Final Chapter

The final chapter of our 2010 Alaskan adventure is being written with our journey through the International Peace Garden back into the lower 48. The International Peace Garden was both beautiful and slightly disappointing as we apparently were too late for the full glory of color that would have been visible when all the flowers were in full bloom. Beauty was still evident in the colorful gardens depicting the American and Canada flags with the World Peace Towers in the background. Especially memorable was the Peace Chapel where many worldwide newspaper accounts of the 9/11 terrorist attack were on display.  Also displayed were engravings of quotes from many statesmen and biblical accounts encouraging world peace.  The entire display was quite touching.

As we left the Peace Garden it was back through Customs and our return to the good ol' USA.  It was great to again be able to use our cell phones, find somewhat lower fuel and food prices and once again recognize crops that were being harvested as we drove along the roads.  We made an overnight stop in Hillsboro, ND before going our separate ways for a few days.  The Gregg's went to Sioux Falls, SD to renew driver licenses.  The Glosses made an overnight stop in Pipestone, MN to visit relatives before proceeding on to Sioux Center, IA where we have been calling home for the past week.  After becoming legal again and seeing some of the sights around Sioux Falls, John and Glynda rejoined the group on Monday at Sioux Center.  Since Northwest Iowa was Jim and Marlene's original "stomping grounds" they acted as tour guides in showing John and Glynda around.  Included was a trip to the Iowa Great Lakes where we met up with Ken and Gale Van Der Sloot, Marlene's brother and his wife, for supper at a restaurant overlooking Lake West Okoboji.  The following day we enjoyed a tour of Demco Manufacturing in Boyden, IA whose main emphasis is varied agriculture products.  Our tie to Demco is that they also manufacture the Glide-Ride kingpin box we both have installed on the front of our RVs.  Later that day we drove to Markus, IA to have supper with Pat and Galen Ducommun, Jim's sister and husband, who the Greggs also know from wintering in AZ.  That also gave John and Glynda a chance to meet and get acquainted with Jim's younger sister, Mary Ellen.  Today, Friday, September 3rd, was the day set aside for the graveside memorial service for Marlene's Mom who passed away July 2nd.  She was laid to rest in Hull, IA where family and friends gathered under beautiful blue skies.  That occasion and the lunch following also gave John and Glynda an opportunity to get acquainted with Marlene's family and friends.  

All in all this summer has been a GREAT adventure.  We were blessed with mostly good weather, better than expected road conditions, excellent health and hardly any mosquitoes about which we had been forewarned.  We drove nearly 15,000 miles, learned a lot about the Northwest U.S., Canada and Alaska....and, about each other.  Through it all, we are still great and probably even better friends.  We will separate again this weekend but will reconnect in less than a month for a couple of HitchHiker events before heading to AZ for the winter.  We hope all of you have also enjoyed our travels.