Heading North to Cooler Climates

We reluctantly finished our cruise up the Mississippi River, stopping in Greenville, Mississippi rather than Memphis. Just 200 mile short of our expected destination. The Duchess just did not have enough time to get to Memphis because of the flow of the water downstream hindering our progress and also because of the river height we couldn’t get under the final bridge. Anyway the cruise was fantastic and we were all bused to the airport, the Hotel or Graceland, Elvis’s home, where they were to start a tour. We went straight to the airport so we could fly to Minneapolis and then on to Fargo, North Dakota where we stayed with Randy and Nicole Midgarden. Philip did two hours on the bus and again vowed he would never do a bus tour and then onto a regional jet which did nothing for his headache. He was very glad when we reached Fargo.

We had a lovely evening with Randy and Nicole, enjoying the warmth inside as the snow fell outside. It certainly looks beautiful with a fresh coating of snow but is very mushy outside.

Tuesday morning (P- Judith mentioned it was a foggy morning again! Well she was correct this morning it wouldn’t wipe off the window!!) We drove up to Grand Forks and on to Minto where we met with Dexter Sitzer, Harriston Industries, before driving to Park River to see Joel Midgarden, Nicole’s dad whom we met years ago through Dobmac and became great friends with us over the years. We spent several hours with him, reminiscing about old times. While we were visiting with Joel, his other daughter, Barb also arrived to visit with him. It was great to catch up with her. It’s many years since we have seen each other, but we keep in touch via good old Facebook.

Back to Dexters for the night where we spent a lovely evening catching up, an early morning visit to Harriston before heading back down the highway to Grand Forks for a spot of shopping and then onto Fargo and back to Nicole and Randy’s.

(P- It was great to visit Harriston and revisit with the people we know there and also look at a Potato Planter that Harriston Manufacture that is based on our very own Dobmac Planter which has been a very successful product that has evolved with Dobmac over the years. Seeing one of my designs being used in the large USA potato industry gives me quite a rewarding feeling. Harriston has put the mechanism into the large American machines.)

Had a FaceTime chat with Joanne and the children, they only have one sleep to go before they start their trip to meet us in NYC. We arrive tomorrow, oh wait! We just got a message to say all flights into NYC tomorrow have been cancelled because of storms. That’s Joanne’s fault because she wanted snow when they arrived. Looks like they might get it!!!!! Our flights have been re scheduled for Friday. Three flights instead of two. We will still get there just before Joanne and Tristram arrive.

(P- I am starting to think Judith is having the odd memory lapse! She omitted to mention I went to buy a pair of walking shoes. I couldn’t find any to suit but guess what!! Judith did! The next store guess who found AND PURCHASED a very nice leather Handbag ( complete with a special Ipad zipper pocket) GUESS WHAT! The special “Ipad Pocket” was actually a concealed weapon pocket!! Fortunately the Hand gun holster is velcroed in and once removed the IPad fits. My guess is Judith will be one of the only Ladies in Tasmania with a concealed weapon handbag! I had trouble concealing my grin when we found out!

Philip also FORGOT to mention that he also bought some shoes and two t-shirts and two pair of trousers, but who is counting!!!!!!