Pat took us to the Camp Ripley Military Museum about 20 miles south of Brainerd at Camp Ripley. a large base housing mainly National Guard. It was a very interesting visit as it was the might of the Americans from the Civil War right up to current times. I was most interested in how it all started and why and the Civil War room had been newly built to provide this. Another interesting aspect for me was reading about WW1 and WW2 and the American take on this. Seeing this from others points of view gives a very different picture and different thought processes about how things are seen in another part of the world with a different culture. We had an enjoyable couple of hours browsing around. It wasn't as hot today, so pleasant walking around the old vehicles, tanks and helicopters on show outside.
When Emily and Zac returned from work we had a totally different experience! In Brainerd's Northern Arboretum they were holding a food picnic and pig racing event. This was pure fun. Local restaurants and shops were plying their wares and giving out free tidbits and alcohol. We tried beer, chocolate beer ( which appears to be popular and in vogue at the moment), flavoured vodka (white cake flavour!), wine, cheeses, pasta, ices. Stan even had a free massage from the local chiropractor!
The pig racing was great! About six piglets at a time ran around a wire enclosed track. It was the guy that was running it that really made the whole event. He was full of energy and got the crowd excited. There was no betting and no prizes. Just a laugh and the excitement of seeing these little pigs running around a track looking as though they were having a good time. Not sure that they were but the audience certainly were - good old fashioned fun. An experience we hadn't had before and very different to the turtle racing at Nisswa.
Back to a bar to have a drink and yet more snacks ...and the end of yet another day in the USA.
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