Aishling the Airstream Update No. 086

 Okay --> This is THE BIG ONE

 

the INTERNATIONAL RALLY in Minot North Dakota - 

  Airstream holds a large gathering each year in different parts of the country and usually has 800-1000 trailers attend...

 

So, okay - I probably took 600+ photos this week - 

and I just grabbed a few to share... in no particular order -

  

This photo probably sums up camping in Minot for me - We were in a fairground with at least 1,000 other trailers and constant wind and a fine dust in the air 

All. Day. Long.

That bandana is not a fashion statement - it was a needed accessory as I'd had a little asthma thing going on since June....

 

International is a convention of sorts with great vendors available to check out things on your trailer, sell you stuff [why not?!] and generally answer any questions you might have. [Truly a great resource!] There are workshops, and gatherings, artsy classes, and lots of fun activities. Here we go -->

 

It always starts with opening ceremonies - where each club president is introduced as they bring in their flag - Craig did a great job and wore the traditional white shirt, dark pants, and blue beret.

 

It was a fun evening.

 

This is Craig with other presidents from our region -

Region 6 = Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, 

and the panhandle of Florida. 

 

Another evening we had Theodore Roosevelt come up from his National Park to visit with us and share how much he loved this land...

Of course that was the evening of the big storm - SO MUCH WIND and flooding... we got there late... and were so glad we were able to see him! 

 

Craig and I did a presentation about hosting a rally [a camping weekend] at the local level - called Let's Flamingle - ha 

 

This is our second year doing this and they were quite prepared for our classroom of 60+ [we had seats for maybe 15 - but kept bringing chairs in from rooms close-by.] We just do a fun overview that people seem to enjoy [Craig says it's mostly because we aren't' trying to sell them something - lol.]

 Side Note: We rode our bikes everywhere.

LOVE THEM.

We also met up with friends from our Alabama Club throughout the week - and enjoyed hosting them at the Prairie Sky Breads for breakfast one morning. 

 

But that wind - y'all.

Plus a reaction to the meds I was given...

It was A LOT - ha. 

i eventually got some over-the-counter stuff that worked. [yay.] 

 

Another fun night we enjoyed was the Airstream Prom from 7-9.

Complete with Prom Photos! 

Of course we had to get photos together too!!

[Confession: The dress is a thrifty find [8$] and the bow tie, corsage and boutonniere are from The Amazon. Pearls are my mama's.]

 

We took the time to visit around Minot...shopping, eating local, and enjoying their Scandinavian Heritage. Pretty cool area - 

 

There is always a fund-raiser tea and this year's theme was the mad-hatter.

Everyone attending wore a fancy Alice themed hat / outfit.

 

Peter and Craig dressed as Boy Scouts 

and gave roses out to some of the attendees.... 

  

I love this crazy man of mine!

[they came up with the idea on their own!] 

 

Alas... the week was BUSY and went by quickly...

We enjoyed visiting with good friends, friends we don't see often enough and new friends that we know we'll keep in touch with... 

 The moon the night before we left was gorgeous.

 

And the rainbow the next morning was perfect.

Minot is called The Magic City and earned this nickname because a tent town of around 5,000 people sprung up practically overnight in 1886 when the Great Northern Railway paused track construction for the winter. Its explosive, near-instantaneous growth made the development seem like magic.

 So many friends were headed on to National Parks... but we needed to go towards home. So glad these guys were headed in the same direction! 

[I'll share more about our next stop soon!]

So - Fairground Camping: We've done it before with no problem - so I know my issues were my own [breathing] situation - We actually had a great area with a tent for all the Vintage Airstream events to happen right across from us [I was volunteer coordinator for most of those things...] and we had a bath and shower house within waking distance that stayed mostly nice and clean.

We'd definitely go back to this venue. 

This part of North Dakota is beautiful. 

#HardwickAdventures 

 

2026 - Week - 44 Thursday Three

1. We had a wonderful weekend in Natchez with our Airstream friends -

2. Rode our bikes on the river trail AND on the levee - beautiful weather!

3. And we watched deer meander along the water at dusk at Persimmon Hill - one of our [new] favorite places!

 

PS --> soc photo bc a fresh haircut is always nice.

