Week 1 in a Nutshell

As I mentioned in my blog days before I left I had a couple loose ends to tie up before I left. One, to sell my old car, which happened the night before I left. It went to a cute little 17 year old cowboy, farmer kid who had the look of a kid in a candy shop as he circled it. I was glad for the new owner, but there still may have been a few tears as it lurched away. The other loose end was my driver's license. After the postal strike was over there were just 2 days it could be delivered and it didn't come. After a big rigmarole at Service BC, trying to get an extended temporary license, I realize they didn't change my address when I renewed and it was sent to my old address. So I dropped by there, riffled through the mailbox, stirring the curiosity of the new tenants, and there it was! I was all set to go!

Alberta - June 30-July 4


My first stop was Edmonton to visit my long time and dear friend Amanda (aka Mandy). We had so much fun and she was a spectacular host and tour guide, showing me cool things like Whyte Ave and a little tour of unique coffee shops, we didn't even go to the obviously touristy West Edmonton Mall. Amazingly, the whole time I was there we had gorgeous weather. Yes, in Edmonton! Crazy, I know. On Canada Day, my first full day, we spent the evening on Whyte Ave and had dinner at O'Byrne's Irish Pub. There I made my first random connection to a complete stranger. The patio was crowded and is set up so you share a table with other people. We sat with a girl and two guys and end up talking with them and having a fabulous evening, we even share the cupcakes we'd brought with us from Fuss Cupcakes! The one fellow was just moving to Edmonton from Calgary and just happens to mention his new roommate's name and though I have never met this girl, I recognize the name and it turns out her mom is in my book club! The rest of my time there was filled with more cupcakes, deep fried Oreos, deep friend ice cream, paddle boats, parks, trolley rides, Scrabble and a rubber chicken named Henry.

Saskatchewan - July 4-July 6


After 4 nights of luxury at Amanda's I spent a night in a campground in Langham, SK just a few minutes outside of Saskatoon. A campground, but a campground with showers! The next day I quickly made my way across the province, stopping in Saskatoon for the morning, walking downtown and in the park by the river. In Moose Jaw I did the tours of the Tunnels of Moose Jaw (actual tunnels under the streets of Moose Jaw). The first was called Chicago Connection and focused on bootlegging and how Al Capone used the tunnels as a hide away and the second was called the Passage to Fortune and was about what the Chinese people had to endure immigrating to Canada. I then moved on to Regina where I spent my first night sleeping in my car on a Walmart parking lot. I didn't even bother going in to ask if they were a Walmart that allowed over night parking. I knew just by the dozens of million dollar motor homes all grouped together. Some of them had flat screen TVs that were bigger than my windshield! I hung sheets over the windows for privacy, which I was glad of at 7 am when a construction crew showed up, parking beside me and trying to peer in. And of course, the gas station I choose to fill up at and brush my teeth in is the sketchiest of bathroom in all of Regina.

Manitoba - July 6-July 7

On my way to Winnipeg to stay with my friend, Sarah, from college, I made a stop in to visit my Uncle Abe & Aunt Arlette and cousins, Timothy & Meghan in Rivers, MN. I don't know them that well, but it was a very good visit. I got to see their house before they move out in August and see their new kittens. Meghan, who's birthday is the day after mine, had a birthday present for me! It totally blessed my heart! They then took me out to dinner in the cute tiny little town and drove past the house they will be moving into. After parting ways there, a little later than I anticipated I continued on to Winnipeg to see Sarah for the first time in 5 years! Today, my first full day here, she took me to The Forks, where we ran into her friend, Danielle, where I found my next 2 random connections. It turns out that she has family in Vanderhoof, the tiny town I was born in and Sarah and I went to college with her best friend from high school, Jenene, originally from Niverville, who happens to have cousins I know where I live in Vernon! I know, so many connections it makes your head spin!

All in all, it has been a very good first week and I am blown away by the beauty of Canada. From the mountains I grew up with and left behind in BC, to the vast and open prairies with yellow fields of canola flowers, windmills, 3D like clouds and spectacular sunsets.

Hopefully it won't be a full week before I blog next so I don't have to cover so much ground!

I am only adding a few pictures here, so if you'd like to see more check out my Cross Canada Adventures photo album on Facebook. This link should allow you to view it without having to have an account.