TravelStream™ news feed for member mady142 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/mady142 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:56:42 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248608373/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248608373/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248608373/tpod.html Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:56:42 -0400 Girls Going West

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Pointe Claire, Quebec, Canada

Well, the drive home from Sudbury went well. We left the hotel after a nice sit down breakfast that wasn't continental. Everything was going smoothly until just into Ottawa. Then I go hit with major fatigue so Allison drove us home. The kids were so excited to see "Bienvenue au Quebec". We didn't have a lot of rain driving home but skies were grey. All in all, we've been very lucky with weather. We arrived home around 6:30 pm. and it took almost another hour to unload the van. LOL! Tomorrow we get Charlie and Merlin back and normal life resumes....more or less :o)

What a fantastic trip this was! After all was said and done, we drove 12,151 Kms in 29 days. Spent $1485.63 in gas for 1453.695 litres at an average of $1.022/litre. Not bad considering the cost had gone as high as 1.149 before leaving Montreal. The most we paid was in Ignace, Ontario @1.129/L and the least was in Stony Plain, Alberta @ 0.859/L. On the average we used 12L per 100Kms....but who's counting? :o)

I'm not sure if that's great mileage but it's about what I expected for a fully loaded Grand Caravan with a pod on the roof.

So end the adventures of Girls Going West, 2009! Thanks for reading!

xoxo
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248484619/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248484619/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248484619/tpod.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:39:25 -0400 Girls Going West

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Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

We got a relatively good start this morning. We were out and on the road by 9:30. Made it to Sault Ste. Marie by 2:30 for a late lunch at the Dock's Grill. The rain never really materialized but we drove through some pretty thick fog. We didn't get a great view of Lake Superior or the North Channel of Lake Huron but we did get some.

From there the drive to Sudbury was going really well until we turned off on "Old Nairn Road" per the Streets and Trips directions. When we couldn't find the next road we turned to Jack to get us to the Days Inn. Well, Jack liked the route Streets and Trips had us on so we continued on the narrow obscure roads with tiny one way bridges and railroad crossings with warnings to look before crossing. We even blindly followed him along the gravel road half expecting "Bridge Out" signs. We didn't get one of those but what we did get was a "road closed" gate across Spanish River Road. So after 45 minutes or so, we turned back and found a different route to the Day's Inn. We made it and can now laugh about it. Our last night away from home.

This has been a long month and a terribly short month all at the same time. We've packed so much into it and yet missed so much. It’s a trip I’ve wanted to take ever since I was a child and the drive was everything I had imagined and more. It’s been done though so the next time I visit a western province it will be by plane. Amd there WILL be more visits.

I’ve met and re-met some wonderful people who have affected me in ways that will last forever.

The weather reports have been horrible this summer throughout Canada but every time we’ve needed dry skies, we’ve gotten them. Including today.

The van was great throughout the whole trip except for my own blunder and when we get home she will have driven over 12000 Kms (her average per year normally) and be close to her 100,000 mark.

The kids were fantastic travelers. Didn’t always get along with each other but if they had, I’d have asked questions! Each one of them has grown since we started out. It's like I could actually see them mature before my very own eyes. They’re ready to be home though. The only province left for them to see is Newfoundland/Labrador. A trip we might combine with the Gaspésie some time in the future. This really IS a beautiful country!

As for me, I’m not ready to come back to reality and what’s waiting in Montreal just yet but life happens. One thing for sure, my priorities have changed.



]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248399318/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248399318/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248399318/tpod.html Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:40:32 -0400 Girls Going West

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Marathon, Ontario, Canada

We got to sleep in this morning. Check out was still at 11:00 though so we got underway to go see the Kakabeka Falls. Allison was not feeling well so Jamie, Melissa and I took a walk down to the falls while Allison relaxed in the van.

The Falls were beautiful and driving to Marathon took us around parts of Lake Superior. The kids really are great travelers. Considering we've been doing this for almost a month they should be car sick by now but they’re not. :o)

It looks like maybe Newfoundland in a couple of years will still be an attractive idea! :D
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Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The drive to Winnipeg on Monday was nice and easy. Allison took the wheel at Landenburg, SK and drove all the way to Winnipeg and Cecile's place. Right through downtown Winnipeg and all! Cecile had a great dinner waiting for us! A bottle and a half of Cecile's own wine later and some chit chat it was bed time.

Tuesday was spent getting the chip in the windshield filled at Speedy Glass and on the phone with the insurance company for the damage to the van. When we get back to Montreal I just need to make an appointment for an estimate at Dodge Des Sources and they'll fix the damage for the $250 deductible. I'm at fault since I was behind the wheel. It's humbling but it makes sense. So "Carrie" will be good as new shortly after we get back home.

In the evening we went for a nice dinner with Cecile at Perkins'.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248312542/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248312542/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1248312542/tpod.html Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:35:55 -0400 Girls Going West

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Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

We left Cecile's place by 10:15 this morning after a nice coffee or 2 with her. We'll miss Cecile and Misti!

The trip back to Thunder Bay from Winnipeg is the only route we will have done twice. We liked the Burger Scoop in Igance so much on the way west that we stopped there for an early dinner tonight. We had sudden rain storms that stopped as quickly as they started. Our new windshield wipers came in handy. We entered Thunder Bay from a different perspective so this time we got to see the 'sleeping giant' on the way in.

