Sioux Falls, ND to Swan River, MB

When we left Sioux Falls we headed for Aberdeen, SD we stayed here for three days camped in a municipal park.  The park also had a Storyland Park, a small zoo, lake and 

beach for swimming as well as a campground. It was a very nice place other than the mosquitoes. While we were  there we visited the Prairie Museum, An ethanol plant and a Hutterite Colony.

The next day we drove to Rugby, ND, for just a one night stop over and then off to Dauphin, Manitoba (MB). We stopped at the Peace Garden between the two borders entering Canada. In Dauphin we visited a historic Ukrainian Catholic Church. They fed us an authentic Ukrainian meal with music and dance. We also toured a nearby provincial park.

We left there heading for Swan River, MB, our current stop. Here we were able to tour the Louisiana Pacific Plant and see how OSB (oriented strand board) was made. The plant was totally automated and the didn’t allow photos.  The next day we went to the Spruce Products plant for another tour.  They cut dimensional lumber out of logs. This plant was also automated, the computer does a 3D scan of the log to determine what boards can be cut out of the log for the best yield and the least waste. it take less than ten seconds for the scan and to start cutting the log. We also toured a buffalo farm and learned about the raising of buffalo. We will leave here on Wednesday the 20th going to The Pas, MB.

 Ethanol Plant.

Corn after the ethanol has been removed.

It is high in protein  and is used in animal feed.

Campground in Aberdeen, ND.

Chloe trying to get a little prairie dog.

On our ride at the Hutterite Colony.

They had 160,000 turkeys in this house.

A large Turtle  made out of car wheels.

One of the gardens at the Peace Garden between

Canada and the US.

Half is in the US and Half in Canada.

The Ukrainian  Catholic Church.

 In side the Church.

The Swan of Swan River.

Buffalo Farm.

At the Spruce Plant the planer is the final

 process and does one board every second.

Log waiting to enter the scanner and the the mill.

Sorted boards going to the stacker.

From Melrose to Sioux Falls

Well I guess it is about time we caught up on our blog.  After we left the caravan in Moab, Utah we went to Montrose, Colorado.  We stayed there for three days exploring the area and cleaning up and reorganizing. We visited a quaint little town called Ouray. Ouray is known for ice climbing, people come from all over to climb the frozen waterfalls.

We then went to a state campground just west of Boulder. We visited Michele , Brandon and Isabel Hiner.  Michele is the daughter Marc and Mollie Pagan our good friends from Lynchburg. We had a great dinner there and wonderful visit and I had a chance to play with Isabel.

From there we headed to Fort Laramie Wyoming to spend a couple day taking it easy and visiting the fort.

After Fort Laramie we went to Minden, Nebraska.  Minden is the home of the Pioneer Village Museum. We spent the better part of the day touring the museum, it has more early American stuff in one place than I have ever seen before. From old steam tractors and other farm equipment  to over 350 antique cars and everything you would have had in your house through the years. Just to much to describe.

From there we went to Sedalia, Missouri. Sedalia will be the location of the Airstream Rally next year.  We spent three days there and I got to ride on the Katy Trail.

Next stop was Du Quoin, Illinois and the Airstream International Rally. We were there from Thursday June 23 until Sunday July 3. 

On Sunday we left to drive almost 800 mile to our next caravan rendezvous in Sioux Falls. 

We spent one night in Ottumwa and West Bend Iowa before arriving in Sioux Fall South Dakota.

We started the Northern Experience Caravan July 6 in Sioux Falls.  While we were there we Visited the Falls Park and the US Geological Survey EROS Center the first day and the Butterfly farm and Rosenbauer American Fire Truck Manufacturer the second day. 

 

The town of Ouray.

 Town of Ouray.

View from Ouray.

 Isabel and her new car.

 She really enjoying her new Volvo.

Fort Laramie.

 Maggie at Fort Laramie.

 Found a geocache here.

Pioneer Village Museum.

 Pioneer Village Museum.

It is amazing how big the wind turbines are.

A little castle made in the thirties by the CCC.

Bottom section of the wind turbine tower. 

It weighs over 160,000 pounds.

Sioux Falls Park.

Butterflies feeding on fruit.

Fire truck being assembled.

 Thirty four of these orange colored trucks

are going to Panama.

UL Laboratory certifying the fire truck.

Maggie just had to get in.