SULLY'S HILL 2009

Brandie and I started to feel a bit guilty about taking the girls to the Internation Peace Garden and her boys didn't get to go. So, the next day, we decided to take all the kids to Sully's Hill for an outdoor lunch and nature hiking.

We got to Sully's Hill and started the motor trail to get to a nice little picnic area. About a quarter mile along the trail, we came along all the wild buffalo sleeping next to the road. Since they were right next to the road, we got a lot of good pictures of them.

We got to our picnic area and had KFC with juice boxes and then decided to finish up the motor trail and save the hiking until the end. We stopped at the hill which Sully's Hill is named for. All the kids wanted to climb to the top. Brandie and I are both smokers so were weren't looking forward to the climb as much as the kids. The climb was worth all the panting and side pinching aches. The view from the top is incredible. Then we made a quick stop at the prairie dog town.

The hiking trail starts at the visitors center. We parked her van in the parking lot and made off on the trail. What they don't tell you when the trail starts, is that the trail doesn't go in a full circle anymore like it used to....instead, it takes you two miles to a dead end where the lake has come over the old trail so you cannot get across. We had to turn around and start back another 2 miles with 5 tired, thirsty, hungry, crabby kids. No so much fun. When we got back to the van, I gave them all cold full bottles of water and I still had some snacks to hand out. We sat around in the shade for a good hour before anyone felt like moving and then left the preservatory. On the way back, we stopped by this really cool playground place that has a formation of rocks on the side of a hill and real teepees. We let the kids play for a while, while Brandie and I took pictures of the place.

Even though they day really tired us out, we had a very fun day with the kids, and they really enjoyed the wild animals, scenery, and the hiking trail too. But now we know, we only walk half of the trail and then turn around!

Sully's Hill entrance.

Scenery from the motor trail.

Leaves.

The buffalo were sleeping right next to the road.

Buffalo bull.

Wetland sign.

Some wetlands.

Tristin, Cassidy, Izik, Joseph, and Jessie.

The climb to the top of Sully's Hill.

Outlook from the top of Sully's Hill.

You have no idea how hard I was praying for a prairie dog to come screaming out of the hole.

Cassidy and Tristin

Miss Jessie

Me sitting among the wildflowers.

INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDENS 2009

Brandie Duran and I decided to take the girls on a trip up to the International Peace Garden a few weeks ago. Brandie had never been to The Garden before and I promised her a while ago that I would take her up there sometime. It was a warm day, neither of us were working, and we didn't want to sit at home, so we made a spur-0f-the-moment decision to go.

The girls watched movies on the way up while Brandie and I chatted about everything going on in our lives. It didn't take too long to get there, and the weather was georgous and HOT. Our first stop was at the Floral Clock. Brandie asked if there was a significant reason why the clock was set at 3:15. I told her it was a real working clock and that was the actual time. She didn't believe me at first, but someone from The Garden was near by and explained the clock to Brandie. After the clock, we took the US motor tour which took us through the campground, by the Masonic lodge building, and the Historic Lodge. All the buildings were open and we could go through them....we really wanted to go inside the lodge, but didn't know much time it would take, so we didn't. That will be done on the next trip up. After finishing up the US motor tour, we walked through The Garden itself. It was full of beautiful flowers and hundreds of people (International Band Camp was going on). We took a lot of pics. I was dissappointed about one thing though. They had they main water source turned off because of construction inside the park, so the huge fountain and reflection pool in the middle of the Garden were not working and filled with nasty yellow slimy brown stuff...as well as the cascading panels that flow from The Peace Towers. I want to go back up after the remodling is done so I can get pics of the huge fountain and reflection pool. After walking The Garden, we took the Canadian motor tour and then headed for home.

At the border, it had to have been check-every-damn-car day. We were told to park the car in the border garage, then they brought us inside to fill out some very minor paper work; mostly name, address, are you bringing fruit, tobaccoo, or animals across the border...that kind of stuff. Then 3 really cute border agents inspected the car. I felt sorry for the poor agent that came across the half eaten cheeseburgers from Dairy Queen in the back seat where the girls were sitting. Lord knows what else they found that was leftover from the girls many car trips. I cringe thinking about it. It wasn't too long and they sent us on our way home. We didn't get back to Leeds/York until around 7:30 pm, but we had a very fun time.

I am hoping that sometime in the future, when the girls are a bit bigger, we can go camping for a full weekend.

Entrance to the Peace Garden.

The International Peace Garden.

The girls and I in front of the floral clock.

Taking a break from all teh walking.

The historic lodge. My future house will look like this.

The Masonic building in the garden.

The Peace Tower from the US side of the motor tour road.

The Peace Tower. One sits on US soil, and the other on Canadian soil.

The 9/11 Memorial.

The Bell Tower.

Me being silly.

A photo in front of the fountain.

The only working fountain the garden.

The Peace Polls.

I love how the Peace Tower looks in the background of the Peace Pole.

Random shot of the garden.

Some funky plant that I thought was pretty cool.

Jessie, Mom, and Cassidy among the Peace Polls.

The Wheel Turtle in Dunseith, ND.