Day 4: The Drive to Medora

Day 4: June 30. We left scenic Barnesville, Minnesota in search of a gas station. The wind has been killer on the gas mileage. After driving around to find a gas station we could get in and out of, mom and dad found a Starbucks and pulled in for their own caffinated fuel :) Turns out, North Dakota is not known for its good coffee. Four cups of Starbucks got dumped out – unheard of.

Betty (again, this is the woman inside the truck that tells us where to go) and Betty's twin (Google maps nav on the phones) both suggested that with the 75 mph speed limit, we should make the 360 miles to Medora in 4 ½ hours. Betty should've known better. Between the slower speeds, driving a “high profile vehicle,” the wind sustained at 40 mph and gusting regularly to 60mph, and stopping to “get-it-together” to drive, it was another long day. We stopped to get gas and the wind was blowing so hard it was a sandstorm! We had to lead the children in to the building with their eyes closed and Mark and Dad struggled to get the gas pumped. We left at 9-ish and arrived in Medora at 4:15 – a whopping 7 hours in the car.

However, it was wonderful to see the day evolve... we started in the great lakes region with rolling hills and grass and trees and lakes. Late afternoon just looked west-i-er. The trees are fewer, the hills become buttes, and the grass ripples everywhere. All the grownups heaved sighs of relaxation and bliss and the sights and sounds and smells we have missed these past 5 years. The children may have been glad to get out of the car.

Now dinner, dinner is why we came to Medora as the first big stop on the trip. We celebrated our arrival by visiting “Cowboy Cafe” in the center of town. Look back through our blogs over the years, and understand that visiting our beautiful country involves visiting and consuming local fare. We always try to find a local place to enjoy things that can be found “only here” and this is no exception! All the food tonight was fantastic, but we drove 1,350 miles for the SOUR CREAM RAISIN PIE! Never heard of it? Neither had we, but we had some when Gabe was 3 and have been back 4 times to this place and have had the pie each time. Tonight, Mark, who is my own personal hero, called back into the kitchen and asked the lady who is probably the owner/cook how to make the pie. He told her of our love affair with her recipe, that none other could compete with hers, and laid on the charm. WE GOT THE RECIPE!!! Written down on the back of two purple business cards! Oh, happy day!!! Mark is the absolute best, best husband in the whole world, and all people reading this blog will be glad of his bravery and charm this evening!