First Leg
Guelph - Sault Ste Marie

Last night was wonderful. We spent the evening with George and Wendy, sharing a meal, memories and plans for the future.

Morning came too fast. We loaded the car and the road, by 7:00 Just in case you were wondering where Pauline’s oil burner was, we had decided to trade it in for a new Toyota Matrix. It’s amazing how much you can stuff into that car. It was a seen out of the Grapes of Wrath, the car was loaded to the gills. We managed to find Magoo a perch on top of our belonging and off we went. George and Wendy also hit the road for Kingston where George is getting a bionic implant. It’s amazing what some people will do to improve their golf game.

The road from Guelph was snow covered and slow going. We witnessed a couple of accidents along the way that reinforced the need for caution. Once we got to Parry Sound, the road conditions improved and we started making good time. We stopped in Blind River to reminisce about the bare boat charters of the North Channel we took when Guy introduced Pauline to Sailing and the effects of tornadoes on anchorages.

We arrived in Sault Ste Marie, around 5:00 pm. We were done unpacking Guy’s wine by six.

We searched around for a place to eat and came across a Lone Star restaurant, where we shared fajitas and great memories of all the Friday nights we would bring the kids to the original Lone Star in Ottawa. This trip is turning out to be more about memories than miles. I guess that’s how it should be.

Tomorrow we head for Thunder Bay.

Second Leg
Sault Ste Marie - Dryden

West of the Sault was supposed to be clear, so we headed out, in the dark early morning, in the midst of a storm. White outs and white knuckled passenger-ing, we (Guy that is) bravely kept going for over 3 hours. Besides hanging onto her car seat for dear life ,Pauline had not experienced such snow squalls since her childhood in Chicoutimi/Bagotville, Quebec. Finally we were rewarded by blue skies and smooth sailing from Wawa on.

A black cloud was forming as we approached Nipigon, it turned out to be a fire at the plywood mill. The mill had just been purchased by the locals in an effort to stave off its closure, another tragedy in the making.

We reached Thunder Bay well before schedule and decided to push on to Dryden. If we were lucky, we could stay in a motel once frequented by our friend. Denyse Boom-Boom Burns. Denyse, now a Manhattanite, sold dreams of far away places in this mill town. All three of us and especially Magoo had no problem dreaming and hoping that we would soon be leaving this haven of 30 blow centigrade (45 with wind chill).

Tomorrow we head for somewhere beyond Elie. (We're way too close)

Third Leg
Dryden - Regina

Once we crossed the border to Manitoba, the Trans-Canada transformed itself from a one-lane, one horse embarrassment Ontario Highway 17 to a proper 4 lane Trans Canada Highway #1.

We hit our original destination of Elie Manitoba, around 10:30 am. Elie is not only Guy’s mother’s maiden name, but the home of Ken and Monique. We were looking forward to seeing them again. They had even offered to put up with us for the night, but the call of the road was too strong. So we motored on! And on! And on! Through the flat lands in Manitoba, into Saskatchewan arriving in Regina in time for tea.

We are now way ahead of schedule. We also have loading and unloading the car down to an art form. We are still hoping to get holed up somewhere where can start making a dent into the wine, but so far the weather has been just teasing us. Well we have nipped into the scotch that Mary (Pauline’s real boss) gave us to celebrate our retirement!

The expanse of this Country is truly amazing. Neither of us have had the privilege of driving the Trans Canada highway in winter. The sky and open spaces of the Prairies are breathtaking (our pictures do not do it justice). We hope to get a sunrise on the Prairies for you tomorrow!

Tomorrow we head for somewhere in Alberta, maybe even BC.

Fourth Leg
Regina - Canmore

Another trouble free ride, welcomed us as we left Regina. The sunrise chased us for miles. We made great time arriving in Brook, AB in time for lunch and Canmore for tea. We are now settled into a quaint 70’s era, dog friendly inn.

We hope to enjoy more of the Rockies in daylight so we are planning to sleep in tomorrow morning and let the sun rise before us for a change. Unless of course, Magoo has other plans for us.

It’s snowing in Golden and Kicking Horse pass. Hopefully it will not interfere with our plans to reach Vernon by early afternoon. So far we have been able to beat the weather.

The Bruce was being hit as we drove through it, but we managed to escape the worst of it. Same with the Sault.

Worse case we’ll end up spending a day or two here. Guy has a date with the cable guy on Monday, so we can Internet at the house, but it can always be re-scheduled for later. We’re not in any rush and there is nothing we can’t put off till tomorrow. Heck we’re retired!

The Last Leg
Canmore - Vernon

Pauline who had spend most of the night worrying about being stuck in Rogers pass, was primed for disaster. Guy and Magoo, on the other hand, slept the sound sleep of the innocent and were fresh for taking on the mountain switchbacks.

Pauline who has often been accused of skiing more uphill than down, and Guy who careens down any hill he can, making a turn only when absolutely necessary, drive the same way they ski. Seldome on the same hill, they now have been in the same car for the better part of a week.

This last leg, the shortest by far, proved to be the biggest test of our relationship. The first 350 kms were a series of ups, downs and tight turns on greasy road conditions. Testy exclamations and quick retorts were the order of the day.

After a hearty lunch stop in Revelstoke, Pauline took the wheel and peace returned to the Matrix as Magoo and Guy dosed off.

We reached Vernon, all in one piece in the early afternoon. We unpacked the car, kicked off our shoes and had two fingers of Mary's Johnnie Walker Black. We then made arrangements to meet our friends Ben and Judy Hoy for diner at the Vernon Yacht Club, the start of a great Friday night tradition.