Tomorrow the plan is to stay in Marathon, Ontario so that we can get a chance to stop at the Kakabeka Falls.
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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

It started out fine enough. We packed up and headed out by noon. Found a Mr. Lube with the help of Jack and had a long due oil change done. Great kids working there. Very friendly and efficient except that one of them told me that I'd need to make a 'sharp right' out of the bay to avoid a pothole. When the oil change was done, he directed me out and sharply right into the garage door wall. The van is all scratched up on the rear passenger fender. There is no damage to performance and we couldn't stay for the manager to arrive. I got his card and profuse apologies from the guys at Mr. Lube. When I called the manager a couple of hours later, he didn't pick up. Maybe they close early on Sundays? I'll call again tomorrow.

Oh, and I think I'd better see to that new chip in the windshield too. :/
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247894243/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247894243/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247894243/tpod.html Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:59:11 -0400 Girls Going West

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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

We couldn't stay! Outhouses and no water to brush our teeth or shower? Nah, couldn't do it. We left the campsite after one night. I figured we could find a cheap hotel somewhere before Edmonton. It would have been 3 hours back and forth from the camp site to the West Edmonton Mall anyway so we packed up first thing in the morning and headed toward Edmonton. In the mean time Greg found us a hotel in West Edmonton and got us a room. Nobody has a better ex than I do!

First thing we did, of course was showered! Then we decided that since half the day was gone, we'd take advantage of this time to go see Harry Potter 6 at "The Mall" The movie was pretty good but the film broke part of the way through. Only delayed the movie by about 15 minutes or so. Tomorrow we explore the mall some more. It looks incredibly huge!

Yes, it's incredibly huge and just CRAZY! We arrived at the mall around 12:00. Melissa and I split up from Allison and Jamie for a couple of hours and then met up for a bit of lunch. It was a day of firsts. Melissa tried (and liked) cheese pizza for the first time ever and Jamie bought jeans! Jamie has never liked jeans so that's BIG! After lunch we went to the amusement park for a couple of hours and then went for dinner at Jungle Jim's on the mall's Bourbon Street.

Back at the hotel by 8:30 and chillin'. Tomorrow we head for Saskatchewan but I really need to get that oil change on the car so I think that will be a first thing once we get going thing.
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Hope, British Columbia, Canada

Well, it's time to slowly head back home. BC was/is beautiful and some place I will see more of in the future! Today it was a de-camp and travel day. We were out of Goldstream by 11:15 and on the way to Nanaimo where we took the ferry to Horseshoe Bay. Unfortunately the camera had no battery power left so I couldn't get any photos from the ferry this time. Another big load of laundry and a Greek restaurant for dinner and we had to say Goodbye to our tour guide Randy. Thanks so much for showing us your beautiful Province!

Tomorrow we head for Edmonton. And I need sleeeeep!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247892877/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247892877/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247892877/tpod.html Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:05:50 -0400 Girls Going West

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Hinton, Alberta, Canada

The drive from Hope, BC to Gregg Lake was gorgeous. We took the Coquihalla Highway (Yellowhead 5) that went right through Jasper. Stayed there for dinner before arriving at the William A. Switzer Provincial Park.

We got there just in time. The office was just about to close. We got to our site and set up. The sites were quite a bit closer and more open than in BC but the worst part was that when the girls went to check out the bathroom, we found that there was no running water. Meaning outhouses and a bottle of Purel at the door. Eeeeeeuuuuuwwww! The showers on the other group of sites were also not working because the park was having trouble with their water system. Needless to say, we were unhappy women! Went to bed after a bit of camp fire.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247727853/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247727853/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mady142/1/1247727853/tpod.html Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:09:11 -0400 Girls Going West

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Millstream, British Columbia, Canada

Site 31 at Rolley Lake was very popular. By 9:30 the next people were ready to set up. We had an 11:00 checkout though and we were out by 10:30. Allison started the day driving and got us to the Ferry at Tsawassen toward Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island. A nice hour and a half later we were driving toward Victoria and our campsite at Goldstream Provincial Park. The site we got was a little smaller than at Rolley Lake but we still had plenty of room. In the afternoon we went to find a laundromat (much needed) and did some groceries.

Day 2 on the Island brought us to Victoria where we went to the wax museum and the BC Museum with an IMAX presentation on the Serengeti. Weather was a little cool in the city but campfires at night kept us nice and warm.

On the 13th we took a nice long drive out to the Pacific Rim. Starting at outskirts of Ucluelet we drove along longbeach. Stopped at a rain forest and walked along Comber's Beach. Coffee and Ice cream in Tofino ended the afternoon. The weather was perfect for a walk on the beach. Melissa actually went all the way in and got covered in sand.

The 14th was another full day. Melissa, Randy and I walked down to find the Goldstream Falls in the morning before Allison and Jamie got up. They were just beautiful and very "zen". Back at the camp we had a nice big breakfast that took us to just about when we were supposed to leave to have lunch with Louise. We met Louise a little after 1 and had coffee and snacks with her for about an hour and a half. She directed us to the Mile 0 point where Terry Fox was to have ended his trek across the country at Beacon Hill. There was a really great beach there and we spent some time skipping rocks and finding some nice ones for Anna. Next it was Fisherman's wharf where we redeemed the coupons for Ice cream (Thanks Louise!) and tried deep fried oysters for the first time. (Well Allison and I did anyway) Another quick trip to the grocery store and we were set for our last night at Goldstream Park. Again, not enough time to do everything we'd have liked to do. We'll just have to go back some time!
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