Flooding, fascists, Fargo

OK, U.S. Customs aren't really fascists, but I needed another word that started with f to keep up the alliteration.

The GPS decided to take us a different and supposedly faster way out of the country, so we drove the (more) back roads of Saskatchewan to the border. Now, if you haven't heard, the southern part of Canada and the north-central part (west of WI) is flooded. Really, really flooded. We drove over part of the Missouri and it looked like a small inland sea instead of a large river (I could not see the other side at one point). There was water over the road in Macoun, SC... we got some interesting video (when I was actually pointing the camera at the road, which at one point I forgot to do because I was terrified). There were also temporary levies holding back the water from the road at several points, including on US 94.

Now, we crossed the border yesterday, and contrary to what Taco Bell would have you believe, crossing the border is not fun and easy. We crossed at North Portal, and they must be pretty bored there (or we look like nefarious criminals), because they decided we needed the 5th degree. We were pulled over and brought into the office; each of us was interrogated separately. Of course we told the truth about everything (yes, we've got half a head of cabbage, some onions, and a bag of jerky), and we had the same answers about everything. It was very much being treated like a criminal when you haven't actually done anything except want to get back into your country. I know we need to keep the "bad guys" out, but this was over the top. (I want to add that I don't blame the customs agents themselves for this, they seemed like ok guys) They also searched the car after the interrogation; they were pretty astounded by how full we made it. Guess they've never been camping north of the arctic circle. After all was said and done (and more than an hour had passed) they let us go, without confiscating anything. Yeesh.

The only exciting wildlife we saw yesterday were some white pelicans in ND, but after the flooding we were ok with not much excitement. (I did just identify a critter we saw at the side of the road up in BC - it was a marmot!)

We ended at the Settle Inn & Suites (thank you hotwire for making hotels affordable in the US!) in Fargo. Really nice, comfy, quiet hotel. Good free breakfast too.

Today, HOME!!