bison Archives - #WhereIsSteve

Montana The Magnificent

August 18, 2016 steveahenry

“An inner anger is poison. A person who is angry is poisoning them self and poisoning the environment.”
-David Lynch

David Lynch - born in Missoula, Montana

WELCOME TO MONTANA: THE TREASURE STATE

Montana, South Dakota and Idaho were the states that surprised me the most on this road trip. Mostly because of their external beauties and how many activities there were to be enjoyed in these areas. Montana is a huge fucking place. Yes, Texas is the biggest state in the Continental US but Montana sure felt like it while I was driving through her. It was so big, I spent two nights in two different cities: Billings and Missoula.

Here’s a size comparison of Montana and Texas.

Montana vs Texas — Size comparison of Montana and Texas.

This is crazy. I still don’t believe it even though I have been to El Paso and Dallas, Texas and I know how brutal it is to get from one to the other (635 miles). Add another 239 miles to get to Houston and that adds up to about 12 hours of driving. Holy Bison ass, Texas!

CHECK OUT MY OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MONTANA

In the middle of nowhere, auto-correct doesn’t work even if you have a signal on your iPhone. The phone just sits there, spinning.

It’s not unusual to drive on the freeway and all of a sudden go from 90mph to 65mph to 45mph to 35mph to 25mph in under 2 minutes. Sometimes it’s because of construction. Other times, you’re passing through a town that looks like 41 people live there.

Expect signs like this one and take it very seriously: “NEXT GAS EXIT: 82 miles”.

Montana was not as flat and brown as my drive through North Dakota. She will reward you with rolling hills, valleys, beautiful mountains, pretty lakes and lush, green vistas.

Do you really hate people and technology and never want to be bothered again? Move to the middle of North Dakota or the eastern section of Montana. More specifically, along the 12 freeway between Bowman, ND and Miles City, MT. I guarantee ZERO visitors except for some Bison and migratory birds. You’re welcome.

ND to MT — Google Maps: Bowman, ND to Miles City, MT.

There’s no one in your rear view for 100+ miles between Bowman, ND and Miles City, MT. It’s awesome and creepy all at the same time.

It’s scary when you’re going 90mph and a huge semi-truck speeds by and shakes your Toyota Prius. Whoaaaah! Hold on tight.

The end to end drives (east to west or vice versa) of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas and Montana will clear your mind and bring things into perspective very quickly. It’s a gem many should experience at least once in their lifetime. No talking. No music. Just drive and listen to your inner self.

If you just had a really bad break up, do this drive: Bowman, ND to Miles City, MT. Your head will magically clear and before you know it, it’s “Becky, who”?

There’s a lot of roadkill in Montana. Get used to it and be alert.

There are lots of vehicles with oversized loads (Jesus, did I just write that?): Tractors, semis, semis carrying homes, semis carrying cars and semis carrying farming equipment. Sometimes, you will have to drive behind them for a few miles before you can pass and go on your merry way. Practice patience. You’re going to need it.

NORTH DAKOTA: BIG COCK COUNTRY … WTF?

August 17, 2016 steveahenry

“When I was a kid, I dreamed about fame, you know, how cool it would be to be in a movie and to be on television. I thought about certain movie roles or certain lines from movies by myself in the shower and thought I could do that someday. But I never really believed that I ever had a chance.”
-Josh Duhamel
Josh Duhamel - born in North Dakota

WELCOME TO NORTH DAKOTA: LEGENDARY

Legendary for what?

REPEAT AFTER ME.

There’s nothing in North Dakota.
There’s nothing in North Dakota.
There’s nothing in North Dakota.
There’s nothing in North Dakota.

North Dakota is the planet Mars with brown blades of grass. And a Bison. Yeah, 1 Bison. You can drive for 100 miles and only see a Bison. It’s the most bizarre thing. It’s also not strange to not see any police for 150 miles.

I was hoping during every single mile that my car wouldn’t break down. I thought about it constantly. Out of all the drives I had done up to this point, North Dakota was the drive that made my hands and feet sweaty. You are in the middle of NOWHERE! It’s the perfect location for Area 51 and El Chapo’s hideout compound.

Mt Rushmore to Bowman — Google Maps: Directions from Mt Rushmore, SD to Bowman, ND.

I purchased a parcel of land in North Dakota just in case Donald Trump gets elected. Nawh, I’m just kidding. I bought the parcel in Wyoming. Hey, you have to stay prepared. I also did some research and there are no KKK factions in North Dakota. So, yes, that’s a great start!

And by the way, this is how I go to Trump rallies!

Captain America

Like I said, you have to be prepared.

Moving on, I briefly stopped for food and gas at a town called, Bowman. It’s a nice, little town. Everyone was quite friendly. I bought a funny t-shirt that said, “BIG COCK Country”. I couldn’t resist. And the fried chicken they sold at the rest stop was delicious. Yummy.

North Dakota t-shirt — North Dakota is BIG COCK Country. Okie dokie.

I met a nice couple at the rest stop while taking my Fanta selfie. A black dude and his white girlfriend. The girl asked what I was doing and I told them about my road trip around the country. They both asked where I was going next and after mentioning Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, they immediately warned me to stay away from Spokane, Washington. I guess they don’t treat blacks very well there? Everything happens for a reason, I guess and I did end up listening to them. While driving through Washington later on, it seemed like the only reason to go to Spokane was to use the airport so you could get to Coeur D’Alene, Idaho.

