Author: marionvermazen

I am a traveler, hiker, avid reader, Sun alumnus, computer geek, Spanish and French language student, knitter and genealogist. I am retired after working for almost 30 years in the Computer Industry. I live in Reno, Nevada with my husband Duke.

Road Trip – Canada – Keewatin, Ontario to Thunder Bay, Ontario

Day 11 – Wednesday, September 3 -  Keewatin, Ontario – Today 47 miles – total  miles 2741

Wednesday we didn't move. We stayed on Lake of the Woods. We explored the Kenora and Keewatin area and just took it easy. Kenora has a wonderful farmers market right on the water and seaplanes coming and going just off shore. This part of Canada has lots of fly in resorts and private islands. It is fun to think about spending time on a private island some day.
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In the afternoon we sat on the deck in front of our B&B and played cribbage. It was a warm day with no wind and no bugs! Other than the fact that Duke beat me it was a perfect afternoon. I highly recommend the Spruce Lake Bed and Breakfast in Keewatin.

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Day 12 – Thursday, September 4 -  Keewatin, Ontario to Thunder Bay, Ontario – Today 310 miles – total  miles 3051

Thursday we drove to Thunder Bay on Lake Superior. Thunder Bay is in the eastern time zone and is the farthest east we will go on this trip. It is also Canada's biggest wheat terminal. The last several days we have seen lots of combines in the fields harvesting the wheat.

We have seen several wonderful waterfalls on this trip. Yesterday  we stopped at Kakabeka Falls just outside of Thunder Bay.  It seemed like the best but then I say that about all of the big ones.

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Which delegates were seated?

If you have been following my posts about the feud within the Nevada Republican party you know that two different groups selected delegate to the Republican National convention. It was left up to the national party credentials committee to decide which delegates to seat.

One group of delegates was selected by the party insiders. After the insiders lost control of the state convention they ended the convention and later had the central committee name the delegates privately.

The other group of delegates was elected at a second convention that was primarily made up of Ron Paul supporters. When the insiders blocked their efforts to elect Ron Paul delegates at the original state convention they held their own convention and elected their own set of delegates.

So the decision of which delegates to seat was left to be decided by the credentials committee which met in private last Saturday.

According to the Reno Gazette Journal:

"Ultimately, a national contest committee rejected both delegations and
named a compromise slate that included four Paul supporters and 27
delegates originally appointed by the party.
In its report, the
contest committee slammed the state party’s “ineptness” in mishandling
the delegate election that left out the “grass-roots”.
“The committee finds the state party’s delegate selection process flawed, inadequate and unacceptable,” the report said."

"Nevada Chairwoman Sue Lowden defended the state party…………

But she challenged the idea that "nine people on a committee" had the standing to judge the party "inept."

"It's unfortunate they would use that particular word, and I've been assured they will make it up to us," she said."

It will be interesting how this soap opera impacts the way Nevada Republicans vote in November. I used to think it would make them stay home but I have come to the conclusion that it will be old news by then and they will come out and vote for the McCain- Palin ticket.

In any case it has been entertaining to watch. I certainly have found my first introduction to party politics educational.

Road Trip – Canada – Riding Mountain National Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Keewatin, Ontario

Day 9 – Monday, September 1 -   Brandon, Manitoba, Canada to Winnipeg- Today  398 miles – total 2506 miles
Monday we left Brandon and headed north into Riding Mountain National Park. It started to rain soon after we got into the car and rained all day. In the national park we saw several buffalo and finally saw our first bears of the trip. We didn't see any bear in Yellowstone but we did see a mother bear and two cubs in Riding Mountain.
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In the area north of Winnipeg we saw quite a bit of flooding. Apparently they have had a very wet summer and this additional rain had no where to go. We drove down the west coast of lake Winnipeg and spent the night in Winnipeg.

Day 10 – Tuesday, September 2 -  Winnipeg, Manitoba to Keewatin, Ontario – Today  188 miles – total 2694 miles

It is still rainy and overcast today. We decided to make a short day of it and and only drive to the Kenora area today. Kenora is at the north end of Lake of the Woods. We are stying at a lovely B&B overlooking Spruce Lake and have decided to spend two nights here. For dinner we ate at the top of the Best Western Hotel which is up seven stories overlooking Lake of the Woods. We had a wonderful view of the lake and al the islands many of which have cabins on them. The first picture below was taken from the balcony of our B&B. The second is from the restaurant where we had dinner tonight.

