I took last Wednesday through Friday off and found you don’t have to go very far out of town to relax, enjoy the weather and even get in a little exercise.

First up though was sleep in Wednesday. I know that doesn’t sound like most things people would start out a vacation with, but if your job is like mine you have to put in some extra hours just to make sure you are completely swamped when you get back. Wednesday was a lunch date at 11 with someone I hadn’t seen in quite some time. Then it was time to run all the errands I haven’t been able to get to for the last month. That night, an evening with my son and then some television. My brother was in town from Kentucky, so I joined him and his wife, plus my sister and her husband at Jasper’s in Park Rapids. Hats off to Kathy Brekke and family, plus MC/Magician Jack Sand for a wonderful afternoon of family entertainment. Afterword it was off to the campground for steaks on the grill and potatoes on the hot coals. Highway 34 from Detroit Lakes to Park Rapids is one of the most beautiful drives in this area.

Friday was really interesting. I took a 24.5 mile bike ride in the Fargo-Moorhead area. As I went along I was taking pictures and posting them on Facebook. I started to get a following. People were waiting for my next picture to see where I was. Even Mike Williams of the Fargo City Commission (who’s a huge biking supporter) posted “Where a bouts is Bob Harris?” I missed a great chance though as I got on to the NDSU campus. A wedding was happening and I almost got a photo with the happy couple. Thanks for all the likes guys.

Saturday, my brother drove into town from Park Rapids and we went to the North Dakota Horse Park. Hot and crowded. It was our first time there and we won exactly two dollars. We left at halftime. Bro went back to Park Rapids and I got invited out to sing a little Karaoke.

Sunday, I headed back to the Park Rapids area for a “Taste of Dorset.” It’s been an annual trek for us. Five year old Mayor Bobby Tufts won’t be serving a third term in office but this little guy was the best thing to happen to that area in a long time. National news and talk shows raised a lot of money for the Ronald McDonald house and nearly sold out his new cookbook this weekend. For those who have never been there, Dorset per capita is the restaurant capital of the world. They shut down the highway that runs through town and everything moves into the street. Food, clothing, games, music and people come from miles around for four hours of fun. People bring their dogs and are being constantly stopped to chat about their pup. People love dogs in Dorset. My son’s favorite is the horse carriage rides. Dorset even had a drone equipped with a camera this year. Oh, and a “selfie” contest.

It just proves there is plenty you can do in this area on your vacation. I had a blast!