Only a short distance from Leeds, ND to the International Peace Gardens. This is a very interesting place, partly in US and party in Canada. At the entrance is an arch that does not connect in the middle (the international boundary). You actually enter on the Canadian side just about 100yds before you get to the Canadian Customs.
The gardens are very well kept with acres of mowed lawns and many buildings. One area is the International Music Camp that is used by musicians from all over. There are several lakes and buildings built by the Masons of Canada as well as the Eastern Star of Canada. The Masonic auditorium is built in the shape of a Square and Compass, the only building like it in the World. There are many buildings dedicated to other causes as well as a 911 Memorial.
We camped for three nights in the woods and the International Peace Gardens Hamfest was held in a beautiful old log building that was constructed by the CCC in the 30's. The hamfest was not well attended, only 87 registered but we did quite well considering they had not had an engraver for several years.
We got away on Monday morning on our way to Montana. On across US2, a very nice road, actually the only road across the country in this area. We had about 750 miles to the Glacier Waterton Hamfest at the Glacier Meadows RV Park between East Glacier and West Glacier, actually about half way.
As we approached Williston, ND the traffic was heavy with dump trucks and trucks hauling large equipment and oil well rigs all around. There are portable trailers that have or 10 living quarters in them and new hotels and motels being built everywhere. This is the middle of the new oil boom. New oil wells pumping all with the same new pumps.
We stopped at the local Walmart and got some groceries and when we returned the security guy stopped by to remind us we could not spend the night there. They have had a problem with campers and at one time they had 150 people camping in the lot, breaking into the light poles and stealing electricity and dumping in the storm sewers. Finally when the authorities came in they all left. There is just no place to stay and there are so many people looking for work with no money, they are everywhere.
Just after we got into Montana, the road quit. We were stopped by a flagger and had to wait for a Pilot car to take us thru the construction are of several miles of gravel road where they had removed the pavement and were completely rebuilding the road. A detour from the new roadbed down a hill across the old bridge and back up the other side. Above us they were building a new bridge that would eliminate the two grades. I am sure it will be nice, but not this time.
The Glacier Meadows RV Park is a beautiful place. Surrounded with mountains, many with patches of snow. It is warm in the day but cool at night.
The hamfest was well attended with campers from all over the US as well as Canada. It was a very well organized operation. They own their tables and chairs as well as tents and store them in a storage building from year to year. They even have their own grills to cook on. A very well organized operation.
We were the only vendor this year. One of the ham stores come every other year as it is so far away. They paid for our registration as well as 3 nights camping, all we had to do was show up. We had a very good hamfest and a good time as well.
More next time.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
On to North Dakota
Back on the road again. Leaving the beautiful Fox Lake campground a little later than usual and then stopping for LP gas and then getting turned around in Bemidji we finally got back on US2 about 11am.
We had a stiff breeze from the south west that buffeted us around quite a bit. There were clouds in the west but we did not hit any rain until after getting into North Dakota. A few sprinkles and a couple of heavy rain showers and that was all. It did wash the bugs off the windshield and the front of the motor home but that was about all.
This is our first time in North Dakota and we did not realize the number of small lakes and large expanses of marshy areas and what appeared to be swamps. Lots of wet low lands even though we were in the area of 1400 feet in elevation.
We are currently in Leeds, ND at Jan's RV park, right on US 2 so we should not have a problem getting going in the morning. We only have a hundred or so miles to our destination, the International Peace Park at the Canadian border. We will be on the American side so should not have to re-enter the U.S.. We do not know anything about this hamfest so we will just have to play it by ear, so to speak. More later.
We had a stiff breeze from the south west that buffeted us around quite a bit. There were clouds in the west but we did not hit any rain until after getting into North Dakota. A few sprinkles and a couple of heavy rain showers and that was all. It did wash the bugs off the windshield and the front of the motor home but that was about all.
This is our first time in North Dakota and we did not realize the number of small lakes and large expanses of marshy areas and what appeared to be swamps. Lots of wet low lands even though we were in the area of 1400 feet in elevation.
