North Dakota for the 7th Year in a Row

We had a delightful 4 hour drive from our campground in South Dakota to a campground just over the border in North Dakota. The countryside was so green and everything looked so pretty – what a difference the rains make. Quite a change from the drought conditions that were experienced in many states last year. We saw a few raccoons that had been hit by cars, and only one larger animal. At first we thought it was a deer, but on closer examination it looks more like an antelope that is shedding its winter coat. Below are some photos taken en route...

Antelope losing winter coat

Pretty as a picture

Look at that road winding ahead through the lush, green fields

The sign says we have arrived - hooray

This Brown Thrasher liked the tree at the back of our RV

Two days ago we arrived at our campground on the Missouri River and were happy to catch up with our North Dakotan friends Avalyn and Wes. This is the 7^th year we have spent time camping alongside them. After 2 days camping with them on the Missouri River, the four of us have now moved a few hours north to camp at Lake Audubon. Another couple will join us tomorrow with their camper. $14 a night gets electricity. Our fresh water tank holds 253 litres (67 gal) and the grey (shower etc) and black (sewer) hold 170 litres (45 gal) each. If we have quick showers and go easy with the water, we can usually last 7 days before needing to go and fill up and empty - the fill up point is just around the corner, so no big deal. 

Murray and Wes went out fishing yesterday and the day before, and caught some nice fish both days. We felt right at home having fresh fish for dinner on our first night back in North Dakota. Murray is leading the competition for the biggest catch so far this summer – he caught a beautiful 24” Walleye yesterday. Runner up is Avalyn who caught a 23.25”er the other day.

Murray and Avalyn with his 24" Walleye

Our RV site looked straight over the river, and there were lots of birds chirping away. I took two panorama photos – one from the left side of the RV and one from the right to give you an idea of the view we have. The campground was pretty isolated and we had no mobile phone reception at all: plus our internet was pretty spasmodic. However, the view from our RV and the serenity of the location more than made up for lack of communication systems!

Panorama View at State Line Resort

Panorama View State Line Resort

However we have now arrived at the campground we have camped at for the last 7 summers - Lake Audubon, North Dakota. I'm sure regular blog readers will recognise the view. We will be here for the next 13 days.