We were off before 10:00 this morning, by ten minutes, heading west in Highway 2 for about 2 hours before we would enter North Dakota.
Montana is an old Indigenous Peoples word for flat. I just made that up, but it could be true for the north-east corner at least. An hour later we stopped for fuel, groceries and took a few pics at Wolf Point.
While Gillian was in the grocery store Art went out to the Wolf Point sign to take the obligatory AbqL photo. The dogs looked so sad about being left behind that when he returned Art took them out for a walk around the small square, which was actually a triangle. Three boys about 12 or 13 years old came by, one quite taken by Trekker who reciprocated, since the young man had a ball which he threw for him to retrieve. They kept it up for a good ten before the went their way. Nice break for Trekker!
In Ray, ND, we stopped at about 2:50 for a 40 minute lunch break and Driver change and were back on the road for only about half an hour when Gillian slowed quickly then stopped in the middle of the 2 lane divided highway for a dog in the traffic lanes. He was quite nervous but when Art called he came right up. He had no collar and was soaking wet—probably having been in one of the ponds along the median of the highway. Art opened the back of the tracker and he jumped right in and lay down, making himself right at home.
Just down the road was a small collections of houses, barely a town, so we pulled in and and began looking for some one who recognised him. One lady thought she knew who he was but after a few phone calls that didn't pan out. Eventually a young man in a pickup truck stopped and we explained what was going on and that we couldn't keep the dog with us as we had two already and were on our way back to Canada. He offered to take him, saying that he had a chocolate lab himself and if he couldn't find the owner would give him a good home. He dropped the tailgate of the truck, slapped it with his hand and in jumped the dog. Art suggested he call the dog “Freeway”. (Anyone remember the old TV show featuring a dog called “Freeway”? Sorry, no prize for remembering!
Carrying on down the road at about 6 O'clock we took a ten minute stop for a pee break and to change drivers again and also this photo of the cairn at the Geographical centre of NA in Rugby, ND
And further down the road: “We're not going to get there by dusk Derek”
It wasn't until 9:15 that we arrived in the City of Langdon and found the City of Langdon RV Park, located in a city park beside the high school. They had a few full sevice sites and several drycamp areas and tent sites.
Shortly after we got settled there was a knock on the door. A young man from Breton in France was looking for some salt for his cooking. He and his friend were tenting, traveling around Canada and the USA by bicycle! Although his English was very good, we conversed in Spanish! The had toured Mexico and Central America by bus before buying their bicycles in Phoenix AZ!
Sorry, for some reason there are no more pics until Grande Marais
Tuesday morning our travel day started at 10:30 under overcast skies and threat of rain, on our way to Manitoba to add another Canadian Province to our map. Oh yes and to visit our friends Paul and Linda Leonard who we first met some 6 or 7 years ago in El Manglar RV Park in Zihuatanejo. We soon became firm friends. They too came south every year and soon became part of our lives. A couple of years age they bought a condo nearby and sold their trailer and now live roughly half time in Mexico. Linda has just published a book called “Living The Dream” and will available in September.
An hour and a half later we stopped minutes from the North Dakota/Manitoba border at Pembina ND to take on a load of diesel fuel at about 25 cents a litre less that it would be across the line. This though turned out to be more expensive than most places in the USA. Canadian shoppers?
Actual border crossing was unremarkable except that there was no line up, we drove straight up to the gate. A few questions and answers and we were back in Canada.
All I can say about the drive up the 75 and around the bypass is CENSORED. Most of the 75 was single lane as most of the south bound lanes had been dug up. Time to do the north bound lanes guys! If south bound was worse than the one we were on they should have been repaired a few years ago! At one point the vibration shook the right hand mirror loose so Art couldn't see the right lane! The remote adjustment switch allowed him to correct it for the time being but it kept moving inwards. Finally he had to pullover while he could still see at least a little and pulled off the narrow single lane across the closed access to a cross street. In Mexico this had been a recurring problem and Art had finally taken to leaving the appropriate allen wrench on the dash. It was still there! Minutes later we were back in traffic, the set screw now secured.
Onto the bypass. We remembered it being bad when we were last here, in 1985! Parts of the road surface were in excellent condition and warranted the 100 Km/H speed limit. BUT the overpasses! At one such place we are sure the front wheels left the ground! We bounced the next several metres! Trekker was not amused! From there on it was 80Km/H or less, no mater what the surface was like. To be fair, there was a lot of construction going on but these were the worst roads we have seen so far this trip.
Eventually we left the bypass and were northbound on the 59 to Grand Marais an hour or so north of Winnipeg. We hadn't eaten since breakfast so not finding any where else to stop we pulled onto the shoulder for a sandwich. Re-energised we pressed on and arrived in front of their house at 35 minutes after 5. Paul and Linda were walking down the drive as we pulled up.
After appropriate hugs and kisses, Art had a look at the drive way and spoke with Paul and Linda. They had backed their large 5th wheel in, though they admitted it took an hour and a half the first time! Art had a really good look and decided to go for it. He would back in. If it didn't work at least he would be driving our frontwards! Click to enlarge image. Click back arrow (<) above to return to the blog.
Slow and slower, with Gillian watching the back and Paul watching, the front Art inched back. There were two trees that could be a problem—one leaned in at an angle. Wide enough at the base, but 6 feet up (the mirrors) and at 11.5 feet (the awning) was going to be close. We made it in with everything still attached and the trees still having all their bark.
The pictures were taken when leaving, driving forward, but you get the idea.
A rare old bird is the pelican,
It's beak holds more than its belican.
It takes in its beak
Enough food for a week.
I'm darned if I know how the helican.
We stayed three wonderful days with Paul and Linda, catching up on old times and having a preview of Linda's book from the proof. We had dinner at their home the first two nights and on the third we had them take us to the local Italian restaurant were we picked up the tab in thanks.
Trekker and Tia were fascinated with the wildlife, in particular the little chipmunk which seemed to love tormenting the dogs.
At one point Art noticed that Tia had stalked to with 18 inches of this little fellow and was just ready to pounce when Art grabbed her leash.
Finally, the time came to say good by. We will meet again in Zihuatanejo in December.
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