Dickinson, North Dakota

We thought everyone would like to know about some of the curiosities of life along the I-94 in North Dakota, our hotel state of the night (these are listed in order of appearance West to East): North Dakota is home to:

• the world's tallest radio tower,
• the world's largest buffalo,
• the world's largest sand crane,
• the world's largest cow (see photo) and
• the world's largest roadside metal sculpture.

Bear in mind that all of these creatures/objects are made from a mix of plastics, steel and fiberglass which, depending upon your persuasions, might diminish any potential "wow" factor.

North Dakota is also home to thousands of acres of sunflowers. Right now their frost-blackened heads are hung over in enormous depressed-looking crowds (but they're not depressed - just awaiting harvest).

There are plenty of cows for all you Grade-A beef eaters out there (and dairy cows too for us lovers of ice cream).

North Dakota is also - for the purpose of achieving a "woods" status - basically treeless. It's a kind rolling prairie along this interstate, and even supplies some prairie wetlands for migrating birds. It's nice to be in the openness of the West again.

And the freeways are wide open, uncrowded and calm (even if a little bumpy)...