Learning more…

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

We are learning more about the Gardens and our Group as we spend more time here.  The International Peace Garden was built in the 1930’s by the CCC to commemorate the peaceful coexistence of Canada and the USA.  It consists of 2,339 acres, with quite a variety of things…a campground, hiking and biking trails, an auditorium and music camp, several lakes, a game warden museum, pavilions, picnic areas, and gardens, a greenhouse and interpretive center.  www.peacegarden.com  We will be doing a tour of the gardens on Wednesday, but took advantage of the day today to hike and explore, and find the wi-fi at the interpretive center!  We were able to catch up on emails and post the blog.

The campground here is unique, in that each spot is a cozy little space nestled between the trees.  Luckily, due to Jim’s expertise in using an app to find the satellites, and position the motorhome…we have TV!!!!  (thank goodness…we can watch “This is Us” tonight). 

       Here is the view out the front windshield—really a pretty setting.

The closest Walmart is 30 miles away.  We decided to go to replenish supplies.  Even though we didn’t go through a customs station on the way in to the Peace Garden, we had to go through a US customs station on the way out.  Luckily we had been warned, and had our passports with us.

We had a welcome meeting this afternoon and learned a little more about our group.  It is a friendly mixture of people from 10 different states, and all walks of life.  We have three nurses…two critical care, and one obstetric nurse (hope we don’t need that one!)  There are two ham radio operators.  There is one full-timer couple, and this is the first tour for several of the group. There’s a Jim, a Kim and a Tim, and three Bobs.  We thought we were pretty special being named Lifetime members (5+trips), but another couple has been on 10 trips, and got an “official jacket” to commemorate the accomplishment.  (That is a VERY expensive jacket!)

Our wagon master George dressed the part, with his polar bear hat!   It was a fun evening with food drinks, and a fire in the historic log cabin adjacent to the campground.

   

We are a little surprised that the weather is so chilly so soon!  It’s been in the high 30’s all day, and we thought we’d have some milder weather before now to transition into the cold weather.  But, we pulled out our woolies, and we’re ready for polar bears!

PS.  It was really weird to be listening to the local radio station today, and they mentioned Indiana State University!  Apparently the North Dakota State Bisons are playing the ISU Sycamores…another small world experience! Still no cellphone service..realizing how attached we are to our phones!