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Road Trip – Bismarck to Brandon

Day 8 – Sunday, August 31 -  Bismarck, North Dakota to Brandon, Manitoba, Canada – Today 365 miles miles – total 2108 miles

Sunday we left Bismarck and headed north. We stopped to look at the site of an old Indian village overlooking the Missouri. Farther north we stopped to check out Garrison Dam. It is the  fifth largest earthen dam in the world. Back before it was completed in 1954 they would never build homes along the river south of Bismarck. On this trip we saw lots of big expensive homes right on the river.

We had a picnic lunch in Minot. (That is where my Dad was born.) From Minot we went to the International Peace Garden. It is a beautiful big park and garden straddling the border and celebrating the peace between the U.S. and Canada.

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Our border crossing went relatively smoothly although we must look suspicious because we were the only car that they asked to pull over. We had to get out while they searched us and the car for drugs or guns. They didn't find any!

We spent Sunday night about 80 miles north of the borer in the second largest city in Manitoba, Brandon, Manitoba. The population here is about 43,000. The weather has really cooled off. A cold front is going through. It was hot when we crossed the border but by the time we got here it was very windy and cold. Between the border and Brandon we did stop for a picture in Boissevain. They have a 22 foot statue of Tommy the Turtle!

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Road Trip continued – Beartooth Highway – Hardin, Montana – Little Big Horn, Montana, Dunn County, North Dakota and Bismarck, North Dakota

Day 5 – Thursday August 28 -  Canyon, Yellowstone National Park to Hardin, Montana – Today 246 miles – total 1266 miles

Thursday we left Yellowstone. We stopped for breakfast at the lodge at Tower – Roosevelt. Our view out he front window included the mountains and the meadows. It was one of my favorite places we ate in Yellowstone. From Yellowstone we drove from Cooke City, Montana to Red Lodge Montana over the Bear Tooth, Highway which climbs to 10,900 feet from the exit of Yellowstone at 7365 feet. It is a stunning highway that switchbacks up and up and then down and down.

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We spent Thursday night in a Bed and Breakfast in Hardin , Montana

Day 6 – Friday, August 29 -  Hardin, Montana  to Bismarck, North Dakota- Today 477 miles – total 1743 miles

Friday morning before leaving Hardin we visited the Big Horn County Historical Museum. It included twenty historic structures including a one room school house, an old barn, an old log cabin and an old church. All of the building were furnished and fascinating to explore.

Next stop was the Little Bighorn Battlefield which is only 15 miles from Hardin. I visited the battlefield once when I was a kid and I had always wanted to go back. It was a fascinating and moving as I remembered it. The ranger who told us the story of the battle and the Indians and soldiers who were there was wonderful.

From Little Bighorn we drove into North Dakota and stopped in Dickinson where my great grandparents Erb are buried. We also went north in to Dunn County to try to find the remains of their homestead. My Erb Great grandparents moved form Iowa to Dunn county north east of Manning in 1910. My Robinson Great grandparents moved form Wisconsin to north west of manning in 1912. We didn't find the exact location of either homestead but we got a real feel for the country where they homesteaded. I can't even imagine trying to build a farm from scratch there. It is remote, very cold in winter, very hot in summer and rain is unpredictable and undependable.

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From Dunn County we headed to Bismarck. I lived in Bismarck from when I was a baby until we moved to Australia when I was 13. I haven't been back since 1986 just before my Grandparents died.

Day 7 – Saturday, August 30 -  Bismarck, North Dakota- Today 0 miles – total 1743 miles

This morning Duke and I attended the memorial service for my childhood best friend's Father. It is just a coincidence that we are here for the service. He was a very special man. I am so glad we were able to attend.

This afternoon I gave Duke the Marion Robinson tour of Bismarck. We saw everything from my childhood home to my Grandfather's plaque in the North Dakota  Department of Transportation Hall of Honor to  the state capital.

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It has been so much fun to see how Bismarck has changed and to see my old friends and to remember what it was like when I lived here. Tomorrow we are heading north to Canada.