From Beulah, ND to Dickinson, ND
From Beulah, ND to Dickinson, ND
Ending Mileage: 
Day of Travel
Departing From
Destination
Distance (in miles)
Distance (in kilometers)
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Total Travel Time
Average Speed (in mph)
Average Speed (in kph)
As you may recall, last night's stop in Beulah was unplanned -- a result of a change in the weather before I reach yesterday's planned destination. The storm yesterday was a thunderstorm but no hail and no tornado warnings. While I could have continued, I'm glad I didn't because the temperature was in the 40s and it would have been a cold ride.
When I wake up, it is not raining. But by the time I shower, pack up and have some cereal to eat, the rain has started. I briefly consider another day's stay but decide that isn't wise either. I'm due to meet two Internet buddies in the town of Dickinson for lunch. Dickinson is less than one hundred miles away so the ride shouldn't be intolerable. My plans for the next week should take me to the Teddy Roosevelt National Park then a turn south to the South Dakota Badlands, Sturgis where I will turn west to head across Wyoming for a quick drive through Yellowstone.
I gear up and head out in a light rainfall. It is cold again, only the high 40s when I leave. The rain intensifies as I progress. By the time I get to Dickinson, I am soaked -- the proverbial drowned rat. The dividing line between the Central and Mountain time zone zig zags through the center of North Dakota. I show up for lunch an hour early because I didn't realize how the time zone works. The waitress at Applebee's is really nice suggesting a bowl of soup as a warm-up. I take the ninety minutes as a time to work on my journal and expense entries.
Ken and Jim finally show up and we have a nice lunch. They invite me to take shelter at there home and I spend the afternoon talking to them about life in a small town. They moved to North Dakota from Florida. Ken has recently completed his doctorate in music and has a job with the local university. The time in North Dakota allows him to use his degree and gain valuable experience that would be hard to obtain in a larger city or town. Jim has decided to pursue a nursing degree while in North Dakota in a change of career move.
In Dickinson, the selection for a sit-down dinner is limited to Applebee's. Both Ken and Jim were eagerly awaiting the new menus due to debut on Father's Day. The one thing the both agree on missing is food. So they have a trip to Florida planned for later in the summer. The plans already include a detailed list of restaurants and cuisine that need to be revisited during their time off.
They have an attractive home. We spend the afternoon and evening in the basement. This is a very novel thing for a person from California where homes are usually built either on a cement slab (flat on the ground) or with a nominal crawl space. The concept of a 'second house' under your main home is really foreign. But their basement is a cozy living room and second kitchen allows the upstairs to be neat and tidy and ready for guests. It was great visiting with their two cats. I really miss my Tuffie and the two girls.
Read on to see if I build an Ark or get out of North Dakota
Depart Beulah heading south on North Dakota 49
At intersection with Interstate 94, enter I-94 heading west.
Arrive Dickinson, ND
(c) 2001 Thomas N. Engler Revision Date: 06/20/2001
