August 1, 2025 (Fri.) – Troll Hunting Part 2, Sunflowers, Fargo

The day began early with Lynn up at 6:00 AM, working on the blog in the quiet morning hours. She’s always most productive before Kirk wakes up—it still feels like she’s clocking in for a job! Kirk was up by 9:00 AM, and the plan was to ride to Fargo, ND (about an hour away) to finish tracking down the remaining Dambo Trolls and Magic Mirrors. The weather was perfect for a ride, and we figured we’d grab breakfast in one of the small towns along the way. Unfortunately, pickings were slim, and we didn’t find anything decent until we reached Fargo.

Our first mission in North Dakota was to locate the third Magic Mirror, which had eluded us. We rode around downtown, and eventually found it tucked away in an alley after seeing the birdhouse clues. With that success, we stopped at Black Coffee and Waffles—exactly what Kirk had been craving. The food was just okay. After breakfast, we wandered around town to check out a few of the city’s murals, including Lynn’s favorite: the Mario Wall.

Next up was a stop at Indian Motorcycles Fargo, where we picked up a couple of location-specific t-shirts. Lynn had also researched sunflower fields in North Dakota, and one near Walcott was reported to be in full bloom. So we headed 30 miles south to check it out—and sure enough, the field was bursting with color. Unfortunately, Lynn’s height disadvantage meant most of her photos were just stalks and sunflower tops, but Kirk’s height and a slightly elevated roadside view helped us get some great shots. There was even a decorated mailbox offering free sunflower seeds, but sadly, it was empty.

On the way to the sunflower fields, Kirk noticed the gas tank was dangerously low—with only 30 miles to empty, and the fields still 15 miles away. We passed through several tiny towns, none with gas stations. After visiting the field, we Googled the nearest station: Colfax, ND, about 8 miles away. At that point, the bike’s display no longer showed mileage—just a blinking “LOW” warning. We were literally in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by dirt roads and silence. Kirk rode as slowly as possible to conserve fuel, and thankfully, we made it. We took a celebratory break at the gas station, relieved and grateful. With the tank finally full, we spotted a sign for Fort Abercrombie right in front of us and decided on a quick detour. The fort was small and visible from the road, so we simply drove by—too tired to park and walk, but glad to have at least glimpsed a piece of history before heading back to check on Otis.

We returned to the RV around 3:30 PM, where Otis was perfectly fine. Lynn’s allergies flared up again, so she spent the afternoon in another Benadryl coma while Kirk relaxed.

By 7:00 PM, we rallied for one final troll hunt. There were two trolls left, including the elusive Golden Rabbit, and one last clue to solve. Both were located at the Detroit Mountain Recreation Area in Detroit Lakes, MN. Despite the hour, there was still plenty of daylight, and the trails were said to be doable in about an hour. When we arrived, the parking lot was nearly empty—just one other car.

We found a birdhouse clue and a sign pointing toward the Golden Rabbit, but saw no signs for Long Leif, so we decided to tackle the Golden Rabbit first—even if it meant going out of order. With no one else on the trail, Otis got to roam off-leash, which made him a very happy pup. The trail was beautiful but rugged, with steep inclines and descents. We were both breathing hard, but the cool dusk air helped. Lynn was reminiscing about her Cross Country days at “Poop Out Hill” (Mt. Sac), mentally chanting, “one more step… almost there…” over and over. We found the Golden Rabbit easily, though we couldn’t help but laugh—why solve a puzzle when the map gives you the address and there’s a giant sign pointing to it? Still, the hunt was fun and satisfying.

After that, we located the trail to Long Leif—turns out, the resort shop had a big sign on the door pointing right to it. We started the hike at 7:30 PM, and though it only took six minutes, it felt longer. Compared to the Golden Rabbit trail, this one was much easier.

By 7:50 PM, we were back at the truck—the only vehicle in the lot. In just two days, we had found all five trolls and all three Magic Mirrors. It was a fun and quirky adventure, filled with unexpected sights, close calls, and lots of laughs. We’re already looking forward to tracking down more trolls in other states!

Weather – High 77*, Low 52*. Winds 7-15 mph. Very low humidity. Perfect weather.

Traffic – None.

Food – Black Coffee & Waffles (Fargo, ND) – ok.

Notable – Trolls, Sunflowers.