After 9 nights in Minnesota, we headed out yesterday to North Dakota. After 7 nights at a private campground on Kabetogama Lake we drove west to Detroit Lakes MN where we stayed in a golfing RV park with all the luxuries. It had a nice pool, laundry facilities and even a hot tub.

What struck me most about Minnesota, apart from the wild vastness of the lakes and islands, the eagles and abundant fish, was the people. A friendlier, more polite groups of folks I never have met. Riding bikes in International Falls drivers would back away from the intersections just to let us pass. Everyone waved. Everyone greeted us with a “hello” or a “good morning.” And in Detroit Lakes, a campground neighbor brought us over some dessert hobo pies and told us a bit of her life story.

I’m used to Midwest polite. Michiganders are a friendly group of folks too, but Minnesotans elevated it to an art form. It was really great to spend a week among them and I hope to carry some of that forward in my travels as we keep heading west.