Thunderstorms

Thursday, June 26 - Dickenson to Glen Ullin - 57 miles.

Highlight of the day was a visit to Assumption Abbey in the town of Richardton, North Dakota.  Just a small town with this beautiful church and monastery.  The Benedictine Monks on the Prairie.  You could see it for miles away.  Locals said there use to be close to 100 Monks living in the monastery but now only 20 or so.  There also is a convent with about 20 nuns living there.  The church was finished in1910 and its twin tower rise 120 feet and are topped with 8-foot iron crosses.  It also has 53 stain glass windows.  However, the big excitement was the thunderstorm that night.  Locals told us to be prepared for rain, thunder and lightning.  We were able to move all our tents under a small shelter and had to sleep really close to each other.  The skies were clear when we went to bed but in the middle of the night the skies opened up.  Russ and I have never seen thunder and lightening like that. It was pretty frightening.   Went on for hours and needless to say, no body got much sleep.   We all got up early and had a nice ride into Bismark 62 miles away.

Church on the Prairie

Inside the church

Another window

Sample of the stain glass windows