On my way west toward Montana, I did see a police officer on the side of the road looking for speedsters. Thank goodness I was not speeding at that time because I can’t imagine what it would be like to be pulled over in North Dakota by a police officer, who is probably bored out of his fucking mind.

NORTH DAKOTA: LEGENDARY.

Yup.

For being in the middle of fucking nowhere.

South Dakota: More than just Mount Rushmore

August 16, 2016 steveahenry

“I practice my golf swing naked.”
-Cheryl Ladd

WELCOME TO SOUTH DAKOTA:

GREAT FACES * GREAT PLACES

I have a confession to make. If you’ve read many of my travel blogs, you would think I was a travel expert dandily navigating through the United States without a care in the world. It’s so far from the truth. There were a few scary moments for me throughout this entire trip (including South Dakota). Before I share a list of them, let me clarify the meaning of “scary”.

My main fear was always about breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Not racism. Not the police. Not giving up. I was always worried that my car would hit a nail, an animal or just simply give up at any point during the 20,000 mile adventure.

My hands and feet were sweaty in the back roads of New Mexico during sunset as a lightning storm loomed; leaving Grand Canyon National Park in the early evening, where families of deer could be seen lining the roads; driving from Iowa to South Dakota while a dark, gloomy storm waved at me from the Northeast, as I headed west and lastly, driving from Sturgis, South Dakota to Bowman, North Dakota (145 miles of brown grass, blue sky, no police in sight and 1 Bison).

South Dakota’s two main cities, Rapid City and Hill City, were well worth the long, anxious drive. It’s almost as if these areas were built as the ultimate rewards for driving a half day to get to them.

My observations during the Monday morning & afternoon drive from Des Moines, Iowa to Hill City, South Dakota:

Started seeing a lot more motorcycles than any of the previous states.

There was a time zone change in the middle of the state (I gained an hour).

The drive felt like a Los Angeles to Vegas trek sometimes, with the vast lands and mountains in the distance and every now and again, you saw a small town.

In Iowa, it seemed like there were no small towns for hundreds of miles. Just farmland and corn fields.

The speed limit in South Dakota was 80 mph along the 90 Freeway. Yippee!!

There was a sign that said, “Next rest stop, anyone’s guess. Fill up now.” That was hilarious and made me look at my gas gauge! I was okay.

In terms of distance and length of travel, the drive across South Dakota from East to West reminded me of the drive in Kansas from West to East. Long as shit!

Saw a lot more vehicles on the 90 freeway carrying either other vehicles, animals or farming equipment.

Saw more roadkill along the freeways than any other state so far.

For 500 miles going from East to West (Iowa to South Dakota), everything is flat like Kansas. Then all of a sudden, South Dakota turns into the mountains of Colorado. They literally come out of nowhere, like the casinos when you drive into Las Vegas. And then before you know it, it looks like you’re in the middle of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. It’s actually a beautiful reward after so much driving.

To conclude, I must mention that South Dakota is more than just Mount Rushmore. Imagine driving 500 miles to see Mount Rushmore, dining at Dakotah Steakhouse for dinner, retiring back to your hotel for the night and then leaving the next day. Ouch. That would suck!

Here are some other activities Hill City and Rapid City have to offer:

Reptile gardens
Golfing
Putt Putt golfing
Hiking
Canoeing
Mount Rushmore monument
Crazy Horse monument
Beautiful countryside drives
Wildlife park
Different restaurants with different kinds of foods (e.g. Bison, Elk) — Dakotah steakhouse
Dinosaur museum
Camping

If possible, don’t stay in Rapid City. Head into the mountains and stay in Hill city near Mount Rushmore. You’ll thank me later.

Grand Canyon Arizona

June 28, 2016 steveahenry

“You’re only human. You live once and life is wonderful, so eat the red velvet cupcake.”
-Emma Stone

WELCOME TO ARIZONA: THE GRAND CANYON STATE

Arizona is one of the most beautiful and dangerous places I have ever seen in my life. While driving through the state, all I could think about was the ocean. I felt like if we ever saw what the ocean looked like without water covering it, it would look close to Arizona. Sprawling vistas. Amazing scenery. Mysterious looking vegetation. And of course, the Grand Canyon itself, which looks beautiful, massive, deep and scary.

I actually went and visited Grand Canyon National Park, which is on the east side of the state. I did not know this but there is only one way in and one way out. I thought I would be able to drive in, take in the sights and move on over to New Mexico. NOPE! And this is where the danger comes in.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona — Fanta selfie at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

I ended up driving out of Grand Canyon National Park just after sunset and it was the scariest thing I think I’ve done while driving in a car. Why?

Well, to get out of Grand Canyon National Park, you have to drive about 42 miles. Your average speed is anywhere between 35 and 55 miles per hour. It doesn’t sound too bad but there are no lamp posts, so it’s dark dark dark!

AND … Grand Canyon National Park has signs for deer, bison and cattle crossings so you have to be on EXTRA alert while navigating out of the monument.

I spotted 7 or 8 deer but only 1 was actually in the middle of the freeway. Scared the crap out of me! As it turns out, my high beams were on and I think they are very much attracted to that light. So I used my high beams sparingly.

Consequently, what you see on TV is so true. When a deer looks into your headlights, it just stands there, in the middle of the road until you turn off your high beams or slow down so it can run away.

That was not fun at all.

The end of Grand Canyon National Park had cabins you could rent and places to park your RV if you had one but I didn’t have that kind of time and to be honest, I didn’t know those were options. It’s pretty cool.