Headed out from Fergus Falls, Minnesota early this morning to try and make time to be early in Calgary on Wednsday. We drove through unbelieveable praire vistas... rolling hills and flat wheat fields "as far as the eye can see". We drove into North Dakota early in the morning climbing higher into the Dakota hills heading west. Along the way we saw cattle herds, horses, outcrops, sloughes filled with water. One can imagine the time it took for the early settlers to traverse this landscape with wagon trains or on foot. Our route took us into middle North Dakota before turning north for Canada, very remote country with very little traffic. The stark reality of seeing the odd old abandoned house suggested hardship, hard honest work to eke a living from this apparent rich landscape. After turning north on route 93 we saw a couple wind farms with windmills looking much like the ones at East Point. We also saw familiar place names along the way.... Annandale, Seven Mile Road, Monticello, Souris Valley Community Centre, and Souris Wildlife Refuge Park!! What's with all that? Makes one wonder.
We met two vehicles for the last fifty miles before getting to the border. After turning north towards Canada we saw a lot of gas wells pumping away with the occasional well burning off sulpher(?). It seemed like an awful waste of energy.
Along the way and closer to the Canadian border we saw a lot of deer and plenty of pheasants....a virtual hunters paradise!!
Because of the remoteness we assumed that there would be no duty free liquor available at the border...wrong! Since we had a half bottle of unfinished Crown Royal and Faye had purchased some Irish Creame in New Hampshire we only purchased a 40 oz duty free because we (Paul) were nervous with all the gear packed away in the truck.
The border outpost with one officer was no problem because Faye's cherubic honest face and frank answers to his questions won him over and he waved us on wishing safe travel.
Once into Canada we drove for an hour reaching Weyburn, Sask. shortly before 7 pm. checking into a motel and making our Skype phone calls.
We travelled approximately 800 km today. Gas prices steadidly increased as we progressed towards Canada but we only paid $1.66/us gallon early this morning with a high of $2.09 this afternoon.
We have 820 km to Calgary tomorrow so must get up early.
Later.......