This past week I had numerous inquiries from families who have arrived in North Dakota, either PCS’ing in from another base, or they have arrived in Minot for their very first assignment.
Both of the above scenarios are pretty common in August, and I really, really encourage these new arrivals to start taking advantage of what Minot has to offer before it gets so darn cold that you won’t want to leave your house-right?
Well, no, that was not necessarily my point. Let’s start with one of the largest recreational lakes in the United States, Lake Sakakawea. It’s less than an hour drive to the south, and the lake is surrounded by state parks that allow for comfortable weekend getaways well into September. The temperature of the lake in some of the smaller bays and at some of the swimming beaches will be above 75 degrees. The water is very clear and fun to swim in, and daytime temps can still touch the 90’s. There are picnic areas at both Ft. Stevenson (Garrison, ND) and at Lake Sakakawea State Park (Pick City/Riverdale).
Kayaking or canoeing your game? You can plan a day trip from the Garrison Dam spillway to Washburn. Don’t work too hard, you can make the trip in 8 hours. If Washburn seems a bit far, there is another landing near Stanton. Some folks have hit the river at the crack of dawn and paddled hard and ended up in Bismarck. The choice is yours. The point is, there is still a lot of water time left in summer 2024.
It’s Photo Time
For the next 4 weeks your photo opportunities are going to be amazing. First, the small grain fields have turned that glorious gold. Different small grain crops have different hues. The field I just photographed had grain stalks that were chest high on me. You really can’t miss if you choose a summer day, towards evening…the golden hour.
And then there are the sunflower fields with heads well over a foot wide. The colors are so very vibrant. Talk about a perfect backdrop for a family photo. Years from now when you are reviewing you family scrapbook you will immediately talk about North Dakota and how beautiful the sunflower fields were. Finally, take time to look around at some of the natural backdrops, like sunsets. Put an old building in the foreground and wait until the sun just starts to set. Another phenomenon is the dust that harvest creates, and that dust creates some amazing orange color in the sunset. No need for an expensive cameras, your cellphone will certainly suffice.
Look to The North
For a lot of good reasons, looking to the North will also provide you with late summer entertainment. The International Peace Garden will be in full bloom into mid-September. So, you missed the Peace Garden trip? Early October in the Turtle Mountains will again provide superb backdrops as the leaves begin to turn to fall colors of oranges, yellows, and reds. Once again, a cell phone camera will give you lasting memories. Lake Metigoshe State Park has several deep forest trails. On a warm Sunday afternoon, you can still drop a canoe or kayak into Lake Metigoshe and enjoy the fall colors looing in from the lake. Absolutely perfect!
The Souris River Valley
One final suggestion, take a couple of hours and follow the Souris River Valley. Challenge your mapping skills and choose those less traveled paths. Lake Darling and the Upper Souris Refuge, J Clark Sayler refuge (BTW, there are canoe trails on both of these refuges) and the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge near Kenmare.
I’m Always Ready to Help
Got questions about the area. I have lived in North Dakota all of my life, and I have learned to appreciate so many sights and events. I would be more than happy to share them with you. Send and inquiry to sentrysales@srt.com. Don’t wait too long because… the clock is ticking.
Best Kept Secrets
I struggle this time of year because my senses are on overload. When I spent more time on the road I would often stop to watch a combine out in the field as they harvest small grain crops like barley, wheat and even flax. There is almost a ballet of movements. Of course, there is the combine or combines. A new player, well relatively new player, is the grain cart which allows the combine to unload a hopper full of grain while the 2 machines, combine and grain cart, move in parallel down the field. Finally, there is the job I am most familiar with, the truck and driver waiting for the grain cart to fill their box for delivery to a nearby bin or elevator. Got a few hours, search out and find harvest activity in your area…but better sooner than later. Hopefully a bountiful harvest will be in the books by the end of September.
Today’s Chuckle
If you really want to see the light, take the shade off the lamp.
