On May 7, 2008, we began our move from Fredericton, NB to Vancouver, BC. The followling is an account of our journer west:
Day 10 - May 16, 2008
Here we are in Vancouver! 6108 kilometers safely and smoothly accomplished – amazing! We left Kelowna at 8.30, topped up the Jeep ($1.359 per liter), and climbed up over a mountain range up above snow level, down into Merritt, to join the Coquihalla toll road ($10), and followed the fast-flowing river down between the Cascade Mountains to Hope. The road was great: divided highway and 110 kph. all the way. From Hope into Vancouver the going was slower with heavy traffic. All those weekenders fleeing Vancouver snarled up the traffic in the opposite direction and we were glad that we weren’t in that line up with whiny kids or anxious pets!
TomTom helped us find the Century Plaza hotel and we are now ensconced on the 26th floor. It took us four trips to bring almost everything in from the Jeep: we were warned not to leave anything enticing in it. There was a fax waiting for us with details of our temporary accommodation: at 11 a.m. on Tuesday Libby will meet the moving coordinator at 1388 Nelson St. which will be our home for the next month. Brian got an e-mail message from 2 curling associates here in Vancouver inviting him to play golf on Sunday but he turned them down – his gear is coming out with the movers.
Thanks for all the messages of appreciation for our travel log. Some have suggested we continue with a monthly log of our adventures: we’ll think about what we might do in this regard. We will certainly stay in touch. Our email addresses will not change although Brian will get an extra one with his new employer (VANOC). Brian’s agenda for the first few days (starting next Tuesday at 8 AM) consists mainly of orientation sessions and security clearance. As soon as possible, we must begin the large task of becoming official B.C. residents so we can have access to health care services etc.; and then there is the not insignificant item of finding a permanent residence. We will send mailing addresses and phone numbers as soon as we have them. In the meantime, Brian’s Fredericton cell phone will stay active (506)461-7832 until we can get a local Vancouver number.
Some stats (of course!):
Distance travelled – 6108 kilometers and no Jeep problems!
Tolls $53.60
Gas $749
Motels $434 (two free nights in Kelowna)
Food $381 (Meals provided by Margaret in Kelowna)
Bathrooms visited – dozens (we didn’t keep track!)
It’s been a grand adventure so far and we expect it to continue as we adjust to a new lifestyle here in busy and beautiful Vancouver. We know that our many friends and family members have been watching with interest and wishing us the best. We thank you all for that support.
Day 9 - May 15, 2008
Today was a very relaxed day in beautiful sunny and hot Kelowna with an afternoon temperature of about 30 C. It was mostly a quiet day with an opportunity to get important tasks done like laundry. We had a noontime picnic in Kinsmen Park seated on the bench with the plaque placed in honor of Libby’s father Don MacClement. This location has a great view of West Kelowna across beautiful Okanagan Lake.
Supper was at Hanna’s restaurant, in downtown Kelowna, overlooking the waterfront. Margaret treated Bruce and Barbie and the two of us to a saspanorious meal, and we enjoyed getting to know Barbie a little. She and Bruce invited us back to their home for coffee and dessert and we were impressed with the renovations Bruce has done, and also with his brand-new motorbike! (Margaret is Libby’s step-mother, Bruce her half- brother.)
Day 8 - May 14, 2008
Today´s trip of 375 km (total 5701 km) seemed like a trip to the grocery store compared to previous days. The trip was short but picturesque as we finally left I90 at Spokane and headed north on Highway 395 toward Canada. At Kettle Falls, we crossed the impressive Columbia River and then followed the Kettle River for a while and then proceeded west through the Colville National Forest to Curlew, Washington where we stopped for gas. The price there for gas was $3.90, the most we had paid anywhere in the U.S. The gas station was attached to a very quaint country store where you could buy almost anything. This looked like your old fashioned hardware store that time had forgotten. So glad we stopped there.
From Curlew, it was a short trip to the Canadian border along the Kettle River to Midway, British Columbia where we stopped for customs. This customs area is only open 9 AM to 5 PM -- glad we didn't plan to cross there at night! The customs agent was friendly and seemed quite amazed at our trek across the U.S. from New Brunswick. He checked our passports and did not inspect the Jeep contents. We were soon on our way toward Kelowna along Highway 33, not the most scenic route but the most direct. We had to slow down several times as we encountered deer either crossing the road in front of us or grazing along the side of the road. Lunch was at a small restaurant in Rock Creek, B.C.
About mid-afternoon, we arrived a Libby's step-mother's place in Kelowna and received a very warm reception. We have had a grand time chatting about the trip and getting caught up on all the family news.
Tomorrow is a non-travel day and we are very happy about that. We will stay here in Kelowna tomorrow (Thursday) and then set out for Vancouver on Friday. We will be staying in a hotel (Century Plaza) in Vancouver this weekend.
Cheers from sunny and warm Okanagan Valley.
Day 7 - May 13, 2008
Our horizons are definitely expanding. We just had supper at the Bombay Palace in Spokane, Washington -- an excellent meal. It was a long travel day -- 9-1/2 hours, 876 km for a trip total of 5326 km -- our longest distance for one day. The drive was over some very rugged and beautiful country. From Billings, I90 wanders to the northwest corner of Montana and then across a short but dramatic section of Idaho and then into Washington State where we are now on Pacific time!
We were following the Sweetgrass and then the Yellowstone River through Montana, with wide sweeping valleys and mountain ranges on either side. At noon we passed the Continental Divide, elevation 6393 ft near Butte, Montana. Lots of mining: the guys running the A & W in Deer Lodge said that it was mostly copper mining. Into Idaho we realized that some of the clusters of habitation were around silver mines and that they had fallen on hard times. Lots of poverty, minihomes, ramshackle cars in the yards, but often an R.V. and a horse trailer.
Through Montana, we crossed the Clark Fork River many times, each time the river getting faster and deeper. Libby wondered if Lewis and Clark had split up by this part of their exploration and perhaps Clark went off on his own. Anyone know?
Just prior to entering Idaho, we crossed by Lookout Pass (elevation 4700 ft). Down out of the snow level to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, with an attractive large lake, to find that from there to Spokane, Washington, was busy 3-lane traffic.
Libby just made a quick call to Margaret in Kelowna to confirm our arrival time tomorrow - we'll be glad to be in one place for two nights!
Posting from Kelowna may be difficult but we will try.
Day 6 - May 12, 2008
And the train rolls on -- or is that the wagon train... We think day 6 was our most exciting so far and really the first day that we incorporated touristy things into the agenda. The day started bright and early in Rapid City, South Dakota with a diversion to Mount Rushmore National Monument. This is located about 30 miles south of Rapid City so it took us a bit out of the way but was well worth the diversion. Gas in Rapid City cost us $3.49 and while I was pumping, they incresed the price to $3.53, so I was the last customer at the old price -- good timing!
The drive to Mount Rushmore was through the Black Hills -- great scenery -- traffic and tourist traffic was light. We were impressed with the sculpture of the presidents and we were glad to have made this side trip.There were pine trees, raptors circling, chipmunks and mountain goats in a pen. Parking cost $10 and TomTom was once again helpful in locating the nearby town of Keystone (population 311) which was not really up and running yet (too early in the tourist season). The weather was cool with high overcast but quite pleasant -- better than the rain that had been forecast.
After about one hour at Mount Rushmore, we departed for points west and encountered cooler temperatures and heavy rain as we crossed into Wyoming. The temperature dropped to +2 C and we were concerned that it might turn to snow but that did not happen. It was lunch at Subway in Moorcroft, Wyoming after which we made a driver switch -- Brian to Libby.
The drive through Wyoming was quite spectacular -- wide open spaces with huge valleys and mountains in the distance. Population along I90 was very sparse so we didn't see many people, but we did see lots of antelope and cows and horses. We saw the first oil wells near Gillette, Wyoming and at Gillette we passed what appeared to be a large open pit coal mining operation -- many trucks entering and leaving; also very long trains.
Speed limit on I90 in Wyoming (and Montana) continued to be 75 mph. This is a superb highway through spectacular country and no tolls! Stopped in Buffalo, Wyoming for gas ($3.56). We had an impressive view of the Big Horn Mountains as we travelled between Buffalo and Sheridan, Wyoming although the rain clouds obscured the view at times.
At 3:30 PM (still mountain time), we stopped at the Little Big Horn National Park and Monument (just a short distance after entering Montana) -- $10 parking fee. Brian had read much about Custer's last stand and was anxious to see the area. There were spectacular views in all directions from the monument which named all who died in the June 25 and 26, 1876 battle with the Sioux Indians. The brisk winds seemed to carry sounds of the battle. The ridge over the Little Big Horn River and the Big Horn Mountains appeared to the southeast. There were sage brush and horses but no trees. We saw no rattlesnakes but signs warned that we were in rattlesnake country.
While visiting the museum at the Big Horn Park, we received a cell phone call from Meredith. It was great to talk to Meredith and Mary and get caught up on all the news from New Glasgow. We learned that they had been able to follow our journey thanks to someone (Bronwyn?) who had printed our logs. Back to the museum where Brian was particularly intersted in the artifacts recovered from the battlefield and Libby in the photos of Souix warriors and the drawings that these warriors had made while in prison after surrender.
We next drove a few miles along a narrow road to view the Reno-Bentene battlefield area. Many of this group of US Cavalry survived (when another column of soldiers arrived a few days later to help) but could not come to Custer's aid. The total visit here was 1-1/2 hours and well worth it -- most interesting.
We then travelled to Billings, Montana where we have stopped at Days Inn. We have just had a great rib dinner at Famous Dave's. Well, you can't eat fish in Montana!
Tomorrow's target is Spokane, Washington -- a very ambitious drive of 824 km across rugged mountain terrain. We will cross the top, narrow section of Idaho. Today's trip was 705 km for a trip total of 4450 km. Till tomorrow, we bid you happy trails from Billings, Montana. By the way, most every motel (and many public places) have free wireless Internet, so that has made it easy for us to post these messages. The only thing we wish we had with us (so far) is binoculars.
Day 5 - May 11, 2008
The end of travel on Mother's Day has us at the AmericInn in Rapid City, South Dakota, well past our target of Kadoka, SD. Distance travelled today was a record 832 km and the total so far is 3745 km, so we are past the mid-point in our journey. The day was bright and sunny but very windy. We noticed many wind farms for power generation in Minnestoa but saw none in South Dakota. The temperature rose through the day from 5 C to 23 C, quite a change. The travel time today was 9-1/2 hours but we took several lengthy breaks including about a one hour break in Mitchell, SD for lunch.
It was straight as an arrow drive across the prairie covering most of Minnesota and South Dakota along I90. Great road and easy driving with a speed limit of 70 mph in Minn and 75 mph in SD. We paused briefly at Chamberlain, SD to view the Missouri River (photo attached) and another stop at Wall, SD for an ice cream treat. The Missouri marked a contrast between the rolling well-ordered farmland of Minnesota (and the eastern part of South Dakota), with the neat farmsteads surrounded with pines and carragana hedges, grain silos and augers, etc. This is contrasted with the western side of S.D. where coulees have sharp sides, the trees are sparse and gnarly and homesteads are few and far between. The sky really does seem very big!
We are now on mountain time (switched from central about middle of SD). Gas prices continue to drop. We paid 3.59 in Mitchell, SD and have seen as low as 3.49 here in Rapid City. As we approached Rapid City, the landscape became more interesting as we climbed through the badlands and Black Hills. Despite the very warm temperatures, we saw some snow along the side of the road as we approached Rapid City. Apparently they had a big snow storm here last weekend -- glad we missed that! No doubt we will see more snow though as we rise in elevation and approach the Rocky Mountains.
Tomorrow's travel agenda is light but we plan two tourist stops; Mount Rushmore which is near Rapid City and Little Big Horn Battlefield Monument (in Montana). Our target for tomorrow is Billings, Montana. This trip will take us through the northeast corner of Wyoming.Day 4 - May 10, 2008
Today was a marathon day of travel which finds us at the AmericInn in Albert Lea, Minnesota -- well past our target of Rochester, Minn. The total distance today was 812 km for a trip total of 2913 km. It was our second 4 state trip in two days. Today's states were Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Total travel time today was 9 hours although it didn't seem quite that long since we gained one hour as we went from Eastern to Central time.
At 9 AM this morning we went through the heart of Chicago (close to the Sears Tower) and the drive was about as intense as I have ever done -- many lane changes and speeds well above the posted 55 mph. It was necessary to follow along at traffic speeds or get run over! TomTom was a huge help with this part of the trip giving us ample warning of lane changes. It was about 45 minutes from one end of Chicago to the other. I think the hardest part is now behind us.
As we drive back north we're losing the springtime flowers of Indiana and Illinois. The lilacs are not in bloom yet here as they were yesterday, and the wild flowering trees are just hinting at colour. Lots of ducks and geese including one family trying to cross I90 in the middle of downtown Chicago! Don't like to think what happened to them!
There were several tolls totalling about $13 from our departure point in Indiana to the Illinois-Wisconsin border. We have not yet had any tolls in Wisconsin or Minnesota as we continue along I90. We missed one toll on the far side of Chicago when we inadvertently went through the electronic pay part rather than the pay cash part. There was a sign which said "pay missed tolls online" but we are not sure how to do that or how it might be enforced. The total on tolls so far is $43.60.
So far, the Jeep has performed like a champ. Yes, it is a bit of a gas guzzler but it is not so bad with highway cruising. Gas prices are now starting to drop as we head into the midwest. The last we bought in Wisconsin was $3.69 and the lowest we have seen in Minnesota is $3.59. ($3.79 per gallon = $1.00 per litre with money at par.)
We crossed the Mississippi River at La Crescent, Minnesota and stopped for a brief look and photo (attached). The weather was overcast most of the day and a light to moderate rain started just after entering Minnesota.
More rain is predicted for tomorrow, so it may be a soggy drive from here to our next target of Kadoka, South Dakota (674 km according to TomTom).
We have just finished a nice steak dinner at Applebee's Restaurant. Now it's time to send email and do tomorrow's detailed trip planning.Day 3 - May 9, 2008
Today's travel time was 8-1/2 hrs and we covered 740 km (total trip 2101 km). We travelled west through NY (past Buffalo), then across a short section of Pennsylvania, then completely across Ohio and finally into Indiana where we have stopped at Elkhart -- just about 20 miles east of South Bend. Most of this portion of the trip covers the southern boundary of Lake Erie and I90 takes you through the heart of Cleveland and very close to the lake. Our noon time stop was at Sheffield, Ohio, just west of Cleveland. All through Ohio along I90, we saw many large farms and tractors preparing the land for a new crop. Redwing blackbirds perched along the fences or on top of those long grasses that look like bullrushes but aren't. Pennsylvania was less prosperous-looking than either Ohio or Indiana; but the farmland is pleasing to the eye and the flowering trees are a delight.
Elkhart seems to be the capital of RV manufacturing, with a museum and hall of fame dedicated to this product. We didn't stop in!
The weather has been ideal for this trip, mostly sunny and warm (15 to 20 C) with occasional cloudy areas (light to heavy overcast but no rain). It seems the perfect time of year as the highway is not too busy except near large cities and the motels are also not busy and have good rates. One thing that seems to be climbing is the price of gas. The highest we have paid is $3.89 but we saw $4.09 just prior to the Elkhart exit. The gas station beside our Motel (Days Inn) is advertising $3.73, so I guess we better fuel up there in the morning before heading back to the Interstate.
The toll total so far is $33.15. The section through NY was the most expensive $14 (Albany to PA border). The NY Interstate also had the most state police patrol cars. We did not seen many in PA or Ohio but there are a few along the I90 in Indiana where the speed limit is 70 mph
(65 in the other states we have visited). There are also solar powered cameras for sensing stray animals; we assume for deer but there are also lots of cows in the fields.
The plan for tomorrow is to go from here to Rochester, Minnesota (takes us past the southern tip of Lake Michigan and Chicago which may be a bit of a challenge). TomTom is estimating 731 km and 7 hr 42 min driving time.
Day 2 - May 8, 2008
The end of day 2 finds us in
We went south on I95 then to I495 and a brief bit on I290 after which we picked up the Mass Pike (I90) at
The drive through western Mass was quite lovely as we climbed through what we assume are the Green Mountains. The Green Mountain National Forest was just a bit north of us in Vermont. Gas prices started at $3.71 per US gallon in Bangor, Maine and dipped to $3.63 on the Mass pike and climbed to $3.89 near Rochester, NY. We are surprised at the considerable variation even over short distances and we hope prices don't climb much higher. We have not yet done the conversion to Canadian dollars per litre but I think it's just under $1. We are also tracking highway tolls -- more about that in a later note.
For those who were asking, yes our Fredericton residence is sold although the closing date is not until June 12, so technically we still own it until then. Our New Glasgow residence is on the market but we have not had any offers yet. We now consider ourselves homeless since we have no permanent place in Vancouver yet. My employer (VANOC) gives us a place for 30 days during which time we must find something more permanent. Till then, we are just wandering gypsies I guess; at least we feel that way as we drive across the North American continent. It's fun to be sure but we certainly realize the large risk involved in detaching ourselves from our NB and NS homes and families and heading for unknown territory. We seem to share a common sense of adventure that makes the risks worthwhile.
We continue to share the driving and trade off every 2 or 3 hours. Our iPod is getting lots of use by supplying us with music and periodically we listen to a radio station or even a talking book (and the Bruce Springsteen C.D. thanks to Meredith). We do lots of talking too as we never seem to run out of subjects and a long trip is a great opportunity for lengthy discussions.
Tomorrow's target is South Bend, Indiana and accoring to TomTom, that should be about 7 hr and 50 min driving time. It would be nice to go slower and see more sights along the way but we must keep an aggressive schedule if we are to reach Vancouver by next Friday (May 16).
Libby here: a couple of more general observations: we're aware of some of the historical aspects of our route, whether the famous rivers with the old mills, or the Erie Canal that we followed today, or just the association of names of places. I couldn't remember why Batavia, New York was linked in my mind with shoes, but we asked the guy in the lounge where we had our supper and he confirmed that, yes, this is where shoes have been made for generations, especially miners shoes. Why I would have that in my memory I have no idea! Now I know at least 2 songs about the Erie Canal but I don't think I know any about Batavia shoes!Day 1 - May 7, 2008
Hello all. We have begun our Vancouver Olympic experience with an olympic drive from Fredericton to Vancouver mostly through the U.S.
The end of day 1 finds us in Kittery Maine at the Kittery Motor Inn. We left Brenda and David's home at about 10 AM and had clear sailing up to Woodstock and then across the U.S. border at Houlton and the down I95 to Kittery which is just before the New Hampshire border. We had no difficulty at the border but were sure to register valuable items with Canadian customs (like computers and guitars) so that we will be able to get them back across the border when we finally return to Canada. Our new TomTom One XL GPS naviagation system has been very valuable for trip planning and enroute navigation -- good investment. The weather all day has been sunny and warm making the drive an easy one. Spring became noticeably more advanced the further south we drove. Brian drove to Bangor and Libby the remaining distance. We just finished a very nice seafood dinner at the Weathervane Restaurant in Kittery and now it is time to send email and do trip planning for tomorrow. We expect to be a bit more ambitious and cover more territory than today. We expect to head south just west of Boston and pick up the Mass pike to Albany NY and then follow the NY Pike to somewhere near Buffalo. Trip meter so far is 610 km (8 hours travel time including stops).
Cheers from Brian and Libby