On our way to Canada

After spending the week with the Redi employees in Minot, ND, we decided to head to Canada just so we could get another stamp in our passports (we didn't get stamped!).  We had heard that the Peace Gardens were pretty and we should see them.  These pictures show some of the things we saw on our way to the border.

Did you know that the center of North America was in ND?!

Rugby looked like a cute town but we didn't stop too long....just grabbed a few pics of the area.  This sculpture had to do with the Northern Lights.  The tall tower in the background is part of a western town attraction.

North Dakota had alot of sunflower fields.  It was fun when we saw the big ones though we heard that with the wet spring these weren't near as big as they usually were in past summers.

Bed and Breakfast

Since the flood in Minot, hotel rooms were few and far between.  We were staying there for a week so Jay could view the operations going on there with Redi.  I was able to secure a couple of days in one hotel and then Jay was able to get another day there but in between those days we had to find somewhere else to stay one night.  Jay found a bed and breakfast about 50 miles away.  If there had been something closer, we would have stayed in it but no luck.  We were fortunate that this place had an opening.

The place was very out of the way.  Farming countryside.  We woke up to a heavy mist surrounding us.  That went along with the story that the place was haunted (I read it online).  The owners said that was nonsense....and we didn't feel any spooks so I guess it wasn't true.  The building use to be an old school.  Downstairs was the gymnasium (didn't see it).  Upstairs were the bedrooms.   As you can see the decor was a bit over done but I was able to see if I liked an old claw footed tub.   It wasn't as comfortable as I was hoping it would be!  Breakfast was very nice.

Woke up to a foggy morning! 

What a Levy Looks like

I didn't really know what a levy was until I went to Minot.  I took some pictures to remember.  Most of these levies were near the University campus.  The flood came right up to the street in front of the college.  These levies surrounded the downtown portion of the flood area.

This was a levy surrounding several businesses and the neighboring neighborhood that was hit hard. 

Notice the levy surrounding the old church.  

Bulldozers were digging the sand and loading trucks to take the sand back to where they got it from on the days we were there.  

Part 2 of Minot flood

We were in Minot 2 months after the flood.  The only activity in the neighborhoods were a bit of cleanup still going on.  Levees were being torn down.  Levees were huge sand piles all around a neighborhood.  This was the second neighborhood we looked at.  Lots of older homes in this area.  Notice on each of the houses where the flood line was.  The zoo was closed because the animals had to be moved because it was yet another area where flooding occurred.  If you lived anywhere near the river, you were affected.



Notice how dirty the street is.

No one is living in any of these homes.  There were a few people still trying to get their possessions out to the curb so the cleanup crews could come dispose of it.

So sad to see these beautiful chairs destroyed.

A porch that was moved by the waters and now sits on a fence.

I love this sign.  The people of Minot will rebuild.  While there for the week, I had never met a friendly bunch of people.  Their homes might have been destroyed but they were coming back.

Devastation of Minot, North Dakota

Minot was hit with horrible flooding late June 2011.  If you looked at the river and then looked at the destruction, you would wonder how a small little river could cause so much damage.

These pictures don't show half the damage that we saw.  These were brand new homes and if you look closely at each house you can see the water lines on the homes.  This first house also has a FEMA trailer in front of it.  It is a trailer that you can stay in while you reconstruct your home.


Siding.  Stucco.  Whatever your home was constructed with had to come down to dry out the house.  This home belongs to a Taco John or some Taco franchise owner who built his home in the colors of his Mexican fast food place.

It was amazing to see what happens to trees that are submerged in flood water.  These trees will probably have to be dug out because of the flood.

Here is the culprit.  I can't believe that this lil' river could cause so much damage.  Yes, the river came up and over these banks.


Look closely and you can see the place the river broke through.

Home will probably have to be torn down since it is right on the other side of where the river broke through it's banks.

Living in areas where you can not grow trees too well, I was sad to think that these beautiful trees would have to be cut.

A dentist lived in this home.  He has torn his home down to it's studs since it is was the bank of the river.  The dentist has bought another home on a high hill and is leaving this home.

Not just homes were affected.

Tyson and soccer

Tyson's playing soccer

After the first game a few weeks ago, I really wondered if Tyson was going to enjoy playing soccer.  He didn't want to play or even be on the field in the first game.  I think there was a misunderstanding on how the game was played.
Jay and I went to watch him on Tuesday and what a difference we saw!  Tyson is aggressive and a great player!  If you click on the pics you can see how he is so intent on kicking the ball.  I love his lil' tongue sticking out every time he is after the ball!  I don't think any score is kept at this level (4 year olds) but I would have to say that Tyson's team pretty much dominated the game.  In fact, the other team started kicking the ball into our team's goal instead of traveling down to their goal.  Fun to watch!  Jason is the coach and he is doing a great job with the kids!