Tuesday, August 8, 2017, International Peace Garden

Day 89

After 3 quiet nights at the Regina Walmart, we departed and finally started to head east and back towards home some 2,600 miles away if we were to head straight back. Of course, we are not headed straight back as there are many more places to see. After a long, flat road, we entered Manitoba, changed our clocks to central time and stopped at the visitor center. We inquired about Churchill, MB, which was to be our trip highlight to see the beluga whales in Hudson Bay and take a tundra buggy ride to maybe see some polar bears. The plan was to abandon the coach for a few days and take the train from Winnipeg to Churchill as there are no roads to Churchill.  The visitor center aide informed us the train tracks washed away a few months ago and repairs have not begun as there is a dispute as to who is responsible to do such. The only contact with Churchill is by plane, roundtrip over $2,300 per person. So long Churchill. In reality, we pretty much wrote off Churchill when my research revealed the train ride was 48 hours long each way. We continued on a long, flat road and finally reached our destination about 4:30, the International Peace Garden (“IPG”). We checked into the IPG campground (30 amp and water). The IPG commemorates the friendship between Canada and the USA but is not a part of either country. Comprised of over 2300 acres it includes 150,000 flowering annuals that line the 49th parallel (the boundary between the 2 countries), a flower clock, carillon bell tower, chapel and 911 memorial. The Interpretive Center and Conservatory house over 6,000 cacti, succulents and orchids. After dinner we visited the IPG and walked the 1.5 miles of gardens. The weather was perfect as the sun was setting and best of all we found ourselves alone, the only ones in the gardens. Inside the chapel was very peaceful; music playing while we read famous quotes etched in the stone throughout the interior. The setting in the gardens was well, peaceful. And very enjoyable. We did take the obligatory photos of us straddling the 49th parallel, that is standing in both countries at the same time. 

After the gardens, we drove the perimeter road and saw a rabbit, skunk and deer.