Day 6 - September 8th, 2010 St. Paul, MN - Winnipeg, MB

My parental units graciously offered to drive our U-haul and shadow car all the way to Winnipeg, Manitoba. We accepted hoping to conserve our energy and visit more on the long drive through MN and ND. I also liked the idea of having my Deputy Sheriff father answering the questions at the border as I have a penchant for triggering searches with my hippy hair and goatee. This hippy must be smuggling something illegal in this big truck. But the questions were probing but easy. "Do you have any firearms, knives, etc." My dad volunteers that he owns firearms, and the border officer cuts him off politely telling us that the questions are more directed towards me. I pause, thinking a moment. The border officer asks why I have to think about it, and I tell him that I was thinking about whether I had a pocket knife or not, but I remember it was already confiscated at the airport in Anchorage. The border patrol let us through with no problem. Everyone says it's more difficult getting back into the US, so we'll see what happens at the Alaska/Canada border.

Driving across Manitoba, we spot numerous red-tailed hawks and even a couple Northern harriers, distinguished by their white rump-patches. Once we reach Winnipeg, we help the parents get settled in a hotel before we borrow their car to drive to Prairie's Edge Eco-Village an hour and a half outside of Winnipeg. We almost make it to our destination when we come across a large mud-puddle that tries to swallow the car. The mud-puddle is unsuccessful thanks to the members of the eco-village who come to push and pull us out. Was this car clean when we started out in St Paul this morning? Now it's covered in mud and dust on the outside and cat hair and litter on the inside. Thanks Buse parents for the loaner... sorry about the mess!