Friday we left Malta, Montana and traveled east 280 miles across farm lands of grain fields until in eastern Montana where the badlands appeared. Shortly after cross into North Dakota we were in Medora, a favorite stopping area for Tom and me. The Medora Campground did not have any sites with 30 or 50 amp. electric. It was a hot day, temps in the 90's, so we needed to have adequate electric for air conditioning. The staff at Medora Campground called Red Trail Campground to see if there were electric sites available there and fortunately there were. So after getting settled into a campsite at Red Trail we went to the ticket junction in Medora to get tickets for the Friday evening Pitchfork Steak Fondue and Medora Musical. At 6pm we went to the Pitchfork Steak Fondue on a butte overlooking the valley below.
At the Fondue steaks, 12 ounce rib eyes or 9 ounce New york strip steaks, are seasoned and placed on the tines of a pitchfork and then cooked in hot oil in large kettles.
Along with steaks we had raw veggies and dip, cole slaw, baked beans, baked potatoes, Texas toast, brownies and lemonade, water, ice tea or coffee. A country/western band performed while we ate at picnic tables.
After dinner we walked a short distance to the amphitheater to watch the Medora Musical.
This is the third time that we have been to the musical and we enjoy it every time. The show changes each year but there is always a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt in the show. Before the show "tame" elk are on an ajoining butte grazing.
Saturday morning, after a leisurely breakfast, the four of us went into the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. This day the weather was just wonderful with bright sunshine but cooler than on Friday. We stopped at the Visitor's Center and took a tour with a ranger to T. Roosevelt's Maltese cabin located on the Centers grounds.
Leaving the Visitor's Center we drove through the Park on the Loop Road. Prairie dogs had established towns throughout the park.
We saw a large herd of buffalo that was mainly cows and calves.
The bulls were off to themselves.
Leaving the park we stopped in Medora at the Knotty Pine Peanut Bar for lunch, then checked out a few shops and finally got dessert- ice cream. The campground has nightly entertainment- Vern and Rita- an older couple that performed country songs from 5:45pm to 9:45pm. For 27 years this duo has been performing in this campground 100 days each year without a day off. We enjoyed sitting and listening to this couple.
