Frontier town!

Finding the entrance to Theodore Roosevelt National Park was easy and with no traffic queues we were soon in possession of a new a annual parks pass. We stopped at the Visitor Centre and sat through the film presentation of the back storey to the park. Such presentations are always worth sitting through. It turns out that the park owes much to Theodore Roosevelt who not only founded his Elk Horn ranch here, but as US President, pioneered the National Parks programme. We then drove the 35-mile loop road through the park's stunning scenery, spotting bison, prairie dogs, various birds, and fauna.

The 'painted' valleys and views of the Little Missouri River were truly memorabl.

We completed the driving loop in a couple of hours and after a brief picnic stop in a leafy glade, we took a side trip to nearby Dickinson, for some shopping. There, we called at the Odyssey 3 cinema, but unfortunately, we drew a blank there! Travelling back to Medora, we called into the Painted Valley Visitor Centre and made the most of the spectacular views and conversations with other visitors. Finally, it was back to Medora, stopping off at the site of Chateau de Mores. The latter was very much the product of 'new money' meets 'old title' and ultimately resulted in a short lived business enterprise, which did, however, facilitate the establishment of Mendora as a notable western town.

 
All in all, a very worthwhile place to visit, particularly if you like fabulous scenery and appreciate history.

 As for a musical memory of today's journey through western history, perhaps Bruce Springsteen's "Black Cowboys" will do it?!