Feeling Better

A day of rest help both of us.  The worst effects of our colds are gone now.  Only a nagging cough lingers.  It has been cold here.  Last night it was down into the low 40s.  Darlie loves it.

Rt 2 has proven to be an excellent highway.  Most of it is four lane and there is very light traffic except around a city.  It cuts through the middle of northern Minnesota.  Lakes, marshes and flat woodlands border the highway.  Lilacs are in full bloom and things are very green.  We crossed the Mississippi River today.  It was only about fifty feet wide.  We are at its headwaters.  A far cry from what it becomes further down stream.

As we drove on the landscape changed to open farmlands.  Newly planted crops are just beginning to poke through to the sunlight.   Being mid June, one wonders how these crops will have time to mature before the snow flies again.  I could imagine blowing snow whipping across these open fields while the mercury hovers at about -30.  This is not a place I would care to be in the winter time.  It looks cold when it's warm.

We crossed into North Dakoka in late afternoon.  The fields are flooded here.  Ducks are swimming where corn should be growing.  Many crops look like they got drowned out.  I had heard this area had heavy rain earlier this month.  One area of highway had been under water.  The shoulder was washed away and pavement crumbled.  For the most part, North Dakota is boring.  There is a reason they call this fly over country.  They have to grow things somewhere though and this looks like a good place for it.  The soil is dark and rich looking.  Pure gold to a farmer's eye I am sure.

Buddy is really into travel mode.  It has been fun having her along.  She gets excited when the engine starts. She races Darlie for the passenger seat.  Darlie always wins.  Buddy has to sit on the floor with her nose to the glass.  She sits this way all day long.  Looking out the window.  Watching the world go by.  If I have to slow down for a minute, she jumps up to see why.  She stares out the windshield as if she is going to give me some advice on route or traffic conditions.  As I speed up again, she retreats to her window position.  She isn't shedding too badly.  We have only collected enough hair to make a medium size Russian fur hat.