I recently came across an article about 3 old men who decided to take a journey from Minnesota to Alaska and when I found out how, my jaw dropped!

3 old men (as they call themselves on their Facebook page) from Minnesota have decided to not only snowmobile from Minnesota to Alaska, but to document it and bring us along to share some history. And this trek is a whopping 4,000-mile-long journey!

A Facebook post shares that Rex Hibbert (70), Rob Hallstrom (65), and Paul Dick (72) are all long-time snowmobilers who all having been riding for 50+ years. "Paul and Rex have been in many long-distance snowmobile races, and Rob is a lifelong outdoor adventurer who participated in “Cain’s Quest” snowmobile challenges in 2011 and 2012."

The 3 old men started their journey to Alaska on the morning of March 6th, but they have been planning this journey for a long time. I honestly recommend going through their Facebook as they share details of everything including the way they are getting to Alaska, the history of the places they visit, and even the type of snowmobiles and tools they are using.

They shared in a Facebook post that the idea came up through a conversation back in 2019!

“The three of us (Rob, Paul, and Rex) decided to ride from Grand Rapids, MN to Churchill, Manitoba. We had a lot of fun when we went on that trip; one night in the midst of that adventure, we sat around talking about how we were going to top it, and what would be next on our adventure list. Ideas started spinning and the concept of riding to Alaska came up.”

 

After researching and waiting due to COVID limitations, they finally decided this spring would be the time and started planning their route which spans nearly 4,000 miles from Grand Rapids, MN to Fairbanks, Alaska.

What I love about their journey is that a key part is understanding the rich history and backstories to help piece together the route toward Alaska.

And of course, they give many updates on where they are, how long they have traveled, whom they have met along the way, and even what some of their meals are!

Currently, they just gave an update that today marks day 15, and they are now headed to Hay River!

So give them a follow and check in to see how their journey is going and what history they have to share!

All information is credited to their Facebook page.

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own. 

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

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