New job, new location...new blog.
http://purewhitevinegar.blogspot.com
http://purewhitevinegar.blogspot.com
Monday, June 13, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
I'm in Fort McMurray. Yep, I made it. The short drive (5ish hours) from Edmonton to Fort McMurray was very uneventful and I arrived around 6pm. The traffic lights were out at the one and only intersection I needed to cross, but the two RCMP officers were bravely directing large trucks in all directions. I had thought perhaps there was an accident and carried onto my hotel. At the hotel I walked into a dark lobby....yep, power outage. They were not sure for how long it would be out but assured me that power had been restored downtown and all would be fine soon. Well, three hours after I had checked in the power came back on. In the meantime the emergency lights in the halls had gone out, apparently they only have a battery life of 2 hours. I managed to order some Chinese food from a restaurant in a part of town that had power and it arrived about an hour after I had ordered it. All was good with the world.
I almost got lost today. Kinda. I generally knew the direction I needed to go in and knew I wanted to go from route 15 to route 63. Getting to route 15 was easy, its right off the Yellowhead, but route 63 escaped me. I found another route on my handy map and was searching for route 831. I took a mis-turn onto 830 and quickly corrected my mistake and then tried the next turn which turned out to be 45 or 29 or some other route. I was perplexed as the next couple of turns were these small numbers and 831 had disappeared. I finally found 831 and was once again on my way...but not feeling 100% confident of my selection--the map is after all about 8 years old. About 150ish km in to the drive today I finally saw a road sign for Fort McMurray and I knew that I was indeed on the right track. I was certain of my selection...but for some reason kept expecting to see a road sign pointing me in the right direction...which just proves that Fort McMurray is not the only destination for those traveling in Northern Alberta.
Tomorrow is move in day and I can't wait. Thanks for your patience and reading while I've been motoring down the highway the past few days...and does anyone know what it means when a turtle crosses your path? I ended up with 2 in my trip.
I almost got lost today. Kinda. I generally knew the direction I needed to go in and knew I wanted to go from route 15 to route 63. Getting to route 15 was easy, its right off the Yellowhead, but route 63 escaped me. I found another route on my handy map and was searching for route 831. I took a mis-turn onto 830 and quickly corrected my mistake and then tried the next turn which turned out to be 45 or 29 or some other route. I was perplexed as the next couple of turns were these small numbers and 831 had disappeared. I finally found 831 and was once again on my way...but not feeling 100% confident of my selection--the map is after all about 8 years old. About 150ish km in to the drive today I finally saw a road sign for Fort McMurray and I knew that I was indeed on the right track. I was certain of my selection...but for some reason kept expecting to see a road sign pointing me in the right direction...which just proves that Fort McMurray is not the only destination for those traveling in Northern Alberta.
Tomorrow is move in day and I can't wait. Thanks for your patience and reading while I've been motoring down the highway the past few days...and does anyone know what it means when a turtle crosses your path? I ended up with 2 in my trip.
It was the right decision to stay in Kenora the other night as I drove for at least an hour the next morning before finding what would have been a suitable hotel for the night. I was zipping along enjoying the prairie highways after the torture of Ontario and the sky got dark and it rained. Rained. RAINED. Thunder, lightining, winds, more rain and then yes, wait for it...HAIL! It was awesome. NOT. Anyway I made it through with no issues and arrived finally in Regina. I literally checked into the first hotel I saw and after a nice supper I settled down for the night. The drive yesterday was long but fast. Long only because it is the prairies and you don't see a whole lot of change to the views around you. That said, I love the prairies and if you look closely they are not flat and have some amazing beauty around them.
When driving through Manitoba and Saskatchewan I saw a lot of sandbags left around homes and businesses, high rivers and a exit on the highway that was under water. It was a bit eerie driving over bridges where the water could be measure in inches from the deck, not feet. When I last drove these roads the was was feet, meters below the current levels.
I made it to Edmonton and popped in for a surprise visit with an old friend. She was shocked and delighted. It was great. I settled into my hotel for the night and am now planning out my morning/day. I have a small shopping list of things to buy in Edmonton--cheaper than in Fort McMurray. And I desperately need a hair cut which I know if I don't get it today I will be a shaggy dog at work on Monday. I'm staying in a hotel in Fort McMurray tonight and then move into my new apartment sometime tomorrow. YEAH!! Then the weekend to unpack and yes, pick up the fur babies on Sunday noon. So...I better get going.
