June 30...a workday for Jim and Therese, so we took Caroline with us into Ottawa for a trip to the Museum of Civilization, "tourist shopping" (as Mhairi calls the search for keychains, maple candies and the like), and Parliament Hill.
I really enjoy hearing our GPS try to pronounce things like Blvd Jeanne d'Arc ("Gene Dark"), and Laurier St ("Lowrear"). The kids are in hysterics with it. Anyway, we went to Museum of Civilization, which is actually in Hull, Quebec, across the Ottawa River from Ottawa. It was terrific, especially the Canadian history floor, where you go east to west through 1000 years of civilization, from the Vikings in Newfoundland to the fisheries in BC, through New France, 18th century Ontario, the Saskatchewan early farming, and buffalo hunts. Like most museums, it feels like the eyes and brains fill up far before the end of the exhibit; it was much like the old town in our Royal BC Museum, but much larger, with sights, sounds and a HUGE display of amazing artifacts.
Ironically, when you arrive at the museum, the first exhibit is a First Peoples' exhibit, featuring West Coast tribes: Haida, Tsimshian, Nuu Chal Nulth, etc., which seemed almost like being home again. Not a single dream catcher, though! And no mention of the Iroquois, Blackfoot, Sioux, etc...Each of the west coast tribes' displays were in a "house" designed as they would have been by that particular native group and there were some magnificent totems as well, and a couple of amazing Bill Reid sculptures.
In the New France area, a docent showed us the typical dress of those arriving from France and how unsuitable it would prove for the eastern winters. The adaptations of native dress were also there, so the kids saw how traditional native garb was modified for the whites, and Mhairi and Caroline dressed up as young ladies, with a cape and muff and wooden shoes.
Tomorrow is Canada Day and all the museums are free, so we may check out the National War Museum, which Dennis and I really hope to see. I think we will go to the fireworks too, although the forecast is for rain.
After our museum trip, we went to the Byward Market for lunch (Dennis screeched to a halt at the first sight of the word "Tandoor"). Then on to Parliament Hill for a brief walk around the buildings and to the boutique where I got Canada-themed playing cards (one of the things on my list).
Home for a swim in the rain, and a quiet evening...
Happy Canada Day everyone!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Ottawa Sights
Hey! Our first full day in Ottawa yesterday and it was fabulous. It was almost the perfect day. I know some out there will find that surprising when I describe it, but others (ie mothers) will appreciate it, I am sure.
I did seven loads of laundry at the local laundromat and cleaned a week's worth of clothing, sheets, towels and kitchen cloths. Note to others..when doing seven loads at the same time, choose washers near each other. For me it was a bit like playing that card game where you have to remember where the cards are to make a match...and you know my sense of direction is not so good. I had to try to check on the machines that were mine and not filled with others' clothing. Anyway...came home and cleaned the trailer which also felt SOOOOO good.
About 3 pm we headed into Ottawa..we being the four of us, Jim, Therese, their youngest daughter Caroline, and Therese's nephew Matthieu. We did the whole touristy thing in the rain (although it did let up and was just grey...but a very warm grey). Ottawa is humid and they have bugs. In Victoria when it is grey like that it means cool or even cold, but not here, apparently.
So, Ottawa is a compact city and most of the "touristy" things are in walking distance. It was quite surreal seeing all those things that we have only seen in on TV and in photos. In fact, the whole time I felt quite choked up...seeing the Parliament Buildings and Parliament Hill, the National War Monument, and the statue of the five women who lobbied to get women the vote. I hope to get some photos up today.
We also saw boats coming through Colonel By locks, allowing boats up the Ottawa River to the Rideau Canal. Jim and Therese are great hosts, and navigated us around so we could see all the sights.
On the way home (about 7 pm), we passed by the RCMP Stables where the Musical Ride happens, and, it was just starting. So, out we hopped and, got to see that too! The Musical Ride is one of my all time favourite things, and seeing it in Ottawa is amazing. There were even pipes and drums. Then we came home for a late dinner and fell into bed.
So, again for those who are from Ontario, this will seem like a nobrainer...but the most fascinating thing for me so far is how quickly and easily people switch from French to English, in the same conversation. I am just thinking how great my understanding is, when I realize I am hearing English...the signage is way more prominently French than in BC, and it all seems SO much more bilingual. I feel like a bit of a moron...perhaps I should just say a couple of "Zut alors!"
