Orangeburg to Ft Myers, Florida

Just a quick note to stop you from worrying: we arrived safe and sound.  The traffic was heavy and steady, and some drivers shouldn't.

The constabulary was busy giving out tickets to the faster ones, while tow trucks removed the inattentive ones.

Traffic added an hour and a half to our ETA and we stopped to unload shortly after 7pm.  There is still lots to do so I'll sign off for now.

Sleep well, we will...

Shippensburg PA to Orangeburg SC

Our early departure was at 8:57am, quite reasonable since we ordered a breakfast...  The temperature was only -10ºC, with significant wind, and the roads were dry.

The car is now caked with white salt, just like all the other Ontario, Québec and a few maritimes cars. A car wash will be a definite destination real soon...

While it warmed up to +9ºC, road volume was incredible.  Trucks, more trucks, cars and RVs of all sizes. There were many slow stretches with no visible reason: most dispelled as quickly as they appeared.

Eventually, all signs of snow disappeared, the horse farms looked larger and wealthier, and the traffic increased some more. The scenery changed from mountains to large hills, then to rolling farmland. All this under a very warm sun that just helped to cake the salt on the car.

Later in the afternoon, we decided that our 5:30pm arrival in Columbia SC would be too early to stop for the day.  We asked Carmen [our Garmin] to find a Ruby Tuesday; many were found, but most were behind us. We thought there might be one beyond Columbia, or we hoped there would be one. By 5pm we were a paltry 50 miles away, and out ETA turned to 6:30pm. The traffic began to crawl and it was starting to get very dark. We ended up stopping in Orangeburg where the first two hotels were full. Suddenly, we saw the Ruby Tuesday, just in front of three or more hotels nearby. We stopped in at the Country Inn & Suites and started a parade.  We got a room, and while we were signing in, couples just kept coming in. By the time we walked to the restaurant, there was still a line-up of new people.  Out timing could not have been better. Ruby Tuesday has a great salad bar and is always busy. Our projected wait was about 20 minutes, the actual wait was less than 10!  Again, timing, timing, timing...

Stittsville to Shippensburg PA

After a great party with our neighbours last night, we started off at the crack of dawn and left the house at 9:45 am.  Not bad considering that the weather watch was telling us that the windchill felt like -38º. [Celsius or Fahrenheit doesn't matter much, they are equal at -40º]

I can not remember ever loading the car in such cold temperatures...  Either way, loading was not pleasant, and wonders of wonders, we still have space in the trunk, how weird is that?  Or am I about to face some mad shopping...

After leaving the house, we picked up a slinky little black dress for a friend who we'll see in Florida. [no comments...]

The 401 was clear and fast, Customs was easy, and trip was on a good start.

 I had expected snow flurries, and light snow for the entire day.  We had neither.  

On the Interstate 81, we encountered lots of blowing snow, some fog, and a few snow 'white-outs'.  Something to watch for, but nothing to worry about.

By the time we reached Pennsylvania, we had expected lots of snow.  After all, one of their cities had 4 feet of snow in 30 hours: we expected snow, wouldn't you?

Pennsylvania had very little snow, and the roads were bone dry.

At the beginning of the day, our starting temperature of -38º, eventually changed into a -7ºC by the time we ended up in the lower parts of the Pennsylvania.

It was dark by 5:30 or so, and it didn't take long for us to hunker down for the night. We stopped around 6:30 in Shippensburg Pa., not the centre of the universe but a nice University town and we ended up at the Courtyard Marriott [great new build].

We went to CJ's for supper, which was unexpectedly better than good. My Caesar salad was a chunk of Romaine lettuce, seared on a BBQ, with homemade croutons, also seared, with a dipping sauce that ended up being phenomenal.  Go to CJ's and try it for yourself! 

We found a liquor store nearby, and the world is unfolding as it should.

We are likely beyond the snow problems and it might be clear sailing from here on.  ... sure hope so.

Home again...

After a fairly long day, 12 hrs, I arrived home safely, shortly after 9pm last night. Nothing exciting on the road except a few missed photo-ops.  One was a Canadian Tire sign that said: Guns now available. Isn't that sweet? Another missed opportunity [that was sweet] was a shot of four horses of graduated sizes with their necks over each other. Too bad I had just passed a large truck and I had nowhere to pull off...

