June 3, Back in the USA

This was a peaceful view to wake up to at 6 in the morning in Dundurn, Saskatchewan.  Up and early and on the road before 6:30 A.M.  We have over 500 miles to cover if we want to cross the border into the United States.  We left home almost 4 weeks ago and we’re getting anxious to have roots again.  Being that the weather is warm at home and we know the fruit trees are blossoming, the flowers are blooming, and the garden and grass is growing ….we miss seeing all those things we enjoy watching.  We told each other we were not going to rush home; but after traveling over 7,000 miles, it has made us long to be in home

 and stay in one place for awhile. 

The landscape continues to be mostly flat with endless wheat fields.  This house was out in the middle of nowhere.  I “really” mean nowhere!  As far as the eye could see there were wheat fields surrounding this beautiful home.  No neighbors in site; but I’m thinking there must have been a few oil wells 

somewhere on the property.

Every little town seems to have its own unique sculpture to represent or recognize their community.  In the small town of Davidson it represents warmth and hospitality.  If this 24 foot pot of coffee were filled, it would be enough cups of coffee to serve 150,000 people.  This coffee pot is included in Canada’s roadside stamp collection series and collection. 

 Looks like the truck is getting a fill-up.

These are the only windmills that we saw in Canada.  I would have thought with having so much flat, prairie land, they would make use of that wind power. 

 This made me laugh because it brought back lots of memories.  Wonder if this outdoor theater is still in use.

We went through some bigger cities today as we headed southeast, Sashatoon, the largest city in Saskatchewan and Regina the second largest and the capital of that province. We also went through Winnepeg, which is the largest city in Manitoba.  Manitoba had similar landscapes as Saskatchewan.  They did seem to have a little more of the rolling hills and deciduous trees.  We saw the endless wheat fields there too; but didn’t see evidence of the oil fields along the TransCanada Highway where we were traveling.  The rich soils for agriculture are in the southern part of the province and oil fields are in the southwestern part.  Rich mineral deposits and forestry and fresh water are in the 

eastern and northern parts of Manitoba. 

  We crossed the border and we’re back in the United States!  The marks on the picture are bugs splattered on the windshield. J  We entered into North Dakota and are camping in Grand Forks.  Tomorrow we will be up bright and early because we have over 500 miles to travel to be home in Tomah, Wisconsin.

A "Summer Version" of a Dog Sled Ride (Day 34)

The Iditarod Trail had it's beginning as a mail and suppy route years ago from Seward to interior Alaska and then to Nome.  In 1925, part of the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway in delivering serum for epedemic-stricken Nome.  The weather prohibited planes from flying in and the Bering Strait was already frozen so the necessary serum could not reach the small town. 18 teams of volunteer mushers risked their lives to take the serum 674 miles, weather 40-50 below zero.  The winds came up while the last musher was nearing his destination.  The sled turned over and the medicine was thrown into the snow.  The driver dug through the snow with his bare hand and found the serum which saved the town.  Today,  the Iditarod Trail is a National Historical Trail. The race itself is in commemoration to the loyalty and courage of the sled dog, along with the trail's colorful past.  Next March they will be celebrating the 40th year of the race.  It is an 1,150 mile race,  running from Anchorage to Nome in 9 to 17 days. 

The traditional sled construction use to be wood, bone, senew, and rawhide.  Later, materials used for sled making were aluminum and plastics followed today by Kelvar and carbon fiber.

Not quite sure what breed or breeds these dogs are that are being raised to be sled dogs.  They definitely are not Siberian Huskys that  have distinct markings, along with thick fur and upright, triangular ears.  Huskys were originally brought from Siberia during the gold rush in Alaska because of their strength and endurance to

subzero weather. 

This is the "Summer Version" of a dog sled ride.

Mush, Mush! (am I suppose to have reins?)