Old 261 – A Train Ride Opportunity Missed

Davenport, North Dakota.

On this Independence Day, let’s go back to the last century when Rail was King and a train trip was a daily occurrence for the traveler. Awhile back, a post on Facebook clued me in to the arrival of Engine number 261 from Minneapolis. I found there would be three days of excursions in early June and I immediately went online to order tickets.

Cellpic Sunday – 2 July 2017

Georgetown, Colorado.

Last week, we visited a small town in Colorado that is the home of the Georgetown Loop Railroad, a narrow gauge steam railroad that provides excursions into the Colorado Rockies and makes a stopover at a mining exhibit. 

Weekly Photo Challenge – Delta

Canal Zone, Panama.

This week, Erika V. suggests that we review the concept of change, transitions, and time passages. She writes, “…share a photograph that signifies transition and change to you.” You can read the entire challenge post here. 

Mel Rieman Recreational Area – Lake Ashtabula Summer Retreat

Lake Ashtabula, North Dakota.

On our second stop along the Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Byway, we find ourselves at the Mel Rieman Campground and Recreation Area. See the blue arrow on the map below for our location. This beautiful campground isn’t huge, only 70 acres, and it’s only open during the summer season. This year, the season is from May 1 through September 30, 2017. In the short season, however, there are plenty of things to do. There is a visitor center, playground, picnic facility, a boat ramp and fishing facilities.

Cellpic Sunday – 25 June 2017

Mandan, North Dakota.

Lately, I’ve been to the Mandan (ND) Airport several times for various reasons in connection with my volunteer service for Civil Air Patrol. Recently, after landing, we pulled up to Hangar 42 and parked. Unlike fueling your car, aircraft aren’t always ‘filled to full tanks’ for each flight. Fuel needs are determined by educated estimates of fuel flow for the aircraft in gallons or pounds of fuel per hour. Then enough fuel for at least an hour’s reserve is added. Carrying more fuel than necessary decreases performance and limits our passenger and equipment capacity. After we determined our fuel load for the next flight, the fuel truck operator from Clear Skies Aviation drove up and readied his gear to refuel our tanks.

Weekly Photo Challenge – Transient

This week, Andrea Badgley focuses on drifters, nomads, and even the state of impermanence. “Where did it come from? How far did it travel? What stories would it tell if it could talk, and how long before it will move on again?” You can read the entire challenge post here. 

America’s Scenic Byways – Sheyenne River Valley

Getchell Township, Barnes County, North Dakota.

Always ready for a road trip, a chance encounter with a Facebook post taught me about the America’s Byways program. North Dakota features one byway in its entirety and another it shares with South Dakota. These are two of around 150 specific roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The first of these byways is only about an hour from our house in Fargo and last week, my Travel Tuesday post featured several stops along the way, the bridges of Valley City. This summer, expect to see more of this 63-mile (101 km) trek through the beautiful Sheyenne River Valley.