The welcome home was wonderful, a quick wine at the neighbours was an unexpected treat. 

While I was away, Joan looked after the orchids and this plant is a beauty that my favourite sister gave me a year ago. It is the first time in bloom since transplanting, and if this plant gets bigger or has more blooms, I will have to make room by giving away a 'lesser' plant or two... A big bonus is that this flower also has a nice perfume. Twenty four blooms!

These hostas line the garage at the front of our house. They too were well looked after and look great. I'll have to go soon, those grassy bits in the stone don't belong there...

I don't know when the next road trip will be and hope you will read along as we go. It has been mentioned that leaving a message is difficult: I have made adjustments that hopefully will make messages easier to leave.  I look forward to them.  Take care.

Pukaskwa National Park

Pukaskwa NP is a large park that we have driven by many times over the years, even when we were camping. It is a little off the Trans Canada highway, and does not have serviced campsites. Yesterday was a good day to satisfy that itch. 

I arrived at the park after 4:30 and the light was good well into mid evening. I took the Southern Headland trail and part of the boardwalk trail.

In many places, the 'wilderness' touched one or the other elbow.  Neat! The views were grandiose and here is just a small sampling.

The lake is surrounded by forest and some trees will jump in the water to become driftwood. Here is one piece sitting in clear shallow water, a foreground for the greater vista.

The trail had many staircases, boardwalks, and bridges. In many cases, they made walking possible, not necessarily easy.  ...or am I showing my age?

Other places, the trail was over huge walls of smooth rock: easy to cross, but also easy to lose the trail...

Here's a one inch crack where plants have found a home. [click on picture to see larger]

This park is participating in the Parks Canada Red Chair program, where red chairs are situated at strategic spots with a view. Thankfully, these were at the top of a fairly steep and long climb.

These were the only chairs on my trail.

Dead trees and shrubs have this grey growth that completely envelops them, messy but pretty.

All along the way, the lapping waves could be heard in the background.

This little one inch plant surprised me: it looks very much like our hens and chickens.

Here is another alpine plant, seeking a suitable habitat in a small crevice in the rock.

Some of the lichen was very colourful.

This is a combination of coloured lichen and coloured rock; it covers about a square meter.

A beautiful crescent beach that reminded me of the beach in BC; both had driftwood, and were lined with forest.

Hope you enjoyed my walk; it is not to be missed if you are in the area. I found accommodations in Marathon, a half hour away.

Moosomin Sask., Spruce Woods Prov Park, High Bluff, Manitoba

Since yesterday was a short driving day, I took a side road at Moosomin Sask. and made a few pictures while being pushed around by constant high winds.

I had been driving by windmills for about an hour and this was not the best place to see a high concentration of them.  Maybe the yellow canola plants will compensate...

Here is the canola up close and personal; the grasses in the foreground are being pushed around by the winds and show some interesting patterns. [you can click on any picture and see larger versions]

Sometimes fields do not follow straight lines like fences; this becomes quite apparent with canola...

Later in the afternoon, I took a walk in the Spruce Wood Provincial Park, in Manitoba. It was a beautiful day, but was very warm as the trees blocked out the wind. 

As you can see, I was the only person at this end of the park.  The literature warns of Black Bears, so I became concerned until I realized that the small bear was likely more afraid of me...  At any rate, I didn't see him so he didn't see me, right?

After the 2km walk, I drove to another part of the park where I encountered this tree loaded with colourful pieces of cloth, blowing in the heavy winds. I suspect it was the centre piece of a recent Native gathering.

By mid afternoon, I arrived at Heather and Michel's in High Bluff. As I mentioned in the last post, they are master gardeners.

This was just in front of where I parked the car; what a welcoming sight.

This is essentially a view from their large deck, as well as part of the view from the breakfast table.

Walking around the many different gardens, I made these shots to share the variety and beauty of these magical places.

Even the plants had their own chairs and table for  their daily chat.

Before I left this morning, I was given five more plants for our own hosta shade garden.  I will have to take very good care of them since Michel will be coming to Ottawa in September. Mind you, that won't be too difficult since they are very strong and healthy plants. I'll have to remember to crack the windows when I leave the car so I don't toast or roast these fine gifts.

Okotoks to Whitewood

Back on the road again, and a surprise return to Whitewood Saskatchewan.

