Day 13: July 9, 2025 – Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Jamestown, North Dakota
We left the wide-open spaces of Canada behind and crossed back into the U.S., trading kilometers for miles and maple leaves for stars and stripes. It was a day of windshield time, grain silos, and horizon-chasing. Not fast, not glamorous, but steady, determined, and filled with the kind of momentum that only a good road trip can deliver.
For a travel day, this one was jam-packed with unexpected fun and delightful little surprises. Around mid-morning, we reached the Canada/U.S. border at North Portal, ND and officially re-entered the States—but not before a final stop at the duty-free store to spend the last of our Canadian dollars and loonies ($1 coins). We left with a Canada t-shirt and a bag of Cheezies (highly recommended by the cashier). If you haven’t tried them, they’re like Canadian Cheetos—extra crunchy with a bold cheese flavor. A+ snack.
Once again, North Dakota didn’t disappoint. If you’re sleeping on visiting North Dakota—big mistake! We’ve had more fun here than we ever expected. In the tiny town of Kenmare, we pulled off for lunch and accidentally discovered The Danish Mill. Built in 1902 by a Danish immigrant, the windmill originally operated 11 miles outside of town until 1917 before becoming a granary. It was moved to its current spot in Kenmare’s Town Center in 1959 (population: 914). You can go inside, climb to the second level, see the two 1,800 lb grindstones, and even peek up to the highest level via a wooden ladder. The park is surrounded by charming little shops and tidy homes—it’s the kind of unplanned stop that makes travel so special. Who visits Kenmare? More people should. It was a delight.
From there, we made our way to tonight’s Harvest Host: the North American Bison Discovery Center. Though the museum was closed by the time we arrived, we lucked out—there was a small herd of bison grazing in the nearby field! In addition to the real deal, we also visited Dakota Thunder, the “Largest Buffalo in the World.” This massive concrete-and-steel statue stands 26 feet tall, stretches 46 feet long, and weighs 60 tons. It’s part of Frontier Town, a living museum next to the Discovery Center. Seeing it up close was both impressive and fun.
Just as we settled into the RV to watch the new John Cena movie (thank you, Starlink—and don’t judge; after a full day of driving, a little mindless entertainment is well-earned), the sky turned from a glowing red-and-orange sunset to an ominous greenish-black. The wind picked up, lightning flashed like a strobe light, and the hail started – suddenly Stutsman County was under a severe thunderstorm watch.
We quickly shifted into emergency mode, making an evacuation plan in case of a tornado. We pulled in the RV slide and decided our shelter would be under the museum’s deck if we spotted a funnel cloud or heard sirens. Being on a hill eased flood concerns, but high winds, hail, and falling trees were a real threat. For about an hour, we huddled in the RV, monitoring the weather, gathering supplies, and preparing for a fast exit if needed.
Then, just like that, the storm passed—leaving only a steady drizzle behind. We exhaled, powered the movie back up, and carried on with our night.
An exciting end to our first day back Stateside!
End of Day Stats:
Mileage: 440 miles
International Borders Crossed: 1
Rubber Ducks Deployed: 1 (Danish Mill)
Bison Seen: 1 small herd; 1 massive concrete statue
Cue: All the Small Things by Blink-182—because it’s the little, quirky, totally unexpected moments that stick with you the most.
Wandering, But Not Lost 