The flat plains of Dakota

Sunday, August 16, 2015
Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Today was another relatively quiet driving day. It was only about 550km though, and the speed limit was 80mph most of the way, so it didn't take too long.

As usual, there was construction along the way, lane closures, "give workers a brake!" signs, and warnings for "Bump!" Isn't it lovely to be warned about a bump in the road?! Take note, Ireland ...

There were a lot of hawks in the air, and dead possums on the road. It's really weird how the roadkill changes from state to state. There've been spates of turtles (like, big, tyre sized turtles), gophers, raccoons, armadillos and now possums. And always burst tyres along the shoulder. Today, a hawk flew down beside me and caught something in the grass. He was very fast, because I could see it all happen clearly as I sped along at 80mph.

Then there was a lot of rain and a storm! Hurray! Finally a proper American thunderstorm! Obviously I didn't drive at 80 in the storm. Lightning was literally striking the ground around me. It's not the worst storm I've ever been in, but it's a little more...invigorating...being behind the wheel while it's going on.

So today was MUCH cooler. Only about 19C, so I didn't need the air con, so I saved on gas, so awesome all around. And since it was such a SHORT drive, I didn't have to stop for lunch . After buying my damn little cooler bag and ice pack outside Memphis, I didn't have a freezer until tonight, so I was trying to keep a plastic bag of hotel ice from leaking in that. Being cooler outside today helped.

I missed the photo opportunity on the border with South Dakota. These northerners seem less interested in having photo opps beside road signs than they did in the south. :( But the sign said "Welcome to South Dakota!" and something about big heads, and had a yellow drawing of Mount Rushmore on it, so you can just imagine it for yourself.

And then I was in...North Dakota!!!! My last U.S. state on the Canadian border! Besides Alaska, but that's practically another country, right?.... I have now been to 40 countries, and 40 U.S. states! Hurray!!! Good thing I passed through Alabama by accident, or the uneven number of 39 would have driven me bananas. Literally. I'd have had to drive all the way across Kansas to get to Oklahoma or something ridiculous . It's ridiculous enough having the big, blank panhandle in the middle of my completed states map. >:( I've been in the musical Oklahoma, can I count that?

No, that's 41, that's uneven, let's not.

So I'm staying the night in Fargo, where the murderous, bloody film "Fargo" is set. I have not seen this film, but it WAS filmed here, and I do remember something about the wood chipper scene. Don't look it up. It's one of those things you can't help hearing about on the internet.

It's much nicer than Sioux City, and I'm staying in another Home2 by Hilton, which I highly recommend. I'm in an accessible room, so it's MASSIVE. This is the biggest room I've been in yet, even bigger than the 8 bed hostel dorm (in floor space anyway, the ceiling was old fashionedy high in Chicago). And it has a freezer, so I can freeze my ice pack!!!

I had a snooze when I got here at 2pm, and then drove out for food . It's not a walking country, plus I didn't feel like getting hit by lightning. I went to Olive Garden today, which is very filling, and a lot more covered in cheese than REAL Italian. The food, that is, the restaurant was not built out of cheese. The menu was also a lot more complicated to order from. It didn't have a lot of pictures either, which I like, because I have no idea what half these things are.

No matter where you go for food, there's always FAR more cheese and salt included than you expected. You know how in mainland Europe, eggs and tuna are counted as vegetables, so you order a salad and they're all mixed through it, and that's fine because I'm not a vegan or a vegetarian, hallelujah, but it's a little unexpected? That's what the cheese and salt here is like. It's a lot less exciting to have cheese smothered, salty fries as an adult than it was as a child, but hey. It was filling, it wasn't highway Wendy's, and I'm not sick.

Then, since it was just after 6, but I felt like it was already another day, I decided to go to the cinema . I love going to the cinema in other countries, it's just such an ordinary thing. You see the ordinary people in an ordinary setting. I like Fargo now, it reminds me of Fort Collins in Colorado.

I went to see Marvel's AntMan, because I love the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I hadn't seen this one yet. I hadn't particularly been dying to see it or anything, but it was another list item ticked. They had really cool, big, electric reclining seats, and you picked where you wanted to sit from a screen at the ticket booth.

I like the way in Galway you just get to pick where you want to sit, but I also hate when you're early and you choose your seat carefully. Maximum view, full surround sound, and adequate room for feet, bags and edibles. Then some late-ass gang of fifty come in and "please could you guys just move up four seats?!" And someone would DEFINITELY recognise you if you refused, or they'd throw popcorn at you, or shine their phones at you and completely ruin your cinema experience because of your perceived social snub . So you just move and spend the whole time missing just one section of sound levels, or your glasses just miss a corner of the screen. LATE COME, LOSE OUT. That's my motto.

ANYWAY, they also had the concessions counter AFTER the ticket guy, which meant you didn't have to juggle everything to get in, which was also clever. And the film was light hearted and entertaining, so I was happy overall.

I'm back in my hotel now. Just three more days left in the States, and I already don't know how I'm going to cope without Lifetime movies, cruise control, or giant bottles of fizzy drinks. I WILL survive having my clutch pedal back, no paper dollar bills and not leaving giant tips. People should be paid enough in their wages not to have to rely on tips. If you don't tip a "grocery store associate" why would you tip a waiter. They're both just doing their jobs, both on service wages, they should both make enough money.

That's a mean note to end on, I don't mean it in a bad way. Rights for waitstaff!!! :D

HEY! The lifetime movie I fell asleep during last night is on again!!! Yay!
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Comments

Margie McNamara
2015-08-17

How many road miles have you clocked up now?

unalee3@Gmail. com
2015-08-17

Sounds like you're having a blast, Mary!

Kevin
2015-08-18

Watch out for 'gunks'

2025-02-11

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