After a busy and very satisfying visit in Okotoks, driving into the sun for a few hours got pretty old, pretty quickly. There was a fair bit of construction that slowed things down, but a heavy tail-wind gave me better mileage, and I like the better mileage.

The scenery is not as boring as many people think, but stopping to make pictures was difficult. Roadside pull-offs are nothing more than a few parking spaces with a garbage can or two: none of these pull-offs was made with a stunning view in mind. The pretty interesting landscapes did not have convenient streets to access them, so they'll have to remain in my memory until I forget.

A short day tomorrow as I stop in to visit my first nephew and family near Portage la Prairie.

Today was the coolest day for this week, but also possibly the windiest. The heat returns soon, and might just follow me home.

Sorry, no pictures today; tomorrow I'll be visiting fantastic gardeners, so pictures should not be a problem.

Okotoks Scooter Park

The boys and I spent some time at the Okotoks Scooter Park. This was my first time seeing Jacob ride his BMX bike at the park. I was amazed at the skills acquired in only a few months.

The trick here is to land on the wheels, no foot on the ground, after jumping in the air and flipping your bike around.  Even the shadow looks difficult to make!

Here is Eric doing a similar trick on his scooter.

One of the less spectacular tricks is to spin your front wheel while moving forward; much more difficult than it seems.

Flying high requires good tongue muscles...

Here is Nick building up a head of steam...

The next two pictures are of Eric slapping his scooter around so he can land on it after one or more revolutions.

This too requires a flexible tongue...

Nanton Air Museum

Nick took a couple of days off so we are having a longish weekend.  Mind you, Colleen and Jacob still have to go to work...  Sad...

Nick, Eric and I drove down to Nanton Alberta and stopped in at their Air Museum. Here's Eric in the mockup cockpit of an old second world war Lancaster KB-864 of No. 428 Squadron RCAF.

Next are father and son in the same plane. Each 'diver' signifies a successful mission; quite telling.

Here are Father and son again in a training module of the huge Lancaster bomber.

Ever the game-player, Eric is attempting a loop-the-loop in the Lancaster, without success or damage...

Eric does look good in a Snow Bird doesn't he?

Just caught my eye...

Nanton also has a famous candy store: here's just one of the many spaces crammed with candy.

Nanton also has a few Grain Elevators; could not resist these two.

We had lunch at Ken's restaurant where Nick discovered a 'much better than average' hamburger and fries.  My hamburger steak was great also.  Could be a recommended destination when you are nearby...

Okotoks Skate park, Beatrice Windham Reserve

A few errands to run, then the local scooter park and Beatrice Windham Reserve

Here is Eric just about to land on a rail. Jumping up from a flat surface needs practice and Eric seems to have mastered it.

Another viewpoint of a similar slide down the same ramp.

Just a happy snap of a very little boy walking his bike around this runner's track. It had to take him at least 20 minutes to complete the track: good for him.

Further down the park, this copse of trees caught my fancy.

Eric and I then drove to the Beatrice Windham Reserve; one of Alberta's wildlife areas.  Unfortunately, developers are encroaching in every direction, and this small wildlife area will be under severe threat in the future.

Right now, there are lots of ducks and geese, as well as other marsh inhabitants. Unfortunately, most birds are fairly distant, and they wisely avoid us humans.

Things are pretty good for the natives ducks as you can see from this large brood of ducks. I hope they live long and prosper.

Frank Lake Reserve

Once again, quality time with Eric. 

Here we are at High River Scooter Park, and Eric just slid on the rail on the left, and is doing a trick dismount.  Hard to believe he landed that trick, isn't it.

Later we drove to the Frank Lake Reserve, a Ducks Unlimited project. We came here a few years ago when there was more water and less water grasses.

Here is one of the local birds, just hanging out in the ever-present grasses.

There is a bird-viewing building at the end of a walkway. 

These  baby swallows were under the building eves, waiting for a parent to feed them. A kind birdwatcher told us where they were: how generous.

Here is the parent with food for a two second feed, talk about quick!

This is likely a female Ruddy Duck.

The background is a type of pond scum; rich in nutrients but not usually pretty.

The male Ruddy Duck has a brilliant blue bill. How cool is that... 

Here is a swallow parent having a quick rest. It was quite hot so spreading the wings a bit to cool the core was in order.