Time was, we had mud puddles. Big ones, too big to drive through, so you had to go around. Together with ruts and side ditches, mud puddles made it hard to get around. You had to pay attention.

WATFORD CITY, N.D. — Have you ever had to pressure wash the gumbo mud off the clothes and boots your children were wearing when they decided to go splash and roll in the giant mud puddle that had ...