Prairie dogs, long highways, and the freedom of a loosely planned trip
Some mornings on a long road trip begin with a sunrise, a scenic overlook, or a perfectly planned itinerary.
And some begin with a second cup of coffee… a quick glance around town… and the realization that it is time to get back on the road.
This was one of those mornings.
A Slow Morning in Medora
Good morning from Medora, North Dakota.
It was one of those quiet travel mornings where nothing particularly dramatic is happening. Just coffee, a little wandering around town, and the gentle realization that another driving day is about to begin.
Medora sits right at the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and it has that small western town feeling. A little bit touristy, a little bit charming, and surrounded by wide open country.
The kind of place where RVs roll out of campgrounds early in the morning and travelers begin pointing their vehicles toward the next destination.
And that is exactly what I was about to do. But first… one last little drive through town.
The Beauty of Not Overplanning
One of the things I have learned about traveling solo is that flexibility becomes one of your greatest tools. You can wake up in the morning and change your mind.
Maybe you decide to take a different scenic drive. Maybe you swing through a small town you had not planned to visit. Maybe you just follow the road toward something interesting. That freedom disappears quickly when you have every minute of a trip scheduled.
When you travel alone… you can simply say: “Hey, that looks interesting.” And go. Sure, sometimes those detours turn into mistakes.
But other times they lead to the most memorable parts of the trip.
Prairie Dog Town
Before leaving the area, I decided to swing back through Theodore Roosevelt National Park and head toward the north unit. One of the spots I had heard about was something called Prairie Dog Town.
If you have never seen prairie dogs in person, they are surprisingly entertaining. Small, curious little animals that pop up out of the ground like tiny sentries watching the prairie. Some were close to the road. Others were scattered across the hills.
They make these little chirping or grunting noises as they move around, and every once in a while one will roll around in the dirt like it is having the best day of its life.
It was one of those small wildlife moments that just makes you stop and watch for a while.
The Long Drive Across North Dakota
Eventually, though, the road called again.
North Dakota is a big state. And once you leave the national park areas behind, the highways stretch out into long straight lines that seem to go on forever.
Wide skies. Long roads. Fields that roll out toward the horizon.
I kept noticing patches of these bright yellow flowers scattered across the landscape. At first glance they looked almost neon against the green stems. I never did figure out exactly what they were, but they added little bursts of color to an otherwise quiet landscape.
Driving across states like this can feel meditative at times. But if I am being completely honest… It can also feel a little boring.
The 36 Hour Rule
When I started this 50 at 60 journey, I had to create a simple rule for myself. I did not have the luxury of taking an entire year off to slowly explore every corner of the country. So I created a metric. Spend at least 36 hours in each state. Some states would get more time. Some would get just enough.
North Dakota was one of those places where the clock mattered a little bit. By the time I reached Grand Forks and spent the night there, I would cross that 36 hour threshold. Mission accomplished.
Then it would be time to head into Minnesota.
Looking Ahead to Minnesota
Minnesota was something I was really looking forward to. After the long straight highways of North Dakota, the idea of lakes, forests, and northern landscapes sounded pretty appealing.
I was planning to spend several days up there, possibly even making my way all the way up to Voyageurs National Park. But first… there were still several hours of North Dakota highway ahead of me.
Sometimes travel is about the highlights. Other times it is simply about the road between them.
Watch the Episode
This story comes from Episode 35 of my 50 at 60 journey, where I leave Medora, explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park one more time, and begin the long drive across North Dakota toward Grand Forks.
Along the way there are prairie dogs, wide open highways, and a few reflections about what it means to travel without a rigid plan. Sometimes the road itself becomes part of the story.
You can watch the full episode below.And I’m good with that.
