We flew into Bismarck, North Dakota, where Chuck's sister Zona and her
husband Mike live. Chuck's mom Evelyn was there too. Drove Mom's car
100 miles east to Mom's home in Jamestown, where we spent several days helping
her spruce up her yard. Then we all returned to Bismarck, where we
attended a street fair. Zona's and Mike's son Erik drove in from
Minneapolis and talked Chuck into running in a local race. Erik did the
Half Marathon and Chuck did the 5K. Erik did great, and Chuck discovered
just how out-of-shape he has become while cruising and only running
occasionally. Barb, Zona and Chuck visited the State Capital and enjoyed
the adjacent first-class museum which featured the history of North Dakota,
including a surprisingly good coverage of the dinosaur (and other) fossils that
have been found in the state.
We visited Zona's and Mike's cottage on a small lake east of Bismarck, where
we also spent some time with Marvin and Violet, good friends of Mike and Zona,
and also friends of Chuck and Barb ever since we all went to Norway over ten
year's ago.
For most of our stay in North Dakota, the skies were crystal blue (which is
common) and the winds were still (which is NOT common). The visit was too
short, but maybe this way they will be willing to have us back soon.
|
|
|
|
North Dakota -- the Peace Garden State
|
|
|
|
Chuck's mom Evelyn and Barb conduct a late harvest of Eve's rhubarb
|
|
|
|
One of several bunches that turned into two delicious pies!
|
|
|
|
Start of the Roughrider Marathon in Bismarck
|
|
|
|
Chuck waiting for the 5K to start
|
|
|
|
|
|
Almost time for the 5K to start
|
|
|
|
The 5K-ers are off!
|
|
|
|
Chuck at the finish of the 5K
|
|
|
|
5K is over -- now waiting for the Half Marathon finish
|
|
|
|
Chuck's nephew Erik finishing the Half Marathon
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chuck's sister's husband Mike
|
|
|
|
The finish line along the Missouri River valley
|
|
|
|
Street Fair in Bismarck
|
|
|
|
Chuck's sister Zona, Barb, and Chuck's mom at the fair
|
|
|
|
Barb
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zona's daughter Cathy and her son Cole
|
|
|
|
Zona and Cole
|
|
|
|
Mom
|
|
|
|
Cathy
|
|
|
|
Cathy and husband Jon
|
|
|
|
|
|
We came all the way to Bismarck to get Caribbean food?!
|
|
|
|
Scene east of Bismarck
|
|
|
|
It's mighty flat in North Dakota!
|
|
|
|
Barb takes the measure of the bales
|
|
|
|
An abandoned church in a dying town
|
|
|
|
|
|
World's largest Sandhill Crane near Steele, ND (Cf. www.realnd.com/giantsofnd.htm for other examples of ND attempts to attract tourists)
|
|
|
|
North Dakota capital building in Bismarck
|
|
|
|
Barb and Zona (and Sakajawea) on capital grounds
|
|
|
|
Statue of buffalo on capital grounds ...
|
|
|
|
... made of welded rebar rods!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Barb and horse (also of welded rebar)
|
|
|
|
Zuccini in Mike and Zona's garden at the lake (note the quarter coin placed for scale)
|
|
|
|
Cucumber in the garden (with quarter coin)
|
|
|
|
Pumpkin (and coin) in the garden
|
|
|
|
Marvin (lakeside friend and neighbor of Zona and Mike) and Cole
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marvin and Violet adding to Marvin's workshop
|
|
|
|
Cocktails with Marvin and Violet
|
|
|
North
Dakota: September 10-19, 2007