When driving through Manitoba and Saskatchewan I saw a lot of sandbags left around homes and businesses, high rivers and a exit on the highway that was under water. It was a bit eerie driving over bridges where the water could be measure in inches from the deck, not feet. When I last drove these roads the was was feet, meters below the current levels.
I made it to Edmonton and popped in for a surprise visit with an old friend. She was shocked and delighted. It was great. I settled into my hotel for the night and am now planning out my morning/day. I have a small shopping list of things to buy in Edmonton--cheaper than in Fort McMurray. And I desperately need a hair cut which I know if I don't get it today I will be a shaggy dog at work on Monday. I'm staying in a hotel in Fort McMurray tonight and then move into my new apartment sometime tomorrow. YEAH!! Then the weekend to unpack and yes, pick up the fur babies on Sunday noon. So...I better get going.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
I'm in Kenora....I've been here before...twice actually. I am only 60ish km from the border into Manitoba and while every ounce of me wanted to just be finished with Ontario...I stayed in Kenora. I'm not sure about hotels just inside the Manitoba border and I knew I'd be tired and cranky if I had to start searching for one....so I'm still in Ontario. BUT, tomorrow night, Tuesday as most of you read this I will be in Regina, Saskatchewan. Yep...two provinces crossed off the list. Whoo hoo!!!
Total distance today, about 950ish km. Total distance so far just over 3,200km...which means I'm over halfway there. YEAH!
Meant to tell you yesterday I saw a turtle. A really BIG turtle crossing the road the other day. It was well over a foot long and had rather long legs...which I have only ever seen in cartoons. I've also seen moose(s), deer, what looked like a wild turkey and a mother duck with a half dozen or so ducklings, plus a lot of birds.
And now...sleep.
Total distance today, about 950ish km. Total distance so far just over 3,200km...which means I'm over halfway there. YEAH!
Meant to tell you yesterday I saw a turtle. A really BIG turtle crossing the road the other day. It was well over a foot long and had rather long legs...which I have only ever seen in cartoons. I've also seen moose(s), deer, what looked like a wild turkey and a mother duck with a half dozen or so ducklings, plus a lot of birds.
And now...sleep.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Hello and welcome to my journey across the HUGE country of ours (some of ours)--Canada. Tonight I am in Wawa, Ontario...but first...leaving PEI.
A special thanks for my parents for helping me pack and wrap the truck (and totes) in preparation of my journey. Though only guaranteed to hold until the end of the drive way the many feet of rope holding my worldly possessions onto the back of my truck are still holding.
There are always a few tears when I leave and set out from PEI...and this trip was no exception. The good bye to my sister, niece and nephew ended with a few tears on my part and then the hugs and well wishes from both my parents set me off--as it always does. Generally by the time I reach the bridge I have cried myself out and I'm ready to focus on the long drive ahead...Friday was no exception. I was able to get away around 8:30am and by 10am was ready to throw in the towel and either pull over for the night or head back to PEI. I felt tired and my body was aching from being in the one position for that long--1.5 hours. It's going to be a long week I thought if I can't even make the first morning. The rain started shortly after that and my mood turned a bit more sour. It would rain hard enough to need the wipers and then just as I turn them on it would stop raining. I stopped for lunch at 11am, a lot earlier than I had thought I would but I just needed a break. Back on the road and still more--why did I decide to drive again?--going through my head but then later in the afternoon I hit the Quebec border, the sun came out and my mood brightened considerably. I got my second wind and drove with no plans to stop.
CBC radio always keeps me company on my journeys and this was no exception. I was doing so well and the drive was going so well I started thinking about just driving through Montreal and being done for the day with the evil roads of Montreal behind me. But the radio was not making that sound like a good idea as they talked about bridge closures for the weekend and only one lane being available in both directions. I don't know my Montreal bridges very well but when the announcers are talking about being stranded on the Island of Montreal for the weekend and how they are not even considering leaving you know they are expecting traffic to be bad. The word was the traffic closures would start around 7pm, based on my location and expected ETA in Montreal I decided to call it a night and start out early in the morning once I had an opportunity to check out the bridge situation. Day 1, approx 1000km.
