Trip to North Dakota August 24-27, 2010

Rod has been wanting to go to North Dakota to see the coal mines for a long time. So for his birthday, we headed north and spent a few days seeing the sights in North Dakota. Kent and Nancy Miller, cousins on the Wheeler side, were up there for the summer and were managing the Hazen Bay campground. They were wonderful hosts to us and took us around the area. We had a great visit.

Statue of Sakakawea in front of the North Dakota Heritage Center

Wire buffalo in front of the center

In 1895 to 1915, North Dakota was on a campaign to get people to come out and settle in the state. My Grandpa and Grandma Vincent were some of the ones who went out there in the early 1900s to settle at Mandan. From what I have been told, it was really difficult for them and they returned to Illinois after a few years. This picture is in front of one of the exhibits that talks about the population boom in North Dakota at that time.

Capital building at Bismark, North Dakota

This is the cabin we stayed in at Hazen Bay Recreation Center. It was really nice and could sleep up to 7 or 8 people.

Coteau Freedom Lignite coal mine

This dragline is 215 feet tall, weighs 13 million pounds and can move 150 tons a minute. The bucket is big enough to hold four 4-wheeler drive suburbans!

I took this picture out of the window of the van we were riding in, so you could get the feel for the size of the tires on the trucks. They said one of these tires costs $65,000 and is 12 feet across.

Lignite Coal

Chains used at the mine

Kent went with us on a tour of the Antelope Power plant. Aren't we cute!! Nancy was resting her legs.

Looking out the window on the 17th floor

Looking down into the plant from the 17th floor. I have decided that I take electricity for granted. It is an amazing process. I am glad that I didn't have to figure all that out!!

Lewis and Clark Center

Lewis & Clark spent the winter of 1804-1805 at Fort Mandan

Reconstruction of Fort Mandan

Hazen Bay on Lake Sakakawea. It is a beautiful place.

Here is the view across the bay from the cabin we stayed in.

Kent and Nancy by their motorcoach

Nancy with me just before we left Friday morning.