#22 Wine, Food & Family

Bye Bye Canada

Our last stop was only a few hours from the border. We packed our lunch and figured we’d be ready for the wait.

And wait and wait and wait until the light turns green. 40 minutes later we answered our obligatory questions and passed on through to the USA. So we traveled onward to our 3rd Lewis and Clark State Park in Shelby, Montana.

Our site wasn’t much but we were only staying for 1 night. We were pretty tired and as you can see to the top left of the trailer the moon was up. Moon’s up, train’s woo wooing. Goodnite.

Buffalo Hot Springs, Montana

The next day, we woke up early, made some coffee, unplugged the camper and moved on. We had a few campground stops to make before our final destination for this portion of the trip. Our mission was St. Paul, Minnesota to see my nephew, Dan, and his family. Woohoo!!!

Buffalo Hot Springs Resort was an interesting place. It was literally in the middle of absolutely nowhere. We parked our camper on a lumpy site and needed some of those orange lifts under the wheels to level us out. When we aren’t level, the slide struggles and it’s also harder on the refrigerator or so the experts say. The navigator is also the leveler. I’m not sure I ever mentioned that.

The Big Surprise

Next to the Hot Springs campground registration building and the indoor pool was Buffalo Saloon. I love saloons and the inside of this place looked just as you would imagine it. Belly up to the bar friends.

Pam and I were sitting in the camper wondering what to have for dinner and Pam said, “What do think about going to the Saloon?” Here’s the menu.

You may have noticed that many of the steaks on the menu are from Math Farms which was down the road a piece from the saloon. It took me minus 2 seconds to make up my mind. Let’s go.

It was absolutely freezing at Buffalo Hot Springs, Montana. The winds were gusting at 45 MPH. We climbed into the truck and galloped over to saloon.

I ordered the New York Strip and it was the most delicious steak I had ever eaten in my entire life. Seriously!!!! I have eaten steaks all over the Country and in other Countries but this steak was perfection on a plate. I ordered my steak medium and it was sumptuous, tender and juicy. It was so amazing, I would drive back to Montana just to enjoy another one and drive back home. Think Pam will join me?

Pam had a filet well done, of course, and she enjoyed hers too. I don’t know what they did to the baked potatoes but mmmmmm mmmmm that potato was tasty and had just the right baked potato texture.

We wanted to buy some steaks but our freezer was full. It’s a tiny freezer so it doesn’t take much to overflow. We bought what we could fit, some frozen Math Farms burgers, to take to share with the family. I hope they taste as delicious as the steaks.

The wind was so strong and powerful that night we could have unhitched our trailer from the truck and the trailer would have blown to North Dakota.

2 Nights In Minot, ND

We survived the winds and left for North Dakota the next day. We were here for 2 nights and neither one of us could remember a thing about the place. That is a little scary. What the heck did we do there.?

Folks, if I ever remember how we spent our time at Roughrider Campground, I will be sure to let you know. The only thing I remember… Nope, that was the next night. Sorry. Don’t remember a thing. By the way, we did learn that you pronounce it My Knot, ND.

1 Night in Erskine, Minnesota

2 Annes Campground was very unusual. I don’t know where the 2 Annes live but we never saw any Annes. It’s kind of a self serve park. When we arrived there was a sign that said go to your assigned space. That was it. That was all the information.

There was 1 couple outside their campsite. They came up and introduced themselves to us. They said that the campground is empty except for the weekends then it fills up with their Christian group and they all celebrate the Lord. They didn’t know where Anne was either.

Apple Valley, Minnesota

We made it to our campground near my nephew where we were excited to spend a full 5 nights. You know how we hate 1 and 2 nighters. They are tough on the body and soul.

In fact, Pam was not feeling well when we arrived. I think she was run down from all the travel and the 40 degree temperature differences each day. I made her some chicken soup, hot tea and she went to bed for a much needed rest. We were supposed to see Dan and the family that night but we needed to “lay low” as our friend Lorie would say.

I hate to say it but we don’t have any pictures of our time in Minnesota or with the family. It was a very busy time.

On the day after our arrival, we had an appointment in Redwood Falls, Mn. It was a 2 hour drive each way. Sometimes you have to do these things. We got back from our travels with time to visit Dan and the family for a short evening. We promised to return the next day.

The next day, Pam went to a salon and got a new hairdo (does anybody use that term anymore?). Luckily, I still recognize her and her hair looks super keeno beano.

Dan prepared a big slab of cod for dinner. It had been weeks since we had fish so I really loved it. We all enjoyed the new outdoor sauna that they installed. And we spent the night. We slept; my nephew was awake most of the night smoking a brisket for dinner. Oh man did that big slab o beef smell good.

The next day Pam took her truck for a much needed oil change after 7000 miles on the road. I hung out at the house and worked on the blog. I didn’t want to leave you too far behind. Later in the day, Dov and I played War when he arrived home from school. I didn’t win.

We ate mouthwatering brisket tacos for dinner on the porch. Dan’s sleepless, smokey night had a yummy pay out. It was a beautiful night. We enjoyed the tacos so much that we played tacos and burritos after dinner. Dov was the big winner. I didn’t win.

It was already our last day with the family. Time went way too quickly. Dan and Jack were a little under the weather. Pam and I went back to the camper to prepare for tomorrow’s early departure.

We returned to the Greenberg family home with pizzas and salad. We had fun playing another round of 5 handed War and Dan came home from work and we all played Tacos and Burritos. I didn’t win. Do you sense a theme?

I never like to say goodbye but we had to go. Bye Jack, Bye Dov, Bye Connie, Bye Dan. Love you.

Wisconsin is the next stop. I have heard of the Wisconsin Dells but I have no idea what they are. Come along and we’ll find out together.