We drove through the northern part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. To get there we came through a town experiencing an oil boom, Watford City, North Dakota. We could see the effects of a boom, building everywhere, rows of manufactured housing, mud and dust. Everything was coated with raw siena colored mud and dust. Trucks coming and going. Oil pumps and refineries everywhere. Then we were out of there. I can't imagine what the original residents were thinking. We traveled south to the park. We saw herds of bison again. At one point they blocked the road and weren't moving. We had to turn around and go another way. We saw wild ponies on our way to the southern unit of the park. The hotel at Menora is not cheesy, it is wonderful. We are surrounded by the Badlands mountains. The hotel was restored and improved. It is lovely, as is our room. The food in the dining room topnotch. It has a collection of Teddy Roosevelt's books and other memorabilia donated to the hotel. We are right at the entrance to the park. What a discovery based on a stranger's recommendation. Tomorrow we will drive the southern unit's loop and do some hiking. It is turning cold and there may be a touch of snow tomorrow night.