Today, Sunday, is the girls' perfect day. We are here in the sun and the girls have been in the pool for hours...something they have been dreaming about for months. It is a great down day...and just what they deserve after so many long days in the car...
I did seven loads of laundry at the local laundromat and cleaned a week's worth of clothing, sheets, towels and kitchen cloths. Note to others..when doing seven loads at the same time, choose washers near each other. For me it was a bit like playing that card game where you have to remember where the cards are to make a match...and you know my sense of direction is not so good. I had to try to check on the machines that were mine and not filled with others' clothing. Anyway...came home and cleaned the trailer which also felt SOOOOO good.
About 3 pm we headed into Ottawa..we being the four of us, Jim, Therese, their youngest daughter Caroline, and Therese's nephew Matthieu. We did the whole touristy thing in the rain (although it did let up and was just grey...but a very warm grey). Ottawa is humid and they have bugs. In Victoria when it is grey like that it means cool or even cold, but not here, apparently.
So, Ottawa is a compact city and most of the "touristy" things are in walking distance. It was quite surreal seeing all those things that we have only seen in on TV and in photos. In fact, the whole time I felt quite choked up...seeing the Parliament Buildings and Parliament Hill, the National War Monument, and the statue of the five women who lobbied to get women the vote. I hope to get some photos up today.
We also saw boats coming through Colonel By locks, allowing boats up the Ottawa River to the Rideau Canal. Jim and Therese are great hosts, and navigated us around so we could see all the sights.
On the way home (about 7 pm), we passed by the RCMP Stables where the Musical Ride happens, and, it was just starting. So, out we hopped and, got to see that too! The Musical Ride is one of my all time favourite things, and seeing it in Ottawa is amazing. There were even pipes and drums. Then we came home for a late dinner and fell into bed.
So, again for those who are from Ontario, this will seem like a nobrainer...but the most fascinating thing for me so far is how quickly and easily people switch from French to English, in the same conversation. I am just thinking how great my understanding is, when I realize I am hearing English...the signage is way more prominently French than in BC, and it all seems SO much more bilingual. I feel like a bit of a moron...perhaps I should just say a couple of "Zut alors!"
Today, Sunday, is the girls' perfect day. We are here in the sun and the girls have been in the pool for hours...something they have been dreaming about for months. It is a great down day...and just what they deserve after so many long days in the car...
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Bienvenue a Ottawa
Bonjour! We arrived in Ottawa yesterday about 8 pm...5000 km of driving in 7 days is...um...a lot each day. However, it was worth it to get here to enjoy four days! So, an embarrassing story follows at the end of this entry, but you are supposed to read the interesting geographical information first.
We have driven 5000 km, as I said, but honestly, the TOTAL population of the cities and towns we have come through (except Ottawa) can't be more than a few million. Where the heck are all the people?? Considering about 300 million live in the States, they sure are crammed into some specific corners. We have driven through miles and miles and miles of evergreen forest, arid scrub land, ranch and farm land, trees and lakes, and then more trees and lakes...it really makes me see how incredibly BIG and uninhabited we are. We only took a wrong turn once (unlike in France and the UK, if you remember!), excepting when we left the Soo and the GPS was SURE we were driving through the fields, even though we were on the number 1, and kept repeating "Recalculating rowte. Make a legal U-turn. Recalculating rowte..." until it realized we were actually on the highway.
KOA, for Liz's benefit, is Kampgrounds of America. The Americans really like their Ks and use them every chance they get, which irritates Ceilidh since she sees it as an insult to her initial, but I quite like (KKK notwithstanding). So you have Korner Kafe, Kwik Karry, Komfort Inn, and so on. In fact, you can rent Kamping Kabins at the KOA.
So, we arrived at Jim and Therese's home in Orleans (right near Ottawa) and did make-your- own pizza. The girls went in the pool, and we visited. Dennis had about 5 beer to recover from all the days of driving, and I had a girlie drink (it was orange). The girls disappeared to play guitar hero with J and T's youngest, Caroline, and when I went downstairs to check, Mhairi's "character" was Lars Umlaut, who weighed about 300 lbs and had a penchant for head butting his guitar. Charming.
BP, we will look for pickled wild garlic...after we spend the day doing laundry and cleaning the approximately 1,000,000 dead bugs off our car. Why did nobody mention how humid and buggy it was here?!?!?
