Shane and some of his Walk Main crew escorted me down Main Ave in Bismarck and over the Missouri River into Mandan.
Larry (left) invited me over and treated me to a delicious steakhouse dinner, and I was particularly grateful for the shower/laundry/etc after the recent wave of damp, hot, and humid weather. Also pictured are Larry's cousin Al and Al's daughter Emily, both really kind and friendly people.
The title of this post refers to being west of the Missouri River. The air is much drier today (praise to your deity of choice!) and the land just looks like the West. I have a tough time capturing landscapes on my phone camera, but I'll post a shot as soon as I get a decent one.
Very thin ice. The top and bottom layers are connected only at the edge of the brim, so whenever the wind kicks up (like it did all day yesterday), the top sails up off my head, making me look totally ridiculous.
I like that this unique sign is mounted on standard traffic sign posts.
He tracked me down late this afternoon to offer some cold beverages, and rode along beside me on his bike for a while. He also got us some beer and pizza at the end of the day!
The plaque on the front reads:
In memory of
EVELYN RAUSCH
For her generous contribution
to the water system for the
City of Glen Ullin, ND
2003
A critical link in our nation's Strategic Condiment Defense System.
I showed up on the doorstep of Assumption Abbey last night, and the monks took me in like a brother. They let me stay in the room affectionately called the "bum room" or, as brother Odo refers to it, the "Knights of the Road" quarters. Brother Odo took me up to the cafeteria to dig out something for dinner, and the two of us sat there, he cracking jokes and me eating (although he did join me for some ice cream), all the while taking in the stunning view of the prairie. This morning I got to eat breakfast with the monks, an activity done in silence, which reminded me of a great scene from "The Frisco Kid", if anyone's seen it.
