Anyway, I had to do them. Just because, right? Om is willing to walk 3 miles, and I figured it would be good to get my legs used to this idea again. Currently, this trail is a loop around the Garrison Fish Hatchery.
![fish hatchery](https://www.booksleavingfootprints.com/BlogPix/NCTthru1276-FishHatchery.jpg)
They have recently resurfaced the whole thing with pea gravel, and added signs and blazes.
![trailhead](https://www.booksleavingfootprints.com/BlogPix/NCTthru1277-Trailhead.jpg)
I'm really glad I did this! It was not typical of the rest of the North Dakota trail. A lot of the loop was through open cottonwood forest. It's not often you see this many trees in one place out here. Nice Shaded walking.
![trail through cottonwoods](https://www.booksleavingfootprints.com/BlogPix/NCTthru1278-Cottonwoods.jpg)
But the most awesome part is that you get to cozy right up to the Missouri River! Think Lewis & Clark. In fact, the reason the NCT terminus is out here is because it connects to the Lewis & Clark Trail, although that one is a National Historic Trail. And what's directly "cross the wide Missouri?" The Badlands. It's so bizarre... the landscape just changes immediately. I will have to find out why this is so. The geology must be interesting.
![Missouri River and badlands](https://www.booksleavingfootprints.com/BlogPix/NCTthru1279-Badlands.jpg)
One of the best things, to me, about North Dakota is the white pelicans. Although we now see them occasionally where I live, they are everywhere out here. Huge and wonderous birds. Their wingspan is 9-10 feet, second only to the California condor. But they are shy. This is about the best picture I've ever gotten.
![white pelican](https://www.booksleavingfootprints.com/BlogPix/NCTthru1280-WhitePelican.jpg)
And don't forget we are at a fish hatchery. Here goes a truck full of walleye fingerlings. About a million of them in that one truck, we were told. You can see the hatchery ponds too.
![fish hatchery truck](https://www.booksleavingfootprints.com/BlogPix/NCTthru1281-FishTruck.jpg)
We are set up beside a church. The pastor is super welcoming, and he took us out to lunch. I got some of my work done, although with the walk and moving the trailer and lunch, I didn't get started on it until 2 pm. Sigh.
Tomorrow, I walk miles that count!
![]() | See North Dakota! |
1 comment:
Fascinating! You are North Dakota geographic! Wish I was there and Stay cool
So you don’t quit! Hahaha
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