Rugby and International Peace Gardens

We left early this morning for the hundred plus mile trip to the International Peace Gardens. Another beautiful day, there were a few high clouds in the sky with temperatures in the high seventies.  For the first part of the trip, the land was flat with not much to see.  The few "towns" we see are small and not very prosperous looking.  It is mostly farmland with a few lakes.  As we approached Rugby to the west, there were a few places with rolling hills but then it flattened out again.  I like the wide open vistas but they can get monotonous after awhile.  The road to Rugby is U.S. Route 2 which goes from coast to coast and starts at the border with New Brunswick in Houlton, Maine, Ted's hometown.  Rugby is the geographic center of North America and there is a monument with flags of the United States, Canada and Mexico.  We stopped for a photo op and met a woman from North Dakota who is moving to Maine in a couple of weeks.  We chatted with her for awhile and headed north.

Windy Day

It was windy and the seventy plus windmills (that's as high as I could count before we got too far by) were really spinning.  Turning in Dunseith, we spied Wee'l, the world's largest turtle.  It is made from over two thousand wheel rims.

Wee'l

After another photo op, the road started climbing toward the turtle mountains.  They call them mountains but we would just call them big hills.  I guess it is all relative.

The entrance to the International Peace Gardens is between the Canadian and American customs checkpoints.  In 1932 it was dedicated to the two nations' long and peaceful coexistence.  Many of its roads, bridges and shelters were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  The park has grown over time and now consists of over two thousand acres of gardens, forest, manicured landscapes, fountains, walking paths and several monuments and memorials.  There are three driving loops but we decided to walk the paths in the central section instead of driving.

With one foot in North Dakota and one in Manitoba, our first photos were of the length of the mall from the fountains and formal garden nearby to the peace tower and chapel in the distance.  Two small beds of newly planted petunias and a few rows of daffodils were the only color to be seen in the formal garden.  We later learned that they don't start planting annuals until after June 1 to avoid late frosts.  The garden is surrounded by high wrought iron fences not to keep people out but to prevent white tail deer from decimating it.

Border Between Two Countries

CCC Picnic Shelter in Background

Once past the garden we continued up the hill toward the tall Peace Tower, which reminded me of the twin towers.  We passed by the Carillon Bell Tower which sadly was silent.  We had to walk around the area of the Peace Tower as they were doing some construction maintenance on it. 

Peace Tower

Behind the tower is the Peace Chapel.  It consists of one square room with marble plaques on three sides with inspirational quotes.  The yellow glass on the front made it look sunny and inviting and soothing music was playing.  It really was a peaceful place to be.

Peace Chapel

Walking down the American side of the three quarter mile walkway, we came to a memorial to 9/11.  In a circular area there were several pieces of girders and cement from the World Trade Center.  Several interpretive signs describing the event and its effects on mankind were nearby.  One poem written by a young man was especially moving.

9/11 Memorial

Adjacent to the formal gardens on the American side was the Interpretive Center.  There is a conservatory consisting of three large rooms full of cacti and succulents from all over the world.  One display had plants from Madagascar, strange, interesting plants which only grow on that island.  I have always been fascinated by cacti so took lots of pictures.  We had lunch in the cafeteria, browsed the gift shop and returned to the car for the two three and a half mile loops through the park.  

We started on the Manitoba side which was mostly forested with several lakes and picnic areas.  The leaves are barely budding out but we suspect that they were aspens or some close relative.  The Peace Tower was visible over the trees in many places along the route.

Peace Tower from Manitoba

On the American side we stopped at the North American Game Warden Museum.  Around the outside there were plaques dedicated to the service of various game wardens from both Canada and the United States.  At the rear were monuments with plaques representing each state and province listing the people who had died in service.  Maine had fifteen names, more than almost any other place. 

Memorial to Fallen Game Wardens

 Inside there were stuffed animals and furs from a large variety of places.  All of the animals (and fish) had been confiscated from people who had possessed them illegally or were trying to transport them across the border illegally.  It was hard to believe the size of the mountain lion and the timber wolf but the Kodiak bear was the largest.  I certainly wouldn't want to run into one of them in the wild.

Two Old Grizzlies

Once we left the museum, we returned to the Interpretive Center where there was a jam session planned for two o'clock.  People from both countries showed up with their guitars, mandolins and bass fiddle and sat in a circle facing each other.  They took turns playing their songs and singing while all the others played along.  After we had listened to most of the dozen people we started for home.  We had to pass through American customs so I was glad I had grabbed our passports.

For more photos see: https://picasaweb.google.com/115859097710257188914/May242014InternationalPeaceGardens?authkey=Gv1sRgCIG5kdzqrrHB-gE