RV Adventure Summer 2014

MONDAY, JULY 22, 2014

SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN

We left Medora, ND, Saturday morning and drove straight across the state of North Dakota to Barnesville, Minnesota. We stayed the one night in a city owned park that provided water, sewer and electric hook-ups.

The next morning we pulled up our jacks and headed for Superior, Wisconsin, where we were to meet up with Lavern/John, Skip/Susan and Torbin/Patty. Our stay in Superior is scheduled to be for three nights. I'll share more about this area in another blog posting.

We have been without an Internet connection for the past two nights - even with the Verizon Hot Spot on my iPhone. Therefore, I was not able to share anything about our last night in Medora.

As I mentioned earlier, we had bought tickets for the Pitchfork Fondue and the Medora Musical show. Both of these events were held on top of one of the taller hills in the Badlands at an absolutely beautiful location looking out at the North Dakota landscape as far as the eye could see. There was a slight haze in the air that didn't seem to fit the location. We were told it was smoke from the forest fires further west in California. We could not smell smoke but the answer seemed plausible.

The facility had a "cooking area" with three large fondue pots appearing to be about 250 gallons each. Huge Rib Eye steaks were poked onto the prongs of pitchforks. When it became time to cook the steaks the loaded pitchforks were plunged into the bubbling fondue pots. All steaks were cooked about the same - medium to medium well. Patrons got in line for a buffet offering beans, salad, baked potato, slaw, chocolate brownies, cinnamon doughnuts and water or lemonade. Once your tray was full from the buffet you stopped to receive your steak and then found a convenient picnic table to enjoy your meal. The steaks were delicious and for me seasoned and cooked just right. I can't say I have ever eaten a whole steak that has been boiled in oil, but I do remember the fondue craze from back in the 70's where there was a smaller pot of hot peanut oil in the center of the table and you cooked individual chunks of chicken, beef and vegetables in the pot yourself. Come to think of it, I believe I may still have a fondue set in the original box colored in harvest gold packed away in the barn back home. Maybe I should find it and bring it on a trip for a group fondue?

After our dinner we worked our way over to the area where the musical was to be presented. A 3-level escalator took us from the top level down to the seating area where our seats were literally carved out of the hill (mountain?) side.

Since we had bought our tickets late our seats were in what one might call "the nose bleed section". We were up high in the seating area meaning seeing the faces of the performers without binoculars wasn't possible. But, our view of the staging area and the backdrop of the beautiful Badlands was unsurpassed. The Badlands have been described in numerous ways. One often quoted is, "Hell with no fire". Another is, "The most beautiful and restful environment imaginable". I choose the last one. Of course, if I was trying to cross the Badlands on foot, horseback or with a heavily laden covered wagon pulled by oxen I am sure I would refer to them as hell. We must remember this is the way our pioneer forefathers and mothers crossed the west - long before paved highways, tunnels and bridges.

The stage was set-up so that the different scenes could be moved in and out on tracks. The lighting and sound system were exceptional as were the performers. Medora has been putting on the musical for 50 years. Obviously a lot has changed since it started. It has become a destination event for people from all over the world. The entertainment was nothing but top class.

We were further entertained by a pair of Elk on the huge hill behind the stage. They were not part of the show but keep coming to the top of the hill - perhaps to see what was going on. At one point a cowboy on horse back rode up to the hill and guided the Elk into another area, but they eventually managed to get back into the spotlight. I am thinking these animals were not wild as they did not seem to fear the horseman.

The grand finale for the show featured an American Flag projected onto the hill in the background including the logo of the Medora Musical at the very end. This was absolutely a great show and one I am extremely glad we attended.

We really loved this part of the country even if our campers, trucks, clothes and carpets are now covered with a fine red dust. Coming down the highway yesterday behind Wayne & Margaret's RV I laughed at the pink to red color of the roof, which is normally white. Some serious vehicle washing will need to be done.

BTW - I am writing this as I sit in the waiting room of NUUS Truck Center in Duluth, MN. The air conditioner compressor on the Volvo locked up and quit putting out cold air shortly after we left Barnesville yesterday. So, it is either pay up and get it fixed or swelter as we drive down the road. With several thousand miles still ahead of us and the potential for hot, muggy July and August weather I decided it was not a convenience that could wait for my personal attention back in Virginia.

Steaks on Pitchforks ready to be put into the fondue pots in the rear of the photo.

Natural backdrop of the Dakota Badlands as seen from the picnic table where we ate our "Pitchfork Fondue" steak dinner before the musical.

First photo is one of the Elk on top of the mountain. The red arrow points to them. The second photo (above) is just a zoom-in on the Elk so you can see the size of their massive antlers.