We left Ontario Sunday, and took until Saturday to get to Vancouver. There were road-closures, many snowstorms, accidents we had to wait to clear, and death-defying night-driving on the Kochahalla (no idea how to spell that) highway through the mountains. In a stroke of bad timing, we both got sick right off the bat. By MooseJaw, I was at the walk-in clinic, receiving three different prescriptions, which finally turned the tide. Or could it have been the Thai noodle soup and extra order of raw garlic at Nit's? Equally difficult after just a few days was Dallas' incessant huffing, which turned to huffing and shaking. Kate had the solution- medicate the dog, and let gravity force her to lie down and chill out. Eventually, we were happy road-trippers again, but the days were undeniably long, with Dallas eventually recovering and beginning the huffing all over again...
That was the hard part. The great parts were spending all that time together, holding hands, learning to love each other's music, watching beautiful snow-covered scenery unfold before us, and somewhat random stopping to see things and stretch our legs. We also managed a quick Winnipeg visit with Lena, where death-road-trip book and hat were returned and tea was had. Despite my attempts to stop it, there was one hotel with one swimming pool and waterslide that had to be endured in one of Kate's size 1 bathing suits. Buy me 8 beers, and I will tell you more... At one random road-closure, we strapped on snow-shoes and ran into the woods, wrestling madly, hurling snowballs and giving face-washes, and Kate perfected the snow-shoe flop, which with one burst of backwards energy can completely cover a woman in 6 inches of snow. This is why i love her. I'm also pretty sure I won the Husky gas-station and cow-spotting contest, although results have yet to be verified.
Anyway, I must have had fun, because I'd do it all again tomorrow if I had the chance.
I'm writing now from the comfortable confines of Christiana's bedroom office, and Dallas and I are about to embark on a lovely hiking adventure under grey skies, but within sight of the mountains. I think another coffee may be in order before that happens, though. Even after 12 hours sleep last night, I'm only semi-functional.
I spent part of yesterday at the dog-beach, where Dallas foiled my evil plan to enjoy watching her gasp, recoil and desperately spit out salt-water. Instead, she lapped it up thirstily, and went back for more and more. Forehead slaps all around. She was also the first dog in the ocean's frosty waters, and was only reluctantly hauled out after many stick-tosses. Later, Erin and I went to Granville Island for some groceries, and I realized then how unbelievably tired I was. I barely made the long drive back to Coquitlam for the night intact. I neglected to mention to CJ that I got lost, and ended up driving the whole distance around Stanley Park, which while beautiful, is really in the completely wrong direction.
So it's my first solo day in BC. Hope I don't run into any bears out there in them thar woods.
