October 15-16, 2024 Icelandic State Park, Cavalier and Pembina North Dakota

 High of 52, sunny and windy. Brrr.

Still pretty flat North Dakota landscape. But as we went more north there were more and more trees.  I finished this basket finally. It took forever.  It is made from dyed pine needles, glass and metal beads and polyester thread. The center is a piece of glass I painted and slumped on to a green man texture tile. It is 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 x 2 inches. 

I made this today. It is made from dyed pine needles, polyester thread, glass beads and the center is a Mexican painted tile. 7 x 1 1/2 inches. We are now camped at Icelandic State Park, outside of Cavalier, North Dakota. We are the only camper in our loop. 

The campground is on Lake Renwick. I saw this great photo of a mobile home in the visitor's center museum.

The historic Hallson Church is one of the historic buildings in the park.  Across the street is the Pembina county museum. It closed at the end of September. But we checked out the antique farm equipment outside. 

 Welcome to Cavalier and beautiful, historic downtown Cavalier. 

Fuel is cheaper here. $3.25  a gallon, we drove by Starkweather, sounds like it has pretty stark weather, Cavalier water tower, box elder bugs  and the entrance to the Icelandic State park. 

Sunset. Gibbous moon rising. 

Welcome to Pembina, North Dakota. We came here because the low point of North Dakota is here. We have been to the low point of all the 48 continental states except North Dakota and Michigan. Now only Michigan is left. The low point of North Dakota is where the Red river runs into Canada. Here is the border crossing, on the Red river.

John at the low point of North Dakota, where the Red river runs into Canada. The top photo was a close as he could get with out trespassing and the lower one is closest to the low point on public land. At the top one I was worried that border patrol was going to show up any minute and question us and John was worried that the farmer who owned the field would appear. Neither did. The Red River in Pembina.

The border patrol station in Pembina. It is the most civilized one I have ever seen. Along the Mexican border they are huge secure looking buildings with razor wire topped fences all around them, with lots full of border patrol vehicles. Beautiful historic downtown Pembina, North Dakota.

We saw a motor coach factory and thought it was RV's, but behind the building were buses. In Cavalier they have decorated hay bales around town. This was the cutest by the gas station. From the side it was a truck. Pembina water tower, Canada geese in the park, duty free in Pembina, looked like it had not been open in awhile. Turkeys in the campground and the North Border Eagles are champions. 

Back at camp we hiked the trails in the park, including Gunlogson nature preserve, which is 'a place of natural interest and beauty.' John on one of the trails in the park. 

The Tongue river along the trail. John on one of the bridges. 

Looking up at either aspen or birch trees. John in the oak trees. 

Geese on the lake in the park. Sunset over the swim beach.

I waited for the full moon to rise, but there was a lot of smoke on the horizon. This is a smoky photo of the full hunter moon with Canada geese. The full hunter moon with a oak tree on the swim beach. 

October 11-14, 2024, Graham Island State park, Devils Lake, North Dakota

 High of 59 and sunny.

John walking toward the swim beach at Devils Lake.  Wild turkeys taking a stroll on the trail. 

I went biking in this fall tree tunnel today. This poor robin hit the side or our bus and killed itself. Downy woodpecker. 

 

White tail deer I saw on my bike ride in the campground. The spring part of the flush pedal on our marine toilet broke. John worked for hours trying to fix it. Drove into town to get a tool. But ended up he did not have the right part. Toilet is still functional, but not in prime form.

Sunset. I keep going out and photographing the sky at night, just in case there are auroras. But no dice. 

Barracuda fish cleaning station at the campground. It has a big garbage disposal in the middle. John out walking with fall colors. 

More fall colors. 

A murder of crows were circling like vultures in the sunset. Sunset. 

The cabins at the state park are named after fish. This one is the crappie cabin! Sunset.

Moon peeking behind a cloud. 

October 9-10, 2024 Lake Sakakawua, North Dakota

 82 and sunny.

It was such a beautiful day we went boating on the lake. There was a gentle wind, it made the water a bit choppy. John ahead of me.

There are a couple of ducks on the shore, but too small to see. The wind dropped and the water was  beautifully smooth. 

The take out. Back at camp the smooth water reflecting the island off the shore. 

Dinner outside. There are 110 camping sites in this loop of the campground. There are two other campers, and they park right next to us. . .

Sunset. There was a small aurora tonight. Didn't stay up for it tonight. 

Another 82 degree sunny day. Out boating again. Canada geese on the point. Behind them is the point we are camped on. John gliding across the smooth water. There were a couple of big fishing boats whizzing by making some ripples. 

We paddled out to the island just off shore of the campground. Lots of birds there. The west end of the island.

Back at camp, another shot of the island and the smooth water. There is some smoke making it's way here, making the sunset brilliant.