Tobacco Gardens Resort
Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota
June 30, 2023

Dear Family & Friends:

After a strenuous day of paddling, we arrived at Tobacco Gardens Resort at 2pm on June 28. Peggy  Hellandsaas greeted us at the dock. Peggy owns and manages the Resort. We were thirsty and exhausted, so Peggy served us cold beer at the Cafe.

Peggy has owned Tobacco Gardens Resort since 2008. (The Resort got its name from a plant that was used by the Indians to make tobacco) The Resort includes the North, South and West parks, with 180 RV hookups. This is a clean, first class and well managed Resort. Remarkably, it is totally free of mosquitos. Peggy is a hardworking, industrious and generous entrepreneur, with a friendly and engaging personality. She is the “go to” person for all things Lake Sak. The is a must stop if you are ever nearby.

Peggy organized a wonderful bbq dinner with residents and staff. Joe cooked burgers on a grill and we enjoyed burgers, salad, chips and water. St. Louis Bill and I slept soundly on beds in the bunk house. We took a rest day on June 29. In the morning, Peggy invited us to the Cafe for a fantastic breakfast cooked by Jane. While we rested and explored, Peggy laundered our dirty clothes. She is expecting a big crowd for the 4th of July and has planned lots of fun activities.I wish we could be here for this celebration.

Chloe, my niece Rachel’s daughter, and her children, Brooklyn & Mateo, drove 2 hours to visit me at the Resort. I was so glad to see them. You may recall Rachel saw me off at Three Forks, Montana on May 22. Chloe, Brooklyn, Mateo & I enjoyed an early dinner and I gave them a tour of the Resort. Chloe told me she and Kevin are expecting their third child in late November-a daughter.

At 8pm, Peggy took Bill & I to the Birnt Hills Memorial site. This is where Meriweather Lewis was accidentally shot in the thigh  by a member of the expedition while they were hunting an elk. He recovered, but was plagued by this injury for the rest of his life. The shooter denied responsibility for firing the shot.

Today, we received a FedEx delivery of food and supplies from Beth, St. Louis Bill’s wife. Thanks Beth!

We are currently at the most northern part of the Missouri River. Tomorrow, we resume our journey on Lake Sak. It’s 120 miles to the Garrison Dam. This will be hard paddling with constant winds. This may be my last post for awhile.

Peggy at the dock

Bunk house

BBQ

Peggy (L) & Jane

Tobacco Garden Breakfast Club

Brooklyn, Bill, Chloe & Mateo

Bill holding sketches made for him by Brooklyn & Mateo

Birnt Hills Memorial Site

North Dakota is Oil Country