We are currently in Leeds, ND at Jan's RV park, right on US 2 so we should not have a problem getting going in the morning. We only have a hundred or so miles to our destination, the International Peace Park at the Canadian border. We will be on the American side so should not have to re-enter the U.S.. We do not know anything about this hamfest so we will just have to play it by ear, so to speak. More later.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Off the road but on the road
We did not hit the road in the motor home but we did put the miles on the van. We first headed north to the town of Blackduck. A town we visited many years ago, actually in the 50's. We expected to find the huge concrete black duck standing in the park, but it was not there. Instead there was a sculptured duck in flight that was quite nice but not what we expected nor remembered.
We headed south to find the fishing camp, Bill's Camp, that we vacationed at so many years ago. I think we first traveled to Bill's Camp in 1946 or 47. It was just that, a fish camp on the banks of Little Moose Lake. There was the home place with small store and office as well as 5 or 6 cabins, mostly right on the water. No electricity nor indoor plumbing but a telephone in the store/home. All of the cabins had kerosene lights and as it began to get dark they would put 1 gallon of gas in the generator and you had electric lights until that gallon of gas was exhausted.
They had three daughters, Jonette, Ardith and Loris. Bill and his wife Cora were both Swedes and very hardy people. They had an ice house that was full of ice cut from the lake in the winter time and covered with saw dust. That is where we stored our fish until we were ready to go home. The ice was about 36 to 40 inches thick when they cut it out of the lake.
We always rented the same 3 bedroom cabin each year and I remember the year we decided not to go back because they raised the rent from $25.00/week to $35.00 a week and that was just to much to pay. That was an increase from $75.00 for our 3 week vacation to $105.00.
Then it was off down sr39 to visit the town of Pennington where sr39 and county road 12 intersect. When we arrived we did not find the town of Pennington, only a house. Not sure what happened to the town but we missed it anyway.
On south to US2 and west to the Itasca state park, the home of the origin of the Mississippi river. A huge park and lots of people were at the headwater portion of the park. Many were walking across the Mississippi on the rocks while others were wading across in the water that was up to knee deep.
We headed back to Bemidji and the Paul Bunyon statue and his famous Babe the blue Ox. We found it on the shore of the Bemidji lake in a very nice park and a very nice information center and gift shop. Bemidji is the first city on the Mississippi. From there it was a stop for dinner and back to the motor home at Fox Lake.
A full day and about 150 miles just cruising around the area but, tomorrow it is off to North Dakota.
We headed south to find the fishing camp, Bill's Camp, that we vacationed at so many years ago. I think we first traveled to Bill's Camp in 1946 or 47. It was just that, a fish camp on the banks of Little Moose Lake. There was the home place with small store and office as well as 5 or 6 cabins, mostly right on the water. No electricity nor indoor plumbing but a telephone in the store/home. All of the cabins had kerosene lights and as it began to get dark they would put 1 gallon of gas in the generator and you had electric lights until that gallon of gas was exhausted.
They had three daughters, Jonette, Ardith and Loris. Bill and his wife Cora were both Swedes and very hardy people. They had an ice house that was full of ice cut from the lake in the winter time and covered with saw dust. That is where we stored our fish until we were ready to go home. The ice was about 36 to 40 inches thick when they cut it out of the lake.
We always rented the same 3 bedroom cabin each year and I remember the year we decided not to go back because they raised the rent from $25.00/week to $35.00 a week and that was just to much to pay. That was an increase from $75.00 for our 3 week vacation to $105.00.
Then it was off down sr39 to visit the town of Pennington where sr39 and county road 12 intersect. When we arrived we did not find the town of Pennington, only a house. Not sure what happened to the town but we missed it anyway.
On south to US2 and west to the Itasca state park, the home of the origin of the Mississippi river. A huge park and lots of people were at the headwater portion of the park. Many were walking across the Mississippi on the rocks while others were wading across in the water that was up to knee deep.
We headed back to Bemidji and the Paul Bunyon statue and his famous Babe the blue Ox. We found it on the shore of the Bemidji lake in a very nice park and a very nice information center and gift shop. Bemidji is the first city on the Mississippi. From there it was a stop for dinner and back to the motor home at Fox Lake.