Aishling the Airstream Update No. 085

 

 Ft. Stevenson State Park

Garrison, North Dakota 

 

It's Rendezvous time 

for the Vintage Airstream Club! 

And Garrison welcomed us with open arms! 

 

They even sent the Wally Trolley out to greet us! 

Which we loved because the ACI is really the Wally Byum Caravan Club International... Of course their trolley is named after the walleye FISH that is caught in the waters surrounding the park... 

 

Rendezvous is a the VAC's camping event that is held each year just before the BIG Airstream International Rally. Our VAC Officers did a good job pulling it all together this year in spite of some of the challenges faced -

 

 

And I just have to say that one of THE BEST things about rendezvous  

is gathering with friends you haven't seen in A WHILE and  

dropping back into conversations like we talked just yesterday. 

 

It's just pretty cool to see...

And we gave everyone plenty of time to visit during the  

meal gatherings we had on-site.

 

The weather was PERFECT -

even the flies and bees loved being out with us! 

 

And, OMGOODNESS - Ft. Stevenson State Park is GORGEOUS!  

We took some time to ride bikes around the park  - it's huge! From their website:

  

Fort Stevenson State Park is nestled in the bluffs along the north shore of Lake Sakakawea. With miles of trails, a wide variety of rental equipment, breath-taking views, and year-round special events, there is always something fun to do. Known as the “Walleye Capital” of North Dakota, Fort Stevenson is a preferred spot for sportsmen to experience a great day on the lake. Boaters will find excellent facilities, including two marinas with boat ramp access, boat rentals, and fish cleaning facilities. The park is named after a late 1800’s fort that served as a supply depot for other military posts in the Dakota Territory. Park visitors can learn about the military past by visiting the park museum... They have 174 full hook-up camp sites, 302 electric only sites, as well as tent sites, yurts and cabins for rent... 

And - PRAIRIE DOGS!

How fun is that?

 

And Buffalo!

[Just kidding!]

These are sculptures at the museum... 

 

We also enjoyed the countryside around Garrison... 

 

corn and sunflower fields EVERYWHERE!

 

And Happy anniversary to us - They have a Dairy Queen in town so we took a moment to get a blizzard and enjoy the sunset together - 

 

Although sunrise was pretty also!

Our busy days started with this weekend and continued for the next week - 

All wonderful and fun - 

 

It was nice to have a few days to relax with friends... 

Ft. Stevenson State Park - 

Clean and beautiful - sites were great!

The marina and pavilions were wonderful - had a snack bar and ice cream on site... Cell and Internet was great... The town is nice and the park had a couple of gift shops too. We'd definitely stay there again should we ever be in the area again!  

PS - the bandana is not a fashion statement - lol - my cough was almost continuous from the wind and dust bowling around and I had to do whatever I could to protect myself...

2026 - Week - 43 Thursday Three

 

1. So. We've been easing down The Trace [what we've always called The Natchez Trace Parkway where we grew up...] with 31, or so, of our Airstream friends...

2. And it's been fun sharing together, getting to know each other, and watching friendships grow.

3. We've settled in Natchez for a few days [loving our campground right across the bridge!!] and we're all enjoying this beautiful area -

Side Note: after learning all about the foot traffic along The Natchez Trace back in the day...I can't help but marvel at the barges we're seeing on The Mighty Mississippi...

#HardwickAdventures

Aishling the Airstream Update No. 084

 

Lazy Fish at Pelican Point

Jamestown, North Dakota

 

We took the long way there - and had a blast doing it!

 

Our little caravans leaders enjoy the journey! 

And we drove through beautiful countryside! 

[The joys -- and fun -- of having someone else take your photo -]

First stop: Big Ole THE WORLD'S LARGEST VIKING -is a 28-foot-tall, 4-ton fiberglass Viking statue located in Alexandria, Minnesota. Key Details: Height and Weight: Stands 28 feet tall and weighs approximately 8,000 pounds (4 tons).

