Overlooking the St. Lawrence seaway. Not a palm tree in sight.
The Fairmont Chateau Laurier over the Rideau Canal in Ottawa.
We took a tour of parliament and went back one night to watch a phenomenal light show projected onto the parliament building that told the history of Canada.
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/celebrate/mosaic
Windows at the War Museum in Ottawa are morse code, can you read the message?
Visiting the Canadian War Museum with Laura and Graeme.
As we drove down towards the docks we were greeted by a by a strikingly tall man wearing a
Handfull of taconite pellets.
Lake Superior tugboat.
The wheel took 24 rotations to move the rudder from stop to stop. The reduction gears in the steering mechanism looked like a bulletproof system of gears connecting to chains that disappeared into the hull, somehow finding their way to the rudder. In addition to the tour of his tugboat we were also given a short history of shipping on the great lakes and a handful of taconite souvenirs before going on our way.
Back in the car we continued on towards South Dakota, crossing the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, making it all the way to the badlands before calling it a day. We knew we had arrived back in the west when we were serenaded to sleep by several coyotes that evening.
Sunset over the Missouri river.
Sunrise in the badlands SD.
Badlands bighorns.
At first light we broke camp and enjoyed the sunrise over the badlands and ate our Cheerios out of a bowl on the side of the road. Next stop Mt. Rushmore. It was a good experience to see Mt. Rushmore, and an even better one, because we had just visited the homes of Washington and Jefferson. Lincoln was familiar because of his involvement in the civil war sites we had also driven past. What we didn’t know was that Roosevelt had declared our next stop the United States first national monument. Any guesses? It’s Devil’s Tower, WY.
Devils Tower, WY.
Our parting shot.
The next day we crossed the Idaho state line with a hip-hip-hurray and by 7pm were pulling into our friends driveway, The Reynolds, back home in Boise. We had been gone 365 days to the day, and what a year it has been! Ironically, these friends were the last people we saw when we left Idaho too.
Last stop before we get to Boise. Everybody out.
As if a reminder of what we had accomplished, this truck passed us just before we drove into Boise. You may grab life by the horns but grab your sharks by the tail!
Truansea 
Mark,
It’s been a joy to follow your travels. Thanks for sharing and welcome back to Idaho!
What a wonderful adventure! It is something you will never forget. I have only been sailing off Jamaica once and it was awesome! Sailing is so different then roaring across the ocean in a fast boat. Please keep in touch when you get settled and call Aunt Helen sometime! Much love, j
So WHEN are we going horse back riding? I might be able to borrow a horse. Maybe? Do you still have my phone number? (Listed)
Well done Mark and family. I reckon your vision, adventure and attitude to life qualifies you as an honorary Aussie. I’d better get on and finish my book about my solo sailing adventure around Australia, I’m embarrassed by my humble efforts when I read your blog.
Brian of Truansea
Thank you for the wonderful journey.
Welcome home Feichter family! Amazing, beautiful, inspirational, imaginable, adventurous, and chapters full of stories to tell. We can’t wait to continue to hear all about it. Give us a ring when you have settled.
Mederios Family
I was so excited to read you were back in Idaho….Fiechter family. Trevor and Kaila are looking forward to seeing the boys.
Hard to believe your journey is over. I will miss the posts and learning all about sailing and your ports of call. I hope to see you all soon.
Welcome home Mark. What a wonderful ending poem.
I’m am just so honored & glad I know someone personally ” who did it”.
I’m not abel to do that big of adventure, but i was headed there prior to disability, but I’m damn sure going to do as much as I can.
Just back from week in San Juan’s. Will go to our 34′ Catilina in Coronodo Ca. for Thanksgiving (family) & most likely most of winter.
Thank you all for your posts, thoughts, and experiences! It was so fun to follow. Wow x’s many, many x’s!!!
When time afords, a beer/coffee for a few hours, eh? Long enough to get you on a roll!!!!