A full day and about 150 miles just cruising around the area but, tomorrow it is off to North Dakota.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The land of Paul & Babe
We got an early start this morning which always seems to be a problem. Normally if we get on the road by 10 or 11am we think we can make our 200 or so miles without a problem. However we need to get 250 to 300 miles today, so an earlier start was necessary.
So it was off toward Superior, WI and Duluth, MN and a great look at Lake Superior and all of the activity going on with the loading of ships with iron ore and other products that are shipped out of the area thru the Great Lakes.
The drive north on US53 in Wisconsin is a beautiful drive thru lots of tall pines as well as Birch trees. There is a lot of logging as well as harvesting of pulp wood. Lots of pasture and hay being cut and bailed.
As soon as you get into Duluth you start up away from the lake several hundred feet before leveling out into the state of Minnesota. Wisconsin was quite rolling before we got to Superior, but on the other side of the lake it is something much different.
We moved on taking US2 west to Grand Rapids where we got fuel, had lunch and the normal nap and then on to Bemidji where are spending the night and probably tomorrow night so we can get the laundry done since we haven't had the opportunity for several days. As we were traveling along US2 we could see the damage from the storm a couple of weeks ago. Many trees broken off at the ground, some about half way up, etc. They tell us they had winds of 80mph and higher along with 8 inches of rain causing some flooding in many areas. Things have really greened up and they are looking much better.
Tomorrow we will tour the area visiting Blackduck and Pennington two places from our past as we used to visit them yearly as our family fished in the area for years in the late 1940's and early 50's. We will also visit Lake Itasca to again see the origin of the mighty Mississippi River.
So it was off toward Superior, WI and Duluth, MN and a great look at Lake Superior and all of the activity going on with the loading of ships with iron ore and other products that are shipped out of the area thru the Great Lakes.
The drive north on US53 in Wisconsin is a beautiful drive thru lots of tall pines as well as Birch trees. There is a lot of logging as well as harvesting of pulp wood. Lots of pasture and hay being cut and bailed.
As soon as you get into Duluth you start up away from the lake several hundred feet before leveling out into the state of Minnesota. Wisconsin was quite rolling before we got to Superior, but on the other side of the lake it is something much different.
We moved on taking US2 west to Grand Rapids where we got fuel, had lunch and the normal nap and then on to Bemidji where are spending the night and probably tomorrow night so we can get the laundry done since we haven't had the opportunity for several days. As we were traveling along US2 we could see the damage from the storm a couple of weeks ago. Many trees broken off at the ground, some about half way up, etc. They tell us they had winds of 80mph and higher along with 8 inches of rain causing some flooding in many areas. Things have really greened up and they are looking much better.
Tomorrow we will tour the area visiting Blackduck and Pennington two places from our past as we used to visit them yearly as our family fished in the area for years in the late 1940's and early 50's. We will also visit Lake Itasca to again see the origin of the mighty Mississippi River.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Beautiful Wisconsin
We got away in good time this morning but we needed to get fuel before long. We were headed for Madison, WI so we found gas there but it was higher than we wanted to pay so we only put in $100.00 worth rather than fill the tank.
Back on the road and headed north toward the Wisconsin Dells but the new highway bypasses the most scenic parts and the most interesting attractions like the Tommy Bartlett water show on the Wisconsin River. We saw the show some years ago and it was very nice.
We are now just south of Spooner, WI at the Wild Water campground and Back Woods Saloon. The park is nice but several miles off the beaten path.
I was driving up the interstate and saw a large Doe come running, at full speed, from my right across my two lanes, the median and into the southbound lanes. There were three cars coming south and the deer, I think, hit the rear portion of the front car. It was a glancing blow and did not knock her down and she got on across to the other side but the second car was in the process of making some evasive moves to miss the flying deer. Just a little excitement in a normal day on the road.
Tomorrow it is on to Superior, WI and Duluth, MN and on toward Pennington, Black Duck and Bemidji for the night.
