When we left St. Mary’s, MT, it was 68 degrees with partly cloudy skies. We took highway 89 to four miles southeast of Browning, MT. With the snow-covered peaks of Glacier National Park behind us, we started on US Route 2. Route 2 is known as the “Hi-Line” or “Great Northern Route”. We continued on Route 2 for four days, driving through Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. We made overnight stops in Glasgow MT, Minot ND, Bemidji MN, and Iron MT MI.
On US 2 we experienced many small towns, farms, rolling hills, flat plains and Oil fields. It was a scenic, educational, long drive!
June 25, 2018 St. Mary’s MT to Glasgow MT
On Our trip today, we experienced some unusual things. Road Construction (times two), a horse crossing the road, several recumbent bikers, and a flooded roadway. These activities made the ride interesting!
(click to enlarge photos)
June 26, 2018 Glasgow MT to Minot ND
Today we drove 263 miles to Minot, ND. Still on US 2, we drove through small farm towns, over rolling hills, and passed many oil wells.
The first major town in North Dakota was Williston, ND. Williston is a thriving economic area due to its agriculture and Oil. As we drove through town, we were amazed at the number of “extended stay” hotels, prefab apartments, huge trailer complexes that had gone up to house all of the oil workers.
(click to enlarge photos)
We checked in for the night at the Rough Rider Campground in Minot, ND. We quickly discovered that there was not much to do in Minot. We stopped at the Scandinavian Heritage Park and walked the loop looking at the buildings at statues. The park is home to a full-size replica of the beautiful Gol Stave Church in Oslo, Norway. Next to the church is the 30 foot Dala Horse, the Swedish symbol.
(click to enlarge photos)
June 28, 2018 Minot ND to Bemidji MN
It was a long drive from Minot, ND to Bemidji, MN…331 miles! After checking into the Royal Oaks RV Park, we discovered that there was a festival along the lake in Bemidji. It was late in the afternoon, so we were sure we wouldn’t be able to find a parking spot. But, we tried! The Paul Bunyan statue was in the center of the Festival activities and we were told it was a “must do”. We found the statue, but, were not impressed. Paul Bunyan looked more like a toy soldier or a nutcracker than a burly lumberjack! I snapped a couple of photos and we were on our way!
(click to enlarge photos)
June 29, 2018 Bemidji MN to Ironwood MI
Today was another long driving/riding day. We drove 388 miles from Minnesota, across northern Wisconsin, ending in Ironwood, just across the Michigan state line. Our “home” for the night was the Summer Breeze Campground. Tomorrow, we will finally be in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula!