Day ? __ to Wawa, Ont.

Hi all.  I am ok.  I haven’t had Internet connection for days.  I’ve spent the last six hours (without success) trying to update my blog, but this connection just won’t let me.  I am in Wawa, Ontario, and am hoping to be in Vermont by Sunday or Monday.  A friend of mine is putting this on my blog since I can’t seem to get a good enough connection.  I will update once I have a decent connection.

**To the Readers, I am opting to let Faith moderate your comments, unless she informs me to process them.  Take care and be well.  ~m

Day 7 Iskut, BC to Kitwanga, BC

Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Daily Mileage:  255.8
Total Mileage:  1333
Avg. MPG:  11.3
Making real good time today.  The road has smoothed out; not the hills, though.  They are still hanging around.  However, I am able to maintain an average speed of 60-70 mph.  Already put 100 miles on the truck today in just two hours.  Although my goal is 350 miles, if the road keeps up like it has, and Abby and I are up to it, I may just blow right past my intended stop and see if I can’t get a few more miles in today.

Made a fuel stop at Bell II, BC.  Decided to grab something to eat, and lo and behold, there’s an Internet connection.  Still no cell phone, but really, I could care less.  I hate phones anyway.

Waitress just came and told me that there’s an accident about 8km up the road.  They’ve called for the ‘jaws of life.’  Doesn’t sound good at all, so perhaps I’ll stretch out on my couch for a bit in the camper and catch a nap.  Abby could use the break too.  Internet connection didn’t pan out; too weak of a signal

Later -

Decided against staying at the cafe, decided to hit the road instead.  Bad choice.  I got about 40 miles down the road and there it was; the accident.  I was third in line, but stayed back around the corner.  I had no interest in seeing what was going on ahead.  I talked to an RCMP there on the scene.  He said the road would be closed for about two hours until the guy was medi-vacced out ( he survived, thank God) and the crime scene folks were flown in to investigate.  It was actually closer to three hours before I was able to get on the move again.  As I drove past the North-bound traffic (we were reduced to one lane), I believe the traffic was backed up nearly four miles.  I was able to continue to maintain speeds of 60-70, but after sitting in the hot sun for three hours with not even the slightest breeze giving relief, I only made it as far as Kitwanga, BC, before I was completely wiped out.  Tried to run the AC in the truck to keep Abby and I comfortable, but that just ate up the gas.  Got in the camper, which was slightly better, but it was still too blessed hot for us (85F).  Got off the road, found an RV Park, and Abby and I are turning in early tonight; no more staying up ’til 1am, then getting up at 6am.  Just ain’t working real well.

Day six – Watson Lake to Iskut, BC

Miles today: 213
Total miles: 1076
MPG: 11.8

After looking at The Milepost, I suddenly had the realization that every time I’ve traveled in or out of Alaska, what I thought was the Cassiar Highway was actually the Yellowknife Highway (Highway 97). Once I realized my error (and finished laughing at myself), I decided that since I was so close to the entrance to the Cassiar, I’d head down that. Saves me miles getting to my brother’s house. The RV Park that I landed at (again, found in The Milepost) is absolutely gorgeous. Mountains thrusting towards the sky defiantly. Beautiful, small lake at the bottom. Plus a wi-fi connection, allowing me to get caught up on stuff.

As of this morning, my plan was to head straight down to my brother’s house and spend the weekend with him. Alas, that’s not going to happen. He’s always warned me not to just show up at his place, and it turns out he was so very right. He and his family won’t even be home until the beginning of next week, and I just don’t want to hang around his town for the weekend by myself. So, instead I’ll just turn the truck East, and head to the East Coast. My plan is to travel all the way to Vermont in Canada, and drop down to the Lower 48 in Montreal, Quebec. I’ve done part of the trip before (Michigan to AK), but never the entire thing without stepping foot back in the States. Hope the Canadians are as nice as they seem so far

So, I’m off to Houston -

British Columbia, that is.

Random thoughts and mind ramblings

I am here at Mountain Shadow RV Park in BC, about half-way down the Cassiar Highway (and I think the term ‘highway’ is used very loosely), and my mind has been wandering this evening (what a surprise!!)

I see other RV’s in the park, and almost all of them are couples traveling together. Slams home even more the fact that I am, with the exception of Abby, alone. But then I watch the older guy in the spot two over from where I am busy cleaning his RV to make it spotless, and I wonder, “Is he happy? Are the rest of his travel-mates happy, or are they just going through the motions?” Watching him, he certainly doesn’t seem very happy, even though the view from my window (and his) is absolutely spectacular. Then I think, does he ‘really’ know that someday his mate could be gone, forever? Or perhaps it will be him that leaves her behind. Watching him so stringently clean that last spot of dust from his RV, I think of how Jim and I would have perhaps cleaned this one. We would’ve started out cleaning the camper (kinda), then either I would’ve sprayed him or he would have sprayed me which would have started a huge water fight, ending with…

Well, you know (Sorry, Glenn!)

Ok, enough of that!!!

Days four and five

Saturday-Sunday, July 14 and 15, 2007
daily miles: 172
total miles: 863
avg mpg: 12.2

“Mine is not a journey to destination, as I already know what the destination is
Instead, mine is a journey to discovery, as I have no idea what I will discover along the way to my destination”

Saturday started off pretty well, until I got on the road. Then all of a sudden it hit me -

Four months ago today was the last day that I was able to see Jim, or touch, kiss, or hold him. My reality hit like a ton of bricks that I will never, ever again have that privilege in my life. Started crying and just couldn’t stop, so I decided that it would be best if I just go on down to Watson Lake and hole up for a couple of days until the emotional storm passes. It’s been a rough couple of days, but also a healing time. Both Abby and I just kinda kicked back and ate, slept, putzed around the camper. Finally got it organized a bit better. Whenever I needed to, I just curled up in bed and let the emotions flow. Something that I’d been denying myself back at home. In Moose Creek, I must have an impenetrable shield around me at all times so that if I come across someone whose only intention is to hurt me, they can’t get to me. The bad part of that is that I seem to be unable to let that shield down when I am at home. At home, I am assaulted by the memories of what we once had together; something that we will never have again.

I have finally come to the realization that I simply will not be able to make 1000 miles a day like I have on previous trips. The fact that I am towing such a large trailer, plus Abby’s needs and my own, just do not make it possible. and really, this trip is not about hurrying to a destination (I’ll leave that to my brother; just kidding!), but more of just going on a wander with the turn-around point being meeting my grandson and seeing his mother and uncle. No matter how long it takes me to get there, I’ll get there, God willing. That being said, tomorrow my goal is to try to get from Watson Lake to Iskut, BC, about 212 miles. I have a break planned at Jade City to check out the jade they have there.

Day Three – Destruction Bay, Yukon to Teslin, Yukon

Friday, July 13, 2007
day 2: Destruction Bay – Teslin

Miles today: 276
Total miles: 691
MPG: 12.5

Mpg really went to crap today. Fortunately, the worst road was the one I traveled yesterday; today’s road was smooth (mostly) and dry. Some hills, but that’s to be expected when you’re in the mountains. My mileage was way off from what I was hoping for, but I’m quickly learning that when it’s just one person to do everything, it takes twice as long. This is the first trip down the Alcan by myself, and boy was I spoiled the other trips. I’d get the groceries while he filled up the fuel. I’d get dinner started while he leveled the trailer; the list goes on and on.

And actually, I would have gotten further down the road today as I was able to maintain a speed range of 50-70 mph, except for the fact that Abby decided that something she either ate or drank didn’t agree with her and she had a case of the runs in the back of the truck. Three times (ewwww!!)

So, I decided that since I wasn’t going to get any more miles out of the day, I’d treat myself to an RV park with water/power hookups. And I even got a bonus – Free Wi-Fi!! Thanks so much to the Yukon Hotel & Restaurant here in Teslin, YT

Day Two – Delta Jct., AK to Destruction Bay, YT

Thursday, July 12, 2007
day 2: Delta Jct – Destruction Bay, YT, on Lake Kluane

Miles today: 315
Total miles: 414
MPG: 13.2

Started a bit late this am, but I wanted to make sure that I didn’t miss any steps preparing the camper for travel. I left Delta Jct. at 10am, stopped in Tok for lunch, then headed toward the border. I made good time with the truck (finally got used to the camper being back there) UNTIL….

OMG, the Alcan right after the border crossing is absolutely horrendous!!! Even going only 20mph, I hit some frost heaves that sent my truck up in the air. Not a good thing when you’ve got 4 tons sitting behind you. It creates an awful jack-knifing effect. I drove on these conditions for almost 175 miles to Destruction Bay. About 10 miles out from my stop, the wind started. Now I had not only frost heaves trying to shoot me to the moon, but 25mph winds trying to blow me and the truck/camper off the side of the road. It was the first time in a very long time that I’ve driven ‘white-knuckling’ it.

The border crossing, however, was a dream. I pulled up to the guard shack with all my paperwork and id, and all the guard asked was where I was from, where was I going, did I have any tobacco/alcohol. for once, Abby didn’t start barking, so he had no idea that she was in the back of the truck. He never asked to see id or any paperwork. that was about the only good part of my day. Well, that, and the view from my kitchen window tonight. Kluane Lake is absolutely gorgeous, as always.

Tomorrow’s goal is finish in Edmonton. I know, huge goal (over 1000 miles), but I have a feeling that once I get past Watson Lake, the road will smooth out. Frost heaves should be gone by then.