The drive from Calgary to Minot, North Dakota, was interesting, at one point, there was a lot of snow on the ground, and at another, there was more of it. It was odd that it was only in these two places.
Crossing the border wasn’t quite the warm Canadian hug I’d hoped for.
“What’s in your luggage?”
“What’s in your trunk?”
“Open your trunk!”
“Got any marijuana, cannabis, THC, CBD, alphabet soup?”
“Any alcohol? Tobacco? Fruit? Meat? Uncooked meat?”
Apparently, smuggling a raw brisket into North Dakota is frowned upon. But no detainment, no cavity search, just a mild grilling (pun intended). Chalk it up as a win. 😎
Minnesota: Poker, Prayer, and Fender Benders
I made it to Minnesota and caught up with my good friend Dale. First, we mingled with some spiritual folks, then we played some Texas Hold'em. Because nothing says enlightenment like praying and bluffing.
That night, we grabbed a late dinner and caught up, it's always good to reconnect with a longtime friend.
The next morning, Dale took me to his private club, he's been a member for over 52 years. That’s right, he’s been a member longer than some trees have been alive. The building itself has been around since 1942.
After that, I visited the St. Paul Cathedral. It was serene, beautiful, and very grand, but if I’m being honest, it’s no St. Louis Cathedral. That one set the holy bar so high, St. Paul might need a divine step stool.
On my way to Minnehaha Falls, a woman pulled out of a Walgreens parking lot, cross two lanes of traffic, slid into the left lane, and then decided the right lane (where I was driving straight) looked cozy. “Everyone else let me through,” she insisted.
Yeah… except me. The cop heard both sides. Her damage was on the front. Mine? Starts after the front tire where she hit me.
Deer: 1
Crazy Lady: 1
Al’s Cars: 0
Later that night, Dale and I hit up Mystic Lake Casino. I played roulette: up, down, sideways, like the stock market in Vegas. Ended the night just $15 down, not losing hardly any money in a casino is definitely a win!
The next day, I dropped off my damaged car at the airport, picked up a new one, and headed to Kentucky. The drive itself was uneventful. The most notable moments were a massive Jesus-sized cross on the horizon and a sky that tried briefly to impress me at sunset.
I worked very hard not to hit any deer, although I saw plenty of them lurking by the roadside, looking suspicious. I tucked in behind a tractor trailer like I was drafting in NASCAR and let it pull me all the way to my hotel.
From Paducah, I drove to Ringgold, Georgia, to visit my good friends Kim and Phillip. I’ve really missed these two and had such a great time catching up.
We had a couple of really great lunches, and a couple of good dinners.
Phillip and I watched the MLB All-Star Game (Philip was almost up till midnight!) , went to Lookout Point, Rock City, Point Park, and Ruby Falls. We got to see some really beautiful views. Ruby falls, was very interesting, especially the story behind it, but...
It was also great seeing Sophie, Fergie, and Maisie, the four-legged family members. Fergie was normally hanging with Kim or barking at me. 😎
I got a big kick how we kept going between Georgia and Tennessee multiple times in a day, even in a trip we would go to Tennessee back to Georgia then the Tennessee again.
After spelunking at Ruby Falls, Phillip and I headed to Main Street Meats, a place recommended by our good friend Gene, who used to live in the Georgia mountains and apparently knows where all the best burger joints! It really was an amazing burger, grilled to perfection.
The last night, we had a great dinner which was top-tier comfort food, courtesy of Kim, who really outdid hersel, pulled pork, perfectly cooked broccoli, and homemade mac and cheese that could win awards.
I’ve really enjoyed my time with Kim and Phillip. It’s been a fun and meaningful visit. I’ve missed them so much since they left Tallahassee, and spending this time together reminded me just how special they are. Being with good friends like that is hard to beat.
After spending some quality time with Phillip and Kim (and Fergie barking at me with love), I hit the road, right into the joyful chaos that is Atlanta traffic. But eventually... home sweet home!
Well, sort of.
Because now, after a week at work, I’m flying out to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho to pick up my car and drive it back across the country. This is the final bookend of my epic journey.
Will the return trip be interesting? Who knows. Maybe I’ll write daily updates. Maybe I’ll just sum it all up at the end with, “It was long. I drove. The end.”
This time, I’m taking a different route back, but no time for sightseeing, no detours, no side quests. Just me, the road, and a mission: get back to work. Because as much as I’d love another adventure, the paycheck calls. 😎
