Amazing Day ... In Any Language

For 12 hours on Saturday, I was an answer man when called upon. I felt inferior a everyone in my van - three international tour operators on a FAM to see the sites around North Dakota - all of whom are multi-lingual. I speak poor English and Southern, but communicated well enough to be of some assistance. The goal, to show off North Dakota so they could return home and help North Dakota Tourism spread the word. Throughout Saturday, they spread the words, even if I didn't know what they were.

Alas, when the time came to share my knowledge of Salem Sue, the Enchanted Highway, rodeo and the Badlands, I was Stan the Answer Man. Then it was back to driving.

Two vans and a car are taking international guests who were in town for Rocky Mountain International's Roundup on a FAM. For several days, they (we) will wind our way around the state. On Saturday, the group braved 30-mile-per-hour winds to get up close with the World's largest Holstein cow, which spurred an interest in at least one person for details on the larger-than-life statues in the state.

The tour stopped at every site along the Enchanted Highway and ran into indefatigable artist Gary Greff at the Enchanted Castle to tour the Regent motel, bar and steakhouse. Next was the Blue Hawk Stampede Rodeo in Dickinson. What's more western North Dakota than a rodeo, wind be ... danged. After a late lunch, it was off to look at a million years of history at the Dickinson Museum Center. 

The biggest thrill was an early evening arrival at Painted Canyon Visitors Center. The bison didn't disappoint as they grazed near the parking lot, and wild horses appeared as we motored into Medora, where our trip begins in the morning in Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

From the chatter, it seemed like everyone had a great day. Si?