In Transit: Bismarck, ND, 5/12-5/16
(Written 5/16)
On my way back from Bismarck, actually, sitting here in the Minneapolis airport waiting for my delayed flight back to Atlanta. Actually, there's nothing here to differentiate this airport from any other. A layover in an airport does not count as visiting a city; I could be anywhere, it doesn't matter, I'm in An Airport, existing out-of-phase with the rest of the world until I step out of another airport at my destination.
I'm not allowed to watch playoff games any more, at least through the first two periods. When I do (like Sunday night), the Wings lose. When I don't (Friday night and last night), they win. I am allowed to check the score online; I just can't watch the game. Oh, and Chris Pronger sucks; I desperately want the Wings to ruin that cement-headed moron's playoff chances. You want tough, you whiny jackass? How about after you send Holmstrom off to the dressing room to get stiches after a dirty hit, how about watching him come back and set up yet another goal? I know I'm not likely to see it in the playoffs, but I really wouldn't mind seeing Bertuzzi eat Pronger. Or even just treat him like he did Regehr and toss him around like a ragdoll. If Pronger wins the Norris Trophy this year instead of Nick Lidstrom, it'll be because there's no justice in the world.
...whew. Glad that's out of my system.
I arrived in Bismarck on Saturday; there were flights available on Sunday, out of Nashville, but they were all expensive and had me getting in to town very late. This way, I had a spare day to do some sightseeing. Believe it or not, there are things to see in North Dakota.
On Sunday, I drove about two hours west to get to the Badlands. I stopped at the Painted Canyon, which is nothing short of spectacular; there's a one-mile trail that ends up feeling rather longer than that given that, well, it's a canyon: it's a bit steep. But the weather was cooperative; the temperature was in the 80s, with a steady breeze to keep you from getting too overheated. The canyon, and the Badlands as a whole, is the result of some impressive erosion and the occasional coal vein fire; the soil is dense and clay-heavy, and just doesn't absorb water quickly enough to avoid getting washed away. Flash-flood country? Oh yeah.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is wonderful. There's a 30+ mile road loop that takes you through the park, with many small trails (anywhere from a third of a mile, to a little over a mile); you just park at the trailhead, grab your camera, and go. I got my exercise, some sun (and some sunburn, but not too bad), and what I hope will turn out to be some great pictures.
The park sneaks up on you when you're driving out there; you get used to the low, rolling hills that make up the bulk of the terrain in North Dakota, then you climb over a hill and "Holy crap!", the Badlands are all right there in front of you. It was the off-season, so the guided horse tours of the park weren't available, but I'd have jumped at the chance; it's the sort of area that you think should be seen from horseback. Heck, I felt more manly just having driven through it.
I'd tentatively planned to drive back out there on Tuesday night, but the weather wasn't clear, and it turned into a very long day at work, so I wasn't much for having to make the drive again and make my early flight the next morning.
Bismarck itself is a sleepy town; there's not much there to write home about. The capital building is the tallest building in the state, and that's not saying much. I've been craving Thai food; there are no Thai restaurants. Let me put it to you like this: in the capital city of North Dakota, the traffic lights blink until about 7:00 in the morning. 'Nuff said.
On my way back from Bismarck, actually, sitting here in the Minneapolis airport waiting for my delayed flight back to Atlanta. Actually, there's nothing here to differentiate this airport from any other. A layover in an airport does not count as visiting a city; I could be anywhere, it doesn't matter, I'm in An Airport, existing out-of-phase with the rest of the world until I step out of another airport at my destination.
I'm not allowed to watch playoff games any more, at least through the first two periods. When I do (like Sunday night), the Wings lose. When I don't (Friday night and last night), they win. I am allowed to check the score online; I just can't watch the game. Oh, and Chris Pronger sucks; I desperately want the Wings to ruin that cement-headed moron's playoff chances. You want tough, you whiny jackass? How about after you send Holmstrom off to the dressing room to get stiches after a dirty hit, how about watching him come back and set up yet another goal? I know I'm not likely to see it in the playoffs, but I really wouldn't mind seeing Bertuzzi eat Pronger. Or even just treat him like he did Regehr and toss him around like a ragdoll. If Pronger wins the Norris Trophy this year instead of Nick Lidstrom, it'll be because there's no justice in the world.
...whew. Glad that's out of my system.
I arrived in Bismarck on Saturday; there were flights available on Sunday, out of Nashville, but they were all expensive and had me getting in to town very late. This way, I had a spare day to do some sightseeing. Believe it or not, there are things to see in North Dakota.
On Sunday, I drove about two hours west to get to the Badlands. I stopped at the Painted Canyon, which is nothing short of spectacular; there's a one-mile trail that ends up feeling rather longer than that given that, well, it's a canyon: it's a bit steep. But the weather was cooperative; the temperature was in the 80s, with a steady breeze to keep you from getting too overheated. The canyon, and the Badlands as a whole, is the result of some impressive erosion and the occasional coal vein fire; the soil is dense and clay-heavy, and just doesn't absorb water quickly enough to avoid getting washed away. Flash-flood country? Oh yeah.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is wonderful. There's a 30+ mile road loop that takes you through the park, with many small trails (anywhere from a third of a mile, to a little over a mile); you just park at the trailhead, grab your camera, and go. I got my exercise, some sun (and some sunburn, but not too bad), and what I hope will turn out to be some great pictures.
The park sneaks up on you when you're driving out there; you get used to the low, rolling hills that make up the bulk of the terrain in North Dakota, then you climb over a hill and "Holy crap!", the Badlands are all right there in front of you. It was the off-season, so the guided horse tours of the park weren't available, but I'd have jumped at the chance; it's the sort of area that you think should be seen from horseback. Heck, I felt more manly just having driven through it.
I'd tentatively planned to drive back out there on Tuesday night, but the weather wasn't clear, and it turned into a very long day at work, so I wasn't much for having to make the drive again and make my early flight the next morning.
Bismarck itself is a sleepy town; there's not much there to write home about. The capital building is the tallest building in the state, and that's not saying much. I've been craving Thai food; there are no Thai restaurants. Let me put it to you like this: in the capital city of North Dakota, the traffic lights blink until about 7:00 in the morning. 'Nuff said.
posted by Matt at
4:21 PM
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