We are pressing on,...

Evening clouds heading into the sunset.

We drove on til about 8pm and found a Walmart in Alexandria, MN where we could park overnight in their parking lot. 

We woke up to 48 degree temperature and sea gulls. 

(in the parking lot?!)

They do say MN is the Land of 10,000 Lakes. We sure saw alot of them.