OK, OK...I know I need to tell you the embarrassing story...in our campsite in Medora, North Dakota a few nights ago, there was a fierce storm (thunder, lightning, pouring rain, the whole bit). I don't like these at the best of times, but I really thought we would be some lightning magnet in our trailer, until Dennis pointed out it was fibreglass. Anyway, he had to go out to put up the awning, which was flapping alarmingly, and came back in soaking wet. It was after midnight at this point...but I had been awake so long, I had to pee. I REALLY did not want to go over to the washrooms...so I told D I was going outside. He stood at the door while I went out into the pitch black. No word of a lie, JUST as I started, a truck pulls in to the campground and into the campiste next to us, its very bright headlights sweeping across the blackness, over the Canadian girl peeing on the grass. I could hear Dennis, as he saw the truck, say "Oh...Kerry" in a tone of both pity and amusement....When I got back in the trailer he was on the bed, collapsed in laughter. I guess they will have a good story to tell too...
So, I will post again in a couple of days, once we have seen something of Ottawa. Love and miss you all...
Kerry
We have driven 5000 km, as I said, but honestly, the TOTAL population of the cities and towns we have come through (except Ottawa) can't be more than a few million. Where the heck are all the people?? Considering about 300 million live in the States, they sure are crammed into some specific corners. We have driven through miles and miles and miles of evergreen forest, arid scrub land, ranch and farm land, trees and lakes, and then more trees and lakes...it really makes me see how incredibly BIG and uninhabited we are. We only took a wrong turn once (unlike in France and the UK, if you remember!), excepting when we left the Soo and the GPS was SURE we were driving through the fields, even though we were on the number 1, and kept repeating "Recalculating rowte. Make a legal U-turn. Recalculating rowte..." until it realized we were actually on the highway.
KOA, for Liz's benefit, is Kampgrounds of America. The Americans really like their Ks and use them every chance they get, which irritates Ceilidh since she sees it as an insult to her initial, but I quite like (KKK notwithstanding). So you have Korner Kafe, Kwik Karry, Komfort Inn, and so on. In fact, you can rent Kamping Kabins at the KOA.
So, we arrived at Jim and Therese's home in Orleans (right near Ottawa) and did make-your- own pizza. The girls went in the pool, and we visited. Dennis had about 5 beer to recover from all the days of driving, and I had a girlie drink (it was orange). The girls disappeared to play guitar hero with J and T's youngest, Caroline, and when I went downstairs to check, Mhairi's "character" was Lars Umlaut, who weighed about 300 lbs and had a penchant for head butting his guitar. Charming.
BP, we will look for pickled wild garlic...after we spend the day doing laundry and cleaning the approximately 1,000,000 dead bugs off our car. Why did nobody mention how humid and buggy it was here?!?!?
OK, OK...I know I need to tell you the embarrassing story...in our campsite in Medora, North Dakota a few nights ago, there was a fierce storm (thunder, lightning, pouring rain, the whole bit). I don't like these at the best of times, but I really thought we would be some lightning magnet in our trailer, until Dennis pointed out it was fibreglass. Anyway, he had to go out to put up the awning, which was flapping alarmingly, and came back in soaking wet. It was after midnight at this point...but I had been awake so long, I had to pee. I REALLY did not want to go over to the washrooms...so I told D I was going outside. He stood at the door while I went out into the pitch black. No word of a lie, JUST as I started, a truck pulls in to the campground and into the campiste next to us, its very bright headlights sweeping across the blackness, over the Canadian girl peeing on the grass. I could hear Dennis, as he saw the truck, say "Oh...Kerry" in a tone of both pity and amusement....When I got back in the trailer he was on the bed, collapsed in laughter. I guess they will have a good story to tell too...
So, I will post again in a couple of days, once we have seen something of Ottawa. Love and miss you all...
Kerry
Thursday, June 26, 2008
We are in "The Soo"!!
Hi all
Thanks for your messages and emails. Our driving has gone really well. Weds. we drove through Minnesota, Wisconsin ("America's Dairyland"...we did not see one cow), which is only 100 miles across and into Michigan, where we stayed at the weirdest campsite. I should have known when I saw the stuffed deer's head in the "lobby". The site was almost deserted and yet the woman escorted us the 30 feet to our site in a golf cart. The girls rode in the golf cart with Snuggles, one of her three dogs.
