International Peace Gardens

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.