Turns out the tunnel was not scheduled for closure and my leaving at 7am would almost guarantee that I avoided most of the traffic that would be skipping the bridge and taking the tunnel. I sailed thru Montreal and was happy to stop just inside the Quebec border for a sit down breakfast where I could relax and read my book. Then off to the city of Ottawa. I had friends I wanted to visit in Ottawa and seeing as I haven't seen them in 3 years it was very important to me. I had friends in Montreal to visit with as well, but I just saw (and met) them in April, so I'm sure they understand why Ottawa took priority. I arrived in Ottawa to sunshine and blue skies. I went to see a movie, drove downtown and wandered around the market, then out to Kanata for the visit. It was a great day. I then got back on the road and headed to Pembroke for the night. I wanted to be outside of the Ottawa area and Pembroke at about 1 hour out was a good choice and I've stayed there before. Day 2, approx 450km
A later start to my day today, didn't leave until around 9am but still managed to cover just under 900km. Another great day of driving and the weather has been terrific since leaving New Brunswick. At this point I'm just under 1/2 way there. I'm in Wawa, Ontario...about one hour South of White River--home of Winnie the Pooh. That is really only an interesting point because I've stayed in White River the last two times I crossed the country. This time I decided to take a chance on Wawa and may I recommend it to you if you are ever travelling through Ontario. It is a small town with a lot of hotels. Great scenery and giant geese all over the town.
It is just after 9pm and this is the latest I've been up since setting out on my trip. Yep, party animal. Let's hope tomorrow is just as good as today.
A special thanks for my parents for helping me pack and wrap the truck (and totes) in preparation of my journey. Though only guaranteed to hold until the end of the drive way the many feet of rope holding my worldly possessions onto the back of my truck are still holding.
There are always a few tears when I leave and set out from PEI...and this trip was no exception. The good bye to my sister, niece and nephew ended with a few tears on my part and then the hugs and well wishes from both my parents set me off--as it always does. Generally by the time I reach the bridge I have cried myself out and I'm ready to focus on the long drive ahead...Friday was no exception. I was able to get away around 8:30am and by 10am was ready to throw in the towel and either pull over for the night or head back to PEI. I felt tired and my body was aching from being in the one position for that long--1.5 hours. It's going to be a long week I thought if I can't even make the first morning. The rain started shortly after that and my mood turned a bit more sour. It would rain hard enough to need the wipers and then just as I turn them on it would stop raining. I stopped for lunch at 11am, a lot earlier than I had thought I would but I just needed a break. Back on the road and still more--why did I decide to drive again?--going through my head but then later in the afternoon I hit the Quebec border, the sun came out and my mood brightened considerably. I got my second wind and drove with no plans to stop.
CBC radio always keeps me company on my journeys and this was no exception. I was doing so well and the drive was going so well I started thinking about just driving through Montreal and being done for the day with the evil roads of Montreal behind me. But the radio was not making that sound like a good idea as they talked about bridge closures for the weekend and only one lane being available in both directions. I don't know my Montreal bridges very well but when the announcers are talking about being stranded on the Island of Montreal for the weekend and how they are not even considering leaving you know they are expecting traffic to be bad. The word was the traffic closures would start around 7pm, based on my location and expected ETA in Montreal I decided to call it a night and start out early in the morning once I had an opportunity to check out the bridge situation. Day 1, approx 1000km.
Turns out the tunnel was not scheduled for closure and my leaving at 7am would almost guarantee that I avoided most of the traffic that would be skipping the bridge and taking the tunnel. I sailed thru Montreal and was happy to stop just inside the Quebec border for a sit down breakfast where I could relax and read my book. Then off to the city of Ottawa. I had friends I wanted to visit in Ottawa and seeing as I haven't seen them in 3 years it was very important to me. I had friends in Montreal to visit with as well, but I just saw (and met) them in April, so I'm sure they understand why Ottawa took priority. I arrived in Ottawa to sunshine and blue skies. I went to see a movie, drove downtown and wandered around the market, then out to Kanata for the visit. It was a great day. I then got back on the road and headed to Pembroke for the night. I wanted to be outside of the Ottawa area and Pembroke at about 1 hour out was a good choice and I've stayed there before. Day 2, approx 450km
A later start to my day today, didn't leave until around 9am but still managed to cover just under 900km. Another great day of driving and the weather has been terrific since leaving New Brunswick. At this point I'm just under 1/2 way there. I'm in Wawa, Ontario...about one hour South of White River--home of Winnie the Pooh. That is really only an interesting point because I've stayed in White River the last two times I crossed the country. This time I decided to take a chance on Wawa and may I recommend it to you if you are ever travelling through Ontario. It is a small town with a lot of hotels. Great scenery and giant geese all over the town.
It is just after 9pm and this is the latest I've been up since setting out on my trip. Yep, party animal. Let's hope tomorrow is just as good as today.
Friday, June 3, 2011
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