However, we passed a peaceful night and then were on the road again and made it to Sault Ste. Marie! So, we are in Canada again! The KOA here is really nice, so the girls had a swim, and I went to the A and P (I have never shopped at an A and P) for groceries. They even have veggie stuff (Yay!!) With a LOOOOONG day of driving tomorrow, we will get to Ottawa and Dennis' friends Jim and Therese. The time it takes depends on who you ask...between 7 and 12 hours. Likely, since we are pulling our home, it will be closer to the latter.
That will be great to be in Ottawa, cuz then I can do laundry and get things sorted out and STILL have time to enjoy.
Really, other than the driving (long straight stretches of easy driving, with very little traffic), the days are packing up, driving, setting up. We have explored the Christian, World Beat, Latin, French and Kids stations on satellite radio, and now are into Business news (YAWN, but Dennis likes it). Tomorrow I can look forward to the BBC World Service. Here is a question...I see flags flying half mast in the US and Canada, but we don't know why. I know George Carlin died, but I didn't think that would account for it. Does anyone know???
Here is another advantage to taking kids across the country...mosquitoes really like their tender, juicy flesh and largely leave Dennis' and my leathery old skin alone..
Hopefully I will have some more exciting entries in Ottawa...
Miss you all
Love Kerry
Thanks for your messages and emails. Our driving has gone really well. Weds. we drove through Minnesota, Wisconsin ("America's Dairyland"...we did not see one cow), which is only 100 miles across and into Michigan, where we stayed at the weirdest campsite. I should have known when I saw the stuffed deer's head in the "lobby". The site was almost deserted and yet the woman escorted us the 30 feet to our site in a golf cart. The girls rode in the golf cart with Snuggles, one of her three dogs.
However, we passed a peaceful night and then were on the road again and made it to Sault Ste. Marie! So, we are in Canada again! The KOA here is really nice, so the girls had a swim, and I went to the A and P (I have never shopped at an A and P) for groceries. They even have veggie stuff (Yay!!) With a LOOOOONG day of driving tomorrow, we will get to Ottawa and Dennis' friends Jim and Therese. The time it takes depends on who you ask...between 7 and 12 hours. Likely, since we are pulling our home, it will be closer to the latter.
That will be great to be in Ottawa, cuz then I can do laundry and get things sorted out and STILL have time to enjoy.
Really, other than the driving (long straight stretches of easy driving, with very little traffic), the days are packing up, driving, setting up. We have explored the Christian, World Beat, Latin, French and Kids stations on satellite radio, and now are into Business news (YAWN, but Dennis likes it). Tomorrow I can look forward to the BBC World Service. Here is a question...I see flags flying half mast in the US and Canada, but we don't know why. I know George Carlin died, but I didn't think that would account for it. Does anyone know???
Here is another advantage to taking kids across the country...mosquitoes really like their tender, juicy flesh and largely leave Dennis' and my leathery old skin alone..
Hopefully I will have some more exciting entries in Ottawa...
Miss you all
Love Kerry
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Fargo, North Dakota
Hello Everyone
Yesterday we went to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It was lots of fun. We saw Wild Horses, Buffalo and Prairie Dogs. I miss everyone lots I send you my love. Anyways the car ride not great but fine. Hope you guys have a great Summer Break (when is comes.)
-Mhairi Robertson-Jones
P.S. Thank you Sara, Ken, Riley and Tegan Ceilidh and I have watched Star Wars seven times!
Well Mhairi has covered most of the events. Before we left to see the buffalo, my dad and I were thinking of all the possible ways I could be killed, and stampeded by the bison!!!!!! Nice family convos hey!?
Everytime we get to our new campsite, (everyday), we are stuck between two HUGE RV's, and then there's our little trailer, it gets laughed at by the big scary big trailers.
Happy birthday Zoe and Taylor!!!!!!
Lots of love from
Ceilidh
From Kerry:
There you have the girls' perspective on things. We (and they) are doing amazingly well considering all the driving we have been doing. Fargo, North Dakota (and, no, I have not seen the Coen Bros., Frances McDormand or a tree chipper) is south of Winnipeg, also on the Red River and also home to mosquitoes. We are making really good time, and likely will have one more night after this in the US, then cross the border through Sault Ste Marie and on to Ottawa. We left Medora ND (as Mhairi mentioned) home to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It was so COOL to se buffalo and wild horses, and the prairie dogs are so cute the way they pop out of their holes and chirrup to each other. I can imagine farmers hate them, but they are protected in the national park.
