Things we DID do

We left Minnesota and headed through Wisconsin and North Dakota, towards Winnipeg. On the way, we stopped at a place that Martin remembered as a kid. He remembered there was a great big otter--and there was. It towered over his 6'2 frame, and it was fun to take the picture for his parents.

What he had forgotten was this:

And really, they look silly when they are in the trees!

We spent a good half hour there, watching and photographing the cranes. We also spent some time trying not to get pecked by the geese and their 'teenaged' gosling. It was amazing!

We arrived at Cynthia and J-L's, and were charmed completely by their wee ones. Their daughter is bright as can be (and prints better than some adults I know). Their son is a major flirt. So we had a great supper and enjoyed their hospitality immensely. We like these people, a lot! They gave us so much freedom to come and go.

And come and go we did. One of the reasons for the road trip was to see where each of us grew up. Martin grew up in Winnipeg, and we spent the day looking at his old stomping grounds. There were several great moments, but the best one for me was when he spotted his neighbour--a handsome gent dressed in paint spattered short-shorts, and an equally paint-spattered shirt. His wife came to greet us as well--she didn't recognize him at first, but when she did, the most lovely expression transformed her face from one of total confusion to one of pure and absolute delight. She has alzheimers and so she kept moving between the present and the past...but that moment was completely perfect.

We also drove to the cabin that really does exist on the corner of Alice Lane and Wonderland Street. And we walked the beach which was a delight.

And also? We spent a lot of time watching these--there are a million of them!