August 18, 2009

View of the day-Al & Kim checking the load over one last time before we hit the road.

We were up early...not as early as some, but early for us. We grabbed a quick coffee from Marg at work then left for Gettysburg...first stop was the border.

We got to the USA side and had a little wait as they went through the motorhome pulling a jeep...no scandals there, then they had us pull up and come inside to complete some paperwork. Marilyn had it all made out and after they scanned the passports, we were on our way.

We stopped in Kenmare for a snack, then drove out to visit with the farmer we had worked for last year...and to drool over the new shop he had built...very nice. After a good chat about the crop and sympathy that he had 'gone over to the dark side' according to Al...he went from two older CaseIH 2388 combines to...a big green one. He would have gone for a big red one but the dealer never called him back...you gotta go where you get the service...

We stopped in Minot for fuel then carried on to Bismarck where we stopped at the KOA campground to look at a camper that was for sale. Marilyn had been looking through one of the free sale papers that come out and found a new camper that was for sale so we stopped by to check it out. It wasn't perfect...very nice for a 42ft 5th wheel...but it not what we wanted. Right behind this camper was the camper of our harvester friends that we had met for the pancake breakfast in Gettysburg, so we stopped in for a quick chat with Bonnie and the girls before we left town. Marilyn didn't get in to one store in the bright lights, not even a convenience store...no withdrawal yet.

We stopped in Sterling for a coffee break and met with Shawn while he was waiting for Bonnie to bring supper out for the crew. They were combining, as were a lot of crews in the area...trying to beat the rain that is forecast for tomorrow. We left Sterling and continued on, noticing the tall, dark clouds that were forming in the south...we even drove through a bit of a deluge for about 5 miles. By the time we got to Gettysburg they skies were lit, but thankfully it was all to the east and south.

Although they probably aren't to happy about that...