There are two ‘units’ associated with the Theodore Roosevelt National Park - the South Unit and the North Unit. As you know, dear reader, this Globetrotter is always thorough. Consequently, I dedicated time to exploring both units, including three visitor centers, scenic drives, and self-guided nature trails.

I started on the 36-mile south unit scenic drive. The visitor centre guide and maps indicated it would take 1.5 hours to make it around. No word of a lie — it took me 8 hours!

So what took so long?

Well, I parked the car and sat on the grass under a blue sky and warm sun to watch the black-tailed prairie dogs. Upon seeing me, they would stand up on their little hind legs and give out a yelp or bark, vocalizing to their group that there was a potential predator. Upon recognizing that I was a friend and not a foe, they would scamper down onto all four legs, disappear into a burrow, and then pop back up from a new location. Next, I got back in my car and drove to a self-guided trail where I continued to remind myself that as tempting as it would be for a photo opportunity, I should not get any closer to the wild bison roaming near my hiking route. I paused to chat with my fellow travellers* visiting TRNP, who were equally enchanted with this landscape and keen to point out where to look for recent sightings of wild horses or turkeys. And as I had no time restriction, I simply gazed from every angle and through the lens of my camera at the variations of colours and shapes of the geologic formations and the changes that resulted as time passed and dusk fell.

And that was just the first day!

I repeated this daily, propelling myself out of bed before the sunrise and amazed when the sun started to set that so much time had transpired.

I hope you enjoy the following photo collage of my visit to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Next week, we will get back on track to Karl’s route.

*Bonus story continues after the gallery

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*On that first day, I kept running into Wayne and his partner, also visiting TRNP and equally engrossed with our surroundings. While I was travelling east to west, they originated in Oregon and were travelling west to east. Before the day ended, Wayne flagged me down in the middle of the road to give me their unused bear spray** for my upcoming travels to Alberta. It seemed to qualify for a selfie moment!

**One of the hiking trails seemed more remote and required passing by a herd of bison grazing on a field. I thought it would be prudent to take along the bear spray on this hike if the bison got too close or too friendly — it was mating season, after all. It was the only hike that had me a little on edge, dear reader, and was relieved when I arrived back at the trailhead's parking lot. I shared my near brush with death experience (yes, it will forever be that kind of story) with a fellow in the parking lot who was about to start on the hiking trail I had just completed. He was a frequent hiker in this area and familiar with the trail and the characteristics of bison. I let him know about my savvy planning and bear spray that was in my bag — he laughed, telling me then that the bear spray is pepper-based and although effective for bears, with bison, the spray would actually make me tastier to them or a more prospective mate!