We slept with the trailer door open (and the screen closed) one night, which the kids were NOT crazy about. They made us PROMISE not to sleep with the door open in buffalo territory, convinced that a buffalo would make its way into our trailer. When we got to Visitor Information in North Dakota, this guy asks us where we were from and then said he slept in his trailer the previous night and woke to find a bison scratching his back against the guy's trailer...Ceilidh's eyes were BUGGING OUT OF HER HEAD...and we slept with the door closed.
The road across ND is straight...I offer Dennis some helpful suggestions like "keep going straight" or "there is a bend in the road coming up". It is the opposite of driving in Britain...all divided highway, VERY quiet, and quite mentally untaxing. Dennis' back is improving and he has done all the driving. In case you wonder what adults do in the car for 7 hours, here is a partial list:
1. drive and knit (not at the same time)
2. listen to the radio. We got a free trial to XM satellite radio, and found Canadian news. It repeated three times in 7 minutes. We got bored. Now we are listening to each station for five minutes. We started with 40s music (Tommy Dorsey anyone?), went through the 50s (Teenager in Love), 60s (the Beatles, which was the only one we liked!), the 70s (Barry White), 80s (Beastie Boys), the 90s (unidentifiable), Top 20, Country, more country, and then more country, followed by Willie's Tunes (yes, more country). The lyrics I liked the best were "My man is like a train, makes his whistle stop and then moves on again").
3. talk about how far we have driven and where we are going to stop
4. explore the GPS, which is SO amazing and gets us to gas stations, camp sites, etc.
5. Try to remember the slogans on each license plate (Washington is the Everygreen State, Idaho is Famous Potatoes, Montana is Big Sky Country, North Dakota is Discover the Spirit, and Minnesota is 10,000 Lakes). Speaking of all these native names...there are highway signs in the shapes of war bonnets, arrowheads and other native symbols, but I have actually yet to see a native person. Hmmm...
Things I am grateful for:
1. the DVD players
2. air conditioning
3. having a trailer
4. air conditioning
5. the water in Victoria (it takes AWFUL in ND)
The scenery is amazing, and it is hard to believe in urban sprawl, pollution or land use issues in States will mile after mile after mile of farm and ranchland. The people in North Dakota are SO friendly, coming OUT OF THEIR STORES to say hello (?!) We got an oil change at the Honda dealership in Bismarck, where they fit us in, and only charged us $28!
We will all be glad to get a break from driving, and miss Canada. Thanks for your comments on our blog and the emails...I am assuming our house is standing???
Love you lots
Kerry
Dennis here ... what do I do? Keep the van and trailer between the lines and avoid controversial topics like chocolate chip cookies. (Kerry butting in again...The story here is that I handed Dennis a cookie..HOMEMADE...with only one chocolate chip in it...I told him since they were called chocolate chip that it was not false advertising)..we moved on to less controversial topics such as American politics and religion.
Yesterday we went to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It was lots of fun. We saw Wild Horses, Buffalo and Prairie Dogs. I miss everyone lots I send you my love. Anyways the car ride not great but fine. Hope you guys have a great Summer Break (when is comes.)
-Mhairi Robertson-Jones
P.S. Thank you Sara, Ken, Riley and Tegan Ceilidh and I have watched Star Wars seven times!
Well Mhairi has covered most of the events. Before we left to see the buffalo, my dad and I were thinking of all the possible ways I could be killed, and stampeded by the bison!!!!!! Nice family convos hey!?
Everytime we get to our new campsite, (everyday), we are stuck between two HUGE RV's, and then there's our little trailer, it gets laughed at by the big scary big trailers.
Happy birthday Zoe and Taylor!!!!!!
Lots of love from
Ceilidh
From Kerry:
There you have the girls' perspective on things. We (and they) are doing amazingly well considering all the driving we have been doing. Fargo, North Dakota (and, no, I have not seen the Coen Bros., Frances McDormand or a tree chipper) is south of Winnipeg, also on the Red River and also home to mosquitoes. We are making really good time, and likely will have one more night after this in the US, then cross the border through Sault Ste Marie and on to Ottawa. We left Medora ND (as Mhairi mentioned) home to Teddy Roosevelt National Park. It was so COOL to se buffalo and wild horses, and the prairie dogs are so cute the way they pop out of their holes and chirrup to each other. I can imagine farmers hate them, but they are protected in the national park.
