50 States Complete

Completion of 50 State Program

I have completed the 50 State Program at the YRE at Great Falls, MT on June 21. Mom and I along with walking friends Roberta and Gene Ganske formerly of Arnold, MD and now retired to Northfield, MN completed the trip on a driving tour from St. Paul, Mn through North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. Mom has completed walks
in 47 states and will complete the 50 next year with a trip to Washington
and Oregon and one nearer to home for Connecticutt. The Fons' started
volkssporting in Annapolis in 1989. The Great Falls walk was my 783rd
walk and Mom's 464th.

The Ganskes started volkssporting in Germany during a tour of duty there in
1976. Both the Fons' and Ganskes combine quilting and walking on their
trips. Quilt shoppers have no 50 state program but the ladies have visited
quilt shops in equivalent numbers should one be initiated.

Beautiful scenery was enjoyed on the seemingly endless straight state roads
of North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota and the hillier roads of
Minnesota. Interesting stops were made at the National Parks and Monuments
along the way including Theodore Roosevelt Park, the Enchanted Highway,
Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower in Wyoming.

Our stay included the Boot Hill Cemetary outside Billings, MT and a nice
walk up the butte overlooking the Yellowstone River Valley. Really enjoyed
the animals along the way, lots of antelope, mule and whitetail deer,
pheasants and a few bison. Even a family of magnificent Sandhill Cranes
along the road in Montana. The walk up the trail to Black Otter Trail Park
in Billings included the rising sun shining through the ears of a young
jackrabbit just a few feet away.

We concluded the trip with a walk in Buffalo, Wyoming and a friendly local
event in Flandrau State Park, New Ulm, MN. Where but in volkssporting could
you enjoy such a week?

Dad