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06-06-2012, 07:43 PM
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11 posts, read 18,417 times
Reputation: 15
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Hello all,
I'm a college student (19) living in Northern Pennsylvania all my life. I'm a philosophy student at Temple University and have always had a love of North Dakota. I think the state is beautiful and it has always been a place I wanted to visit. I finally have the means and booked a greyhound bus ticket to Bismarck in August before I return to school.
My plan is to bring only my frame pack, sleeping bag, and one person tent to Bismarck and see the sights and reflect upon my life. Since I was 10 years old something has called me to the state and its finally time to have my spiritual journey there. That being said I will be here for 5 days and one of the things I wanted to do was to get to know people there. I have always assumed locals would be open minded peace lovers like myself, but I just wanted to make sure.
So I guess my question is will people be willing to talk and share their life stories with me? I plan to share mine back and am writing letters to my loved one back in Pennsylvania which I plan to turn into my first philosophical novel. Will people be open to an outsider such as myself? I only want to bring a loving open mind to the state that I have always been drawn too.
Thank you all,
Fellow Traveler.
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06-06-2012, 09:03 PM
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746 posts, read 1,678,269 times
Reputation: 507
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Five days isn't a lot of time.
Have you read: Dakota, A Spirital Geography
The book is excellent.
Near Bismarck go to
Abraham Lincoln State Park
Cross Ranch State Park
Capitol Grounds
University of Mary Campus
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06-06-2012, 09:14 PM
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11 posts, read 18,417 times
Reputation: 15
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I know, I wish I could spend more time but it's all I can afford at the moment. Thanks for the help! I shall check out the book and I planned to visit the capitol building and I'm pitching my tent at General Sibley Park, I believe Abraham Lincoln park is close to there. I plan to check out the rest now as well.
Question are there any lakes near Bismarck that I could visit? I saw Cottonwood Lake on google maps but I don't know if there are any others I'm missing.
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06-06-2012, 09:59 PM
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746 posts, read 1,678,269 times
Reputation: 507
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Sorry, misspelled Spiritual in the book title.
There are some lakes east of Bismarck and reservoirs west of Mandan. Mandan is Bismarck's sister city but more western culturally.
If you could rent a bike, there is quite a bit of area you could explore.
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06-06-2012, 11:57 PM
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5,261 posts, read 4,012,026 times
Reputation: 2264
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Quote:
Originally Posted by northernpaborn
Hello all,
I'm a college student (19) living in Northern Pennsylvania all my life. I'm a philosophy student at Temple University and have always had a love of North Dakota. I think the state is beautiful and it has always been a place I wanted to visit. I finally have the means and booked a greyhound bus ticket to Bismarck in August before I return to school.
My plan is to bring only my frame pack, sleeping bag, and one person tent to Bismarck and see the sights and reflect upon my life. Since I was 10 years old something has called me to the state and its finally time to have my spiritual journey there. That being said I will be here for 5 days and one of the things I wanted to do was to get to know people there. I have always assumed locals would be open minded peace lovers like myself, but I just wanted to make sure.
So I guess my question is will people be willing to talk and share their life stories with me? I plan to share mine back and am writing letters to my loved one back in Pennsylvania which I plan to turn into my first philosophical novel. Will people be open to an outsider such as myself? I only want to bring a loving open mind to the state that I have always been drawn too.
Thank you all,
Fellow Traveler.
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You will meet many friendly people in North Dakota. Having lived here for a couple years, I can tell you that if you are in need, you are likely to find someone more than willing to help. At the same time, you need to be aware that North Dakota will probably not be the idyllic place you have imagined, at least in the cultural aspect. Adjust your expectations a bit before you go and you will enjoy yourself. I will put it simply: North Dakotans have many virtues. I would not place the type of open-mindedness I think you are referring to near the top of that list. If that aspect is important to you, we have found Grand Forks, home to the University of North Dakota, to be closer to what you appear to be looking for than Bismarck.
If connecting to the physical environment of North Dakota is important, a bus ticket to Medora and the Badlands of ND would be even better.
[Mod cut]
Good luck and keep us posted.
Last edited by ElkHunter; 06-07-2012 at 02:34 PM..
Reason: New users cannot make recommendations
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06-07-2012, 10:13 AM
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154 posts, read 404,471 times
Reputation: 134
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Quote:
Originally Posted by northernpaborn
Hello all,
I'm a college student (19) living in Northern Pennsylvania all my life. I'm a philosophy student at Temple University and have always had a love of North Dakota. I think the state is beautiful and it has always been a place I wanted to visit. I finally have the means and booked a greyhound bus ticket to Bismarck in August before I return to school.
My plan is to bring only my frame pack, sleeping bag, and one person tent to Bismarck and see the sights and reflect upon my life. Since I was 10 years old something has called me to the state and its finally time to have my spiritual journey there. That being said I will be here for 5 days and one of the things I wanted to do was to get to know people there. I have always assumed locals would be open minded peace lovers like myself, but I just wanted to make sure.
So I guess my question is will people be willing to talk and share their life stories with me? I plan to share mine back and am writing letters to my loved one back in Pennsylvania which I plan to turn into my first philosophical novel. Will people be open to an outsider such as myself? I only want to bring a loving open mind to the state that I have always been drawn too.
Thank you all,
Fellow Traveler.
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Well if you're ridin' the ole grey dog that's pretty spiritual by itself in my experience lol.
Weather tends to be on the warm side in August and the bugs are bad. It's one of my favorite months though - crops are ripening and you get the whole "amber waves of grain" thing goin' on. It's a sight to behold. Missouri river's right there so I wouldn't worry too much about lakes. I bet you'll be just fine. Peace, love and luck  |
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06-07-2012, 10:50 AM
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11 posts, read 18,417 times
Reputation: 15
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Thank you Cinj that sounds like pretty much exactly what I had envisioned. I shall keep everyone here updated on the journey although cometclear I'm not sure what you meant by Bismarck having virtues rather than openmindness. It sounds like if they have virtues they would be more than willing to talk to some hippie kid wanting to see the breadbasket of america. Regardless both you and Cinj have made me now 100% confident of the amazing time I am going too have. And I can't wait to see the Missouri river as well!
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06-07-2012, 12:00 PM
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113 posts, read 226,997 times
Reputation: 49
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When are you planning to arrive?
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06-07-2012, 01:20 PM
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11 posts, read 18,417 times
Reputation: 15
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My bus leaves on August 6th I will be there by August 8th at 4:00 am. And I cannot wait.
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06-07-2012, 06:22 PM
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113 posts, read 226,997 times
Reputation: 49
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Keep in touch.....
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