We slept with the trailer door open (and the screen closed) one night, which the kids were NOT crazy about. They made us PROMISE not to sleep with the door open in buffalo territory, convinced that a buffalo would make its way into our trailer. When we got to Visitor Information in North Dakota, this guy asks us where we were from and then said he slept in his trailer the previous night and woke to find a bison scratching his back against the guy's trailer...Ceilidh's eyes were BUGGING OUT OF HER HEAD...and we slept with the door closed.
The road across ND is straight...I offer Dennis some helpful suggestions like "keep going straight" or "there is a bend in the road coming up". It is the opposite of driving in Britain...all divided highway, VERY quiet, and quite mentally untaxing. Dennis' back is improving and he has done all the driving. In case you wonder what adults do in the car for 7 hours, here is a partial list:
1. drive and knit (not at the same time)
2. listen to the radio. We got a free trial to XM satellite radio, and found Canadian news. It repeated three times in 7 minutes. We got bored. Now we are listening to each station for five minutes. We started with 40s music (Tommy Dorsey anyone?), went through the 50s (Teenager in Love), 60s (the Beatles, which was the only one we liked!), the 70s (Barry White), 80s (Beastie Boys), the 90s (unidentifiable), Top 20, Country, more country, and then more country, followed by Willie's Tunes (yes, more country). The lyrics I liked the best were "My man is like a train, makes his whistle stop and then moves on again").
3. talk about how far we have driven and where we are going to stop
4. explore the GPS, which is SO amazing and gets us to gas stations, camp sites, etc.
5. Try to remember the slogans on each license plate (Washington is the Everygreen State, Idaho is Famous Potatoes, Montana is Big Sky Country, North Dakota is Discover the Spirit, and Minnesota is 10,000 Lakes). Speaking of all these native names...there are highway signs in the shapes of war bonnets, arrowheads and other native symbols, but I have actually yet to see a native person. Hmmm...
Things I am grateful for:
1. the DVD players
2. air conditioning
3. having a trailer
4. air conditioning
5. the water in Victoria (it takes AWFUL in ND)
The scenery is amazing, and it is hard to believe in urban sprawl, pollution or land use issues in States will mile after mile after mile of farm and ranchland. The people in North Dakota are SO friendly, coming OUT OF THEIR STORES to say hello (?!) We got an oil change at the Honda dealership in Bismarck, where they fit us in, and only charged us $28!
We will all be glad to get a break from driving, and miss Canada. Thanks for your comments on our blog and the emails...I am assuming our house is standing???
Love you lots
Kerry
Dennis here ... what do I do? Keep the van and trailer between the lines and avoid controversial topics like chocolate chip cookies. (Kerry butting in again...The story here is that I handed Dennis a cookie..HOMEMADE...with only one chocolate chip in it...I told him since they were called chocolate chip that it was not false advertising)..we moved on to less controversial topics such as American politics and religion.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Howdy from Montana
Hi everyone!! We are en route. Only 2300 miles to Ottawa! So, first the details. We left bright and early Saturday am, stopping at Mile 0 to take a photo, then off to get the 9:00 am ferry. Made it to the Peace Arch crossing where I annoyed the kids by saying "I'm in Canada. Now I'm in the States. Now I am in Canada again!" while hopping back and forth across the international line. I thought I was hilarious, and we took photos. Took about an hour to get across the border, and then south to Seattle. I started driving after the border and found myself on a five lane highway with exit ramps galore...quite unnerving, but I did it. We then headed east through the Cascades and Snoqualmie Pass (and other vehicles did a lot of passing!) We stayed at the Ellensburgh KOA the first night...really tired. Dennis' back is improving, luckily, and he did ALL the driving today (apparently me braking around corners drives him crazy...who knew?)
This morning we were on the road by 7:30 and drove across Washington, Idaho (saw potatoes) and into Montana. We also crossed into Mountain Time. We have made it to Bozeman where there is an awesome KOA...Dennis and the kids are in the pool as I write this. It was a long day, but we figure we are 1/4 of the way! Janet, I have now seen THE MOST BEAUTIFUL native headresses to add to your dreamcatcher collection. Let me know how many you would like. They came in a range of native colours, such as ruby red, yellow and violent orange. I think they are authentic.
Tomorrow we head east (duh!) and close to Teddy Roosevelt National Park where I hope to see buffalo.
