Today’s trip was all in North Dakota…from Minot to Grand Forks
On our way to a city named f Lakota
we made a stop in the little town of Rugby, North Dakota.
Rugby has a valued place in the hearts and minds of cartographic esoterica…because Rugby, North Dakota is known
as the geographical center of North America.
Rugby’s celebration of this fact is subtle…
apparently this distinguished fact Rugby is not one to flaunt.
Its true they built a rock obelisk to commemorate this fact
but it sits outside a Mexican restaurant.
As we stopped to take a picture…and were searching for the best shot
another car with tourists just like us pulled into the parking lot.
This is how we met Pat and Sherry…which on this trip has become a familiar scenario.
They were returning form their place in Texas…to their home in Ontario.
We took each other’s photos…made sure to catch each other’s smiles
And then we stood around, as travelers do,
and talked with one another for a while.
And though we started out two sets of strangers…
two unlikely pairs…
we shared with them a little about our life, our travels…
and they shared with us…a little about theirs.
After spending a few minutes together at the beginning this day
we wished each other safe travels…and all went on our way.
And now Pat and Sherry…hold a place in our Great Northern Trip esoterica…
friends we made while standing…in the center of North America