We loaded up the car with our newly-bought treasures, and headed back for the road. Once again eschewing the major highways, we took a little state route out of town. We tooled along for a while in the sun, enjoying our last ride in the beautiful car. We stopped to look at a beautiful lake, and to pick up some rocks for my friend Jess, who's a geologist by trade, and got to read a little plaque about how Minnesota came to be the land of 10,000 lakes (despite keeping careful count, we only saw about 30). Oh, and it was the glaciers, in case you're curious. And we drove through some of the tiniest towns I've ever seen, including bustling Deer Creek with an overwhelming 303 residents. See?

After driving for a while, we got a wee bit lost. And as time was drawing short (it's a really long drive between Fargo and Minneapolis), we backtracked a little and got onto the interstate. Which turned into a stop and go parking lot almost immediately. So we hopped off the highway again. Probably not the best of choices, since we ended up on a little tiny road, with lots of slow people, and a little too much traffic to ever be able to pass. And time was getting even shorter.

We quickly realized we wouldn't make the plane, and determined that we should try and find out if there's a later flight. So we find the one place in rural Minnesota where either of our cell phones work, and call. Good news? There's a later flight. Bad news? It doesn't take off until 10:30 and gets into Boston in the incredibly wee hours of the morning. Then we call back and find out our flight is delayed. Woohoo! And to think, I'd been bothered by Northwest's dismal on-time percentages when we booked the flight!

With this further incentive, we go just a little faster, and get to Minneapolis. Now to find a gas station. We get off at the one that makes it the most impossible to get back on the highway, but finally get ourselves back there. Get to the airport, figure out where to return the beautiful car, and bid it a sad (but quick) goodbye, and bolt through the car rental area, onto the shuttle bus, through the terminal, to the check-in desk where we find out the flight hasn't taken off, and we actually made it! I don't think I've ever been so glad to have a late flight in my life.

We make it to the gate, board the plane, get all settled in, and head for home. I stitched on one of my new projects all the way home, and I think Carrie did too. All told, it was a wonderful weekend, and I know I'm looking forward to going back, if the little widget will permit my absence for a weekend.

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