Back on the road and headed north toward the Wisconsin Dells but the new highway bypasses the most scenic parts and the most interesting attractions like the Tommy Bartlett water show on the Wisconsin River. We saw the show some years ago and it was very nice.
We are now just south of Spooner, WI at the Wild Water campground and Back Woods Saloon. The park is nice but several miles off the beaten path.
I was driving up the interstate and saw a large Doe come running, at full speed, from my right across my two lanes, the median and into the southbound lanes. There were three cars coming south and the deer, I think, hit the rear portion of the front car. It was a glancing blow and did not knock her down and she got on across to the other side but the second car was in the process of making some evasive moves to miss the flying deer. Just a little excitement in a normal day on the road.
Tomorrow it is on to Superior, WI and Duluth, MN and on toward Pennington, Black Duck and Bemidji for the night.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
First hamfest of the trip
We have been fighting the heat for several days as most of you have. Friday was hot as well and when we arrived at the hamfest site we learned that there would not be any electricity available. Not a problem for the hamfest as we could use the small generator to power the engraver and vacuum, but it will not handle the large AC in the motor home, we have to use the on board generator that takes a lot of fuel.
As it was so hot, we got parked and all leveled up and started the generator and let it run the AC until about 1pm when the temperature inside was in the low 70's and shut it down and off to bed. Early in the morning it was getting warm and in checking the thermometer it was in the low 60's outside and a nice breeze from the north, so we opened the windows and enjoyed a cool but moist mornings rest.
The morning was somewhat overcast with the same cool north breeze and overall it was a comfortable day to be outside. We worked under the awning on the motor home so it stayed cool.
We got packed up, took a nap and headed for a campground near Ft. Atkinson, WI where we will be tonight and tomorrow night. Monday we will head northwest toward North Dakota.
Hopefully this cooler weather will bring some rain as all of the country we have been in the past week have been very dry and if the corn does not get some rain it will not produce much corn.
As it was so hot, we got parked and all leveled up and started the generator and let it run the AC until about 1pm when the temperature inside was in the low 70's and shut it down and off to bed. Early in the morning it was getting warm and in checking the thermometer it was in the low 60's outside and a nice breeze from the north, so we opened the windows and enjoyed a cool but moist mornings rest.
The morning was somewhat overcast with the same cool north breeze and overall it was a comfortable day to be outside. We worked under the awning on the motor home so it stayed cool.
We got packed up, took a nap and headed for a campground near Ft. Atkinson, WI where we will be tonight and tomorrow night. Monday we will head northwest toward North Dakota.
Hopefully this cooler weather will bring some rain as all of the country we have been in the past week have been very dry and if the corn does not get some rain it will not produce much corn.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
On the road again
It is back on the road again leaving the Tipton, IN fairgrounds about 8:30am. South to Noblesville and then east on sr32 to I74 and then northwest toward Peoria, IL and around the quad cities to Moscow, Iowa. We checked in at the HWH repair facility, unhooked the van and found a place to hookup to electricity. We were scheduled in for service the first thing in the morning, which was good, except we had a time change which made it an hour earlier than early.
Early Tuesday morning we got in to the bay and they started checking out the hydraulic jack system and made a few adjustments and found all was working as it should and sent us on our way, at NO charge. Now how is that for standing behind your product.
We hooked up the van and headed back east on I80, filled up with fuel at Pilot for $3.23/gal. We are currently at the Lake Side RV park in Davenport, IA for 3 nights when we will go to Milwaukee, WI for the hamfest.
Things are hot and dry all through this area and they are needing rain as is most of the midwest. Hopefully we will find some cooler weather when we get into Minnesota.
Early Tuesday morning we got in to the bay and they started checking out the hydraulic jack system and made a few adjustments and found all was working as it should and sent us on our way, at NO charge. Now how is that for standing behind your product.
We hooked up the van and headed back east on I80, filled up with fuel at Pilot for $3.23/gal. We are currently at the Lake Side RV park in Davenport, IA for 3 nights when we will go to Milwaukee, WI for the hamfest.
Things are hot and dry all through this area and they are needing rain as is most of the midwest. Hopefully we will find some cooler weather when we get into Minnesota.
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