Driving through North Dakota...

 We took off from Detroit Lakes, MN...and headed towards Fargo, ND...

 It was a pretty drive...so different as we got closer to North Dakota...less trees...flatter...

 Another day...another state...but this was pretty much a drive through state...

 So many farms...all so pretty...

 We stopped in Hankinson...to look at antiques...

 This shop was right next to Lake Elsie...

 I love all the old buildings...Don wants some of this old wood so badly...but we just can't figure out how to get it in our luggage!

 Such a big church in a small town...St. Phillips...I went to St. Phillips...not this one when I was a girl...

 This is right across the way...Sisters of St. Francis...another really big building in a tiny town!

 We couldn't believe how many fireworks places there are in North Dakota! They are all along the road we took!

 A little bit further and we arrive in South Dakota...see you there!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Duluth to Detroit Lakes,MN...

 We left Duluth and headed across Northern Minnesota towards Fargo, North Dakota...

 We crossed the Mississippi near its start...not real impressive here...just a meandering river...but look how low the water level is...the drought affected this area...

 We drove past so many family farms...

 Our car stopped abruptly at the sight of a quilt shop...sadly...no pictures were allowed...but they had more charm squares than I have ever seen in one place!! I had to buy some!!  

 Even though most of the Fall color had fallen from the trees...there still was a lot to see...

 I am so impressed with the beauty of this part of the country....

 We stopped to look around Lake Leech...the water was pretty rough...

 I could live right there...sigh...

 And look who flew right in front of the car!! Yes...a bald eagle...we were amazed...pulled the car off to the side...and found him flying about...looking for lunch I suppose...

 What a beauty posing there for us...he looks small in the picture...but he was huge! 

I can't tell you how much joy I have taking this journey with my dear husband...it is a trip I will remember forever...we have taken in so much beauty on this trip...we took the road less traveled and what a wonderful adventure we have had...its not done yet...still a week to go! 

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Minneapolis to Duluth...

 Since I posted out of order last time...I thought I better put these in...this is the trip from Minneapolis to Duluth...

 Some of these were taken from a moving car...I didn't realize this one was this blurry til now...oh well...

 We stopped at a casino in Hinkley to eat lunch...I think this was the best BLT I have ever had...it was the bread...wild rice bread...wonderful!

 This was a memorial to the big fire in Hinkley that killed over 400 people in the 1800's...a grass fire...

 Something about the water towers in this part of the country...I love them...we don't have these in my neck of the woods...so I took pictures of them all!

 Getting closer...

 Less Fall color this far north...

 Don's cousins helped me clean off and around my Grandparents grave and marker...this is Terry and Lulu...they drove us around the first day and took us out to dinner...

 Canadian geese...boy are they messy!!

 Don and Terry...first cousins...their Dad's were brothers...

 A small lake near my Grandparents grave...

 I love all the leaves and Fall color...

 This is a look out tower on Sky line drive...it's been there as long as I can remember...I climbed it as a young girl ...and the last time I was in Duluth...they have a new look out area now...

 It's so pretty up there at Skyline Park...it is at the top of Duluth...

Here's the view from the new look out...Lake Superior starts after the sand strand straight ahead...

I hope you are enjoying my vacation with me...I need to catch up on some of the days...I have taken so many pictures that it's hard to chose what to post...well...it's late and I'm off to bed...more to see tomorrow...I can't wait!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

We're in Duluth...

 After I posted all these pictures...I realized that I posted out of order...I totally forgot to post the pictures from the day before...oh well...this is Duluth Minnesota...home of my father's side of the family and close to Don's family...both sides...in fact we met up with one of Don's cousins here as well...more about that tomorrow since I forgot to post those pictures...I guess I'm tired after a very long day of traveling and site seeing...

 Here we are in front of Lake Superior in Leif Erickson park...I just noticed what a bad look I had on my face...horrible...oh well... 

 The shore line is so pretty...the Fall colors are beautiful...

 This is such a nice park...it was a bit nippy though...about 48 degrees and a little windy too...but we loved it!

 The picture doesn't even come close to how purple these bushes were...I wish you could see them!

 Here's Leif...one of my Norwegian ancestors...the way he got around...he could be one of yours too!!

 More Fall color...I can't get enough of this...

 This stage was neat...both of us got up there and made silly poses...they came out a little too dark though...but it was fun trying to be an stage actor! Maybe they use this for concerts too...

 What a relaxing view...

 This bridge...I forgot the name...I really should write this stuff down...is the only one of its kind in North America...instead of splitting apart like other bridges...the bottom half goes up to let the ships through...Iron Ore is mined up on the Grange and then sent by train to Duluth and then shipped all over...we heard most of it goes to China now...

 I told you I couldn't get enough of the color...we don't have this at home...not like this anyway...

 This is the Duluth Angel of Hope...

We were in a little museum in Procter...outside of Duluth and this bottom picture caught our eye...four of the players in this picture are related to Don...in fact...one is his Dad...the other three are his Uncles...pretty cool we thought...we're having a great time...it's chilly...downright cold for this California girl...but I love it!! I could easily get used to this part of the country...it feels so homey!

I am a couple days behind in my blogging...but I will try to get caught up...I hope you enjoying going with us on our trip...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!