So far, the things we forgot to pack are:
1. a bread knife (do you know how many times a day you need a bread knife?)
2. any sort of sharp knife at all
So far the things that have been most useful are:
1. the latte machine (Beth, you are right...the rest stops are amazing and even have electricity so I hauled out my machine and made a latte much to the embarrassment of the kids).
2. the DVD players (the girls have watched 5 of the 6 Star Wars movies....THANK YOU BAKER FAMILY...and the Brady Bunch)
3. my knitting (and it has not been too hot!)
4. the GPS (although it says "Zee" and "rowte"
Well, it is 9:30 and time for popcorn. So far, only Beth has sent me an email...just saying...
Love Me
P.S. The kids have been GREAT!
This morning we were on the road by 7:30 and drove across Washington, Idaho (saw potatoes) and into Montana. We also crossed into Mountain Time. We have made it to Bozeman where there is an awesome KOA...Dennis and the kids are in the pool as I write this. It was a long day, but we figure we are 1/4 of the way! Janet, I have now seen THE MOST BEAUTIFUL native headresses to add to your dreamcatcher collection. Let me know how many you would like. They came in a range of native colours, such as ruby red, yellow and violent orange. I think they are authentic.
Tomorrow we head east (duh!) and close to Teddy Roosevelt National Park where I hope to see buffalo.
So far, the things we forgot to pack are:
1. a bread knife (do you know how many times a day you need a bread knife?)
2. any sort of sharp knife at all
So far the things that have been most useful are:
1. the latte machine (Beth, you are right...the rest stops are amazing and even have electricity so I hauled out my machine and made a latte much to the embarrassment of the kids).
2. the DVD players (the girls have watched 5 of the 6 Star Wars movies....THANK YOU BAKER FAMILY...and the Brady Bunch)
3. my knitting (and it has not been too hot!)
4. the GPS (although it says "Zee" and "rowte"
Well, it is 9:30 and time for popcorn. So far, only Beth has sent me an email...just saying...
Love Me
P.S. The kids have been GREAT!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Four days to go!!
Whew! What a lot of getting ready there is...living in the present and in the future is hard work. We are counting down lots of things right now; days Mhairi has at elementary school, days Ceilidh has at middle school, sleeps, days left where we live in something larger than a 15 by 6 foot box...
Our journey, which begins on Saturday (aptly, the first day of summer) takes us across the northern U.S., which will likely be faster and cheaper than across Canada. We will get to Ottawa around June 29, and enjoy Canada Day in our capital. Between June 21 and 29 is about 3000 km of road...Our first night will be in Ellensburg, Washington, but we don't have any other campsites booked for our journey there (which of course makes me entirely uncomfortable, and Dennis quite happy).
After Ottawa, we head back into the States, for a night outside NYC at a campsite, and then into the Big Apple itself for four nights (in a real hotel!) We will be in NYC for July 4, which should be quite exciting!
So, until our next blog, I go back to packing and cleaning...
Our journey, which begins on Saturday (aptly, the first day of summer) takes us across the northern U.S., which will likely be faster and cheaper than across Canada. We will get to Ottawa around June 29, and enjoy Canada Day in our capital. Between June 21 and 29 is about 3000 km of road...Our first night will be in Ellensburg, Washington, but we don't have any other campsites booked for our journey there (which of course makes me entirely uncomfortable, and Dennis quite happy).
After Ottawa, we head back into the States, for a night outside NYC at a campsite, and then into the Big Apple itself for four nights (in a real hotel!) We will be in NYC for July 4, which should be quite exciting!
So, until our next blog, I go back to packing and cleaning...
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Montmorency Falls
the two white dots are the kids!
Danielle, Ceilidh and Mhairi
Moose and Baby
Funky Stores
...and you can see our car and trailer
Cavendish Beach
Confederation Bridge
Parking in NYC
Empire State Building at Night
Cool Display on 5th Ave
Maine beach
Hopewell Rocks New Brunswick
Mhairi vs. Polar Bear
Mhairi was found at the museum, unaware of the fate awaiting her in the mammals display
The Canadian Tourist
"The Moment"
I wish I had taken this picture!
Canada Day!
RCMP Musical Ride
The Ride begins
Notice the maple leaf "stencil" on the horse's rump
Sir John A.
For 10 points, what is significant about this man?
The Famous Five
Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards
National War Monument