  

History: Built in 1965 by artist Gordon Schumaker for the Minnesota display at the New York World’s Fair before finding a permanent home in Alexandria. The Shield: Features an inscription proclaiming Alexandria as the "Birthplace of America," a nod to local lore surrounding the disputed Kensington Runestone.

  

Location: Situated at the south shore of Lake Agnes, near the Runestone Museum... 

Next was THE WORLD'S LARGEST COOT - oh my -it's a 10-foot-tall concrete roadside statue located at the trap range in Ashby, MN, Location: Ashby Trap Range in Ashby, Minnesota.Size: Stands 10 feet tall.

    

History: Built in 1991 by artist Steve Morgan for the local Ashby Coot Feed. Material: Made of concrete, which made its wings heavy and required extra structural bracing... 

 

Next we stopped to see Otto the Otter - 

in Fergus Falls, MN  

The world's largest otter started his life as a high school shop project.

In the county seat of Otter Tail County, for more than 50 years, Otto has stood sentry over Grotto Lake, as the beloved mascot of the city.

 

 Like most great works of art, Otto began his life as a high school shop project, the brainchild of shop teacher Tom Willett, who wanted to create something special for Fergus Falls’s centennial in 1972. Unfortunately, the first version of Otto was…an otter disaster. Steve Jaenisch, a metal artist who went on to create a number of sculptures around town, finished the job and made sure Otto would last for generations to come.

  

Today, the 40-foot-long otter sculpture stands proudly in Adams Park, overlooking the lake. The quaint city park also includes a ballfield, a playground, and picnic tables, including one that is often placed tantalizingly close to Otto. 

SO MANY PRECIOUS LITTLE TOWNS...

 

 We took a break at the sweetest little cafe - The Purple Goose Cafe & Eatery 

 

It was so odd to me that when I asked for a sweet potato or sweet potato fries...

it came with marshmallow creme.

 Alas -

Back on the road... 

 

Driving through cornfields... and sunflower fields...

And we soon saw  The World's Largest Prairie Chicken ,

[That's the best photo I got - lol -]

 a giant roadside statue located in Rothsay, Minnesota. Height: 13 feet tall Length: 18 feet long Weight: 9,000 pounds Creator: Built by resident Art Fosse Year Built: 1976 for the U.S. Bicentennial  

 The "Booming" pose: The statue shows a male greater prairie chicken doing its spring mating dance. It puffs out bright orange air sacs on its neck. 

Next up - The World's Largest Buffalo - in Jamestown, ND  

Located at the end of Louis L'Amour Lane, the World's Largest Buffalo Monument stands tall on the hill [up a dirt road] in Jamestown, ND. 

 

[There is another route...]

This 26-foot-tall, 60-ton concrete giant has been standing watch over Jamestown since 1959. Created by sculptor Elmer Petersen, he has proven one of the Midwest's most popular roadside attractions for over 50 years. 

 

In 2010, the World's Largest Buffalo received his name; Dakota Thunder. The North American Bison Discovery Center and live herd of Buffalo and the Frontier Village are also on site.

It was pretty cool.

But I think we were all 'beat' and ready to settle in for the night... When we got Lazy Fish at Pelican Point - the sites were not marked well... in fact. ours seemed to be just a pull off / back in on the grass right on the water. [I was concerned it was a tent site...]

 

It took a bit, but we got level and set up and invited everyone to bring their dinner to the [playground] pavilion right next to our site. SO FUN to have Mike and Patty [from our local club] join us - Seriously - meeting people we know [and even airstreamers we don't know] along the way was one of the most fun things as we traveled to and from North Dakota... 

 

The landscape / view from our site was awesome...

 And it was nice to just relax after our busy day. 

 

And look!

I'm in SWEATSHIRT. 

In AUGUST. 

 

G'Night y'all - 

We've got a busy week ahead...

 

So, Lazy Fish at Pelican Point:

Beautiful view... sites are difficult...

Good cell / internet.

We didn't go to the Bath House but it was reported to be nasty.

We might choose a different place if we're out this way again.

#HardwickAdventures 

PS --> It was 50 degrees the morning we left.

Yes. PLEASE.