LIFE ON THE ROAD: September 2012

We picked up another State, N. Dakota. I believe we have hit more than half of them now!

Leaving Glacier National Park, we had no particular route planned for the trip back to Hilton Head. Ed Knott, our Trip Director and Spiritual Advisor, talked me into heading to Michigan and spending a month on the lakes. We spent five days driving across Northern Montana and North Dakota ...

When we discovered the most unique place I have ever had the pleasure to visit -- The International Peace Gardens.

Part of the formal gardens, Canada is the right side.

The border of the US at N Dakota and Canada at Manitoba runs down the middle.

When I stood on the boundary marker and held my cell phone about 2 feet above my head, I got reception, kinda.

Here’s a diagram of the layout. I've kept it small so you can double click and read it. It consists of about 2500 acres with seven miles of roadway. Exactly half of it is Canada and half the United States.

Left side here is Canada

The US half is full of structures, very well done, but nevertheless buildings. The Canadian side is all nature; no building at all except in the formal gardens. When you enter, Canadian customs is on the right; US on the left. Here we are at the American entry point.

The campground had all pull through sites and loads of them. Very private, you basically had your own piece of forest to yourself. This is our spot. We were without phone, television or internet (except at the café) and learned how to be peaceful.

The kids were back in school which was an almighty gift since we had nearly all 2500 acres to ourselves!

Our back yard was 1.5 miles of the most beautiful formally landscaped gardens, what you would expect the Garden of Eden to be like, but larger.

This is the peace chapel at one end of the formal gardens.

The interior consists of important quotes from Americans and Canadian etched in stone. These are a few of the most notable ones (for me).

Right, Hal?

Above is the Canadian Centennial Prayer ... very special.

This is AA's Serenity Prayer which I thought was anonymously authored!

The Peace Towers are at the high point of the park. They were donated by the Japanese Government.

The Peace Towers can be seen at one end of the formal gardens. The bell tower, on the Canadian side, is to the right.

The Peace Towers are humungous. They are erected outside of the Chapel.

Not only was this symbol of peace striking, but it also was a symbol of Freedom. There were no signs anywhere saying ~~DOGS~~, ~~SMOKING~~, ~~CELL PHONES~~. And ... they never lock the gates.

Carolina and Riley have become very best friends. Is very cute to watch them together.

We walked the formal garden each day. Then, in the evening, we would roam the gardens without leash and without anyone around.

The kids loved chasing the frogs into the waterfall which ran the length of the gardens on the boundary.

It was amazing to have the whole place to ourselves each evening.

The rest of the park consists of numerous lakes, improved picnic areas, hikes galore, an RV park that most people have never heard of.

This 18 foot floral clock planted with 3,000 flowers appears at the entrance to the park.

This is the conservatory and cafe, where we were able to get internet.

The American side of the gardens include a 911 Memorial. This is a list of the firefighters who gave their lives.

The memorial includes one of the girders from the 911 rubble. This memorial seemed a little out of place in the peace garden, a bit contrary to its name ... It was certainly a reminder of the cost of not having peace.

Added another state -- Minnesota.

We left the Peace Garden and ended up in a most wonderful city called East Grand Forks, Minnesota

You cross the Kennedy Bridge from Grand Forks, N. Dakota and enter lovely East Grand Forks, Minnesota.

Our park is just across the bridge, it's called Sherlock Park. We've been here for over two weeks.

The East Grand Forks, Minn. and Sherlock Park, where we are staying, are quite special. The specialness is all about re-birth.

This is our site here at Sherlock Park. It used to be Mr. and Mrs. Maurer's house.

These are walkways to what used to be houses.

Until the flood of the century carried them away along with most of the town.

The Kennedy Bridge in 1997.

Here are some photos of the town and the bridge under water. The water was as deep as eight feet in downtown East Grand Forks. Entire city blocks were demolished.

Downtown in 1997 -- all these buildings are gone.

The entire government center was destroyed. Here is the new one.

This RV park used to be a lovely community of about 200 homes called Sherlock Park. This a list of the former residents. This entire 1200 acre state park, called Red River State Park, was a residential neighborhood of 2,300 homes. Only eight homes were spared.

Another photo of the elegant Kennedy Bridge from our park.

One of the various greenways that now run along the river

What an incredible job they have done to restore this town. Many of the communities that flooded are now gorgeous parks. The city has a greenway that follows the river and goes on for nearly 20 miles.