The Old Fart's Adventure To Calgary

Day Nine

2006-01-11T01:45:00.000-07:00

Regina, Saskatchewan. 18 April, 1996

Thursday morning, it is 0700 hrs, I wake up to a major thunder and lightning storm that was brewing to the far south the night before. I get Roxy and Barney bundled into the flea, and stop at the restaurant for a coffee. We then get westbound and are driving through heavy rain and wind. I am listening to a radio station in Saskatoon. Why it isn’t Regina I don’t know but the weather forecast for Saskatoon is snow falling and Regina is forecast to get snow. What am I in for? I wonder if it is going to be one of these Prairie blizzards I heard about. By Moose Jaw the rain is down to a drizzle and the wind is over. By Swift Current I gas up again and the sun is out. Somewhere we lose the twinned highway but twins again just before Alberta

Saskatchewan – Alberta Border. 18 April, 1996

In no time we have crossed into Alberta. The sign besides being welcomed into Alberta is the sign that say trees from out of province are not allowed as they may contain disease. Another three hrs I will be in Calgary. At Medicine Hat I gas up for the last time. Next Scheduled stop is Calgary. They say the best roads are in Alberta and I must agree with the saying. Parts of the highway in every province were good. About the only other highway that stands out is # 20 in Quebec.

I quit listening to my tapes and turn the radio back on. I get listening to CBC in Calgary and the afternoon show out of Calgary is on. One caller calls in and gets talking about Colleen Jones in Halifax and how she keeps forecasting the weather wrong for the west. The host on the radio gives Colleen the benefit of the doubt and sticks up for her.

At Strathmore the Rocky Mountains begin to show on the horizon and a half an hour before getting to Calgary the downtown looms ahead and the Calgary Tower is very present. Soon I am into the city limits. Welcome to Calgary. I have to watch for the ramp to the southbound lanes of Deerfoot Trail. I find the ramp and soon will be at Edie’s. It is here I realize the drivers on the Deerfoot are crazier than the drivers in Montreal. Roxy and Barney slept for most of the trip. They slept across every border crossing into the next province. But while we are traveling down the Deerfoot, both are wide awake and wondering where they are headed.

Anyhow this is the adventure Roxy, Barney and I had driving across Canada. I hope you had a good read. When I re-read the story after putting it down almost 10 yrs ago, it was nice to read it again. I have edited the original story a bit and fine-tuned it with updated information I remember from the trip. The majority of the story has stayed as is.

I gassed up 19 times. Once in Nova Scotia, twice in New Brunswick, twice in Quebec, nine times in Ontario, twice in Manitoba, twice in Saskatchewan, and once in Alberta. I only spent $300.00 something in gas and this is hauling 200 something lbs on the back of the flea and with a heavy foot in some places.

Roxy and Barney have survived the trip and Barney got used to the truck. It was about Thunder Bay he finally realized he wasn’t on the way to see his vet. They have made themselves home here in Calgary and soon they will have their own place to rattle around in.

Postscript

Calgary, Alberta. 11 January, 2006

Many things have changed since I composed this story. Not too long after getting here to Calgary, Roxy, Barney and I moved into our apartment where Roxy, Haimish and I are still living. I got working in the Theatres around Calgary almost right away. My first Theatre was Market Mall and then got more work at Eau Claire Cinemas and did spare work at The Corral 4 Drive in. In July I went to the Westhills to open the Cinema. I was put on helping with the Installation and fine tuning of the the booths. In August I got Second Bid on the cinemas and it turned out I was the last Projectionist to work at the Cinemas until the Popcorn Kids took over running the show. I also worked at the Coliseum and the Crowfoot as well as the Silver City, Chinook, and Canyon Meadows Cinemas.

July 1997, Edie, Mike, Mark and Courtney moved to Ontario, but I decided to stay in Calgary. My new friends were out here, and I really didn’t want to make another move so soon. I also had the second bid on the Westhills, and didn’t want to give that up. All was going well and then while I was visiting Edie, Mike, and Mark & Courtney, in 2000 Barney took sick and lasted long enough to for me to get home. He lasted the weekend but I had to put him to sleep as he was sick. Haimish came to stay about a week later and still is here with Roxy and myself. You can read all about Roxy, Barney and Haimish on their own pages on my webpage.

In 2003 I know I was looking at the end of the line in the booth in 2005. I elected to take the buyout early, and get away from Famous Players and an international union who didn’t care for the Projectionists and gave our jobs away. (IATSE you know who you are) and went back to college. I enrolled into Bow Valley College’s “Computer Technician Program” and in 2004 became a Certified Computer Technician. Before this I got a job at the Westhills Petro Canada and became a GSA, Guest Service Attendant. I had this job from April 2003 until I got my job at Shaw Communication in March 2005. For awhile, I had two jobs at the same time. For a bit, I work at a sign shop, but when I got my job at Shaw as a Technical Support Representative, I quickly gave up the sign shop job. I lasted a couple of weeks more at the Petro Canada.

Also in 2003 I found out age had caught up on me, and I now have to wear glasses. They need to be changed and I got to make an appointment soon to have the eyes checked again, I think it is time for Bi-focals. In August I got taking funny spells with the health and got some blood work done. I found out my cholesterol is through the roof. I tried to control it without taking any tablets, but 3 months later found out it was higher than it was in August. So now I am taking Lipitor. I have to take one a day at suppertime. I got back in February to see if the tablets and the dieting are still working.

Beside Barney passing away in 2000, I had some dear friends pass away. My first friend was Donald back in Nova Scotia. He died in 1999. My friend Jennifer who I met while working at the Crowfoot Cinemas died in 2003. Then last January my buddy Charlie died while having surgery in Saskatoon. It will be a year 28 January. One good thing that turned out, is I have learned to enjoy my friends I have, and have come to cherish the friendships I have made.

One nice thing is a year ago I have actively got back into going to church. Through my friends Don and Maureen, I have found a nice little Church I enjoy attending. I don’t get to Church as often as I would like, but I do go when I can if I am able to.

It has been an interesting last 10 years. I have made a few trips to visit Edie, Mike, and Mark & Courtney in Ontario. I have made one trip to Nova Scotia back in 2001. It was nice to get back, but Calgary is home. I will be here until the Good Lord calls me home. I have decided Calgary is where I want to be.

Day Eight

2006-01-10T01:12:00.000-07:00

Dryden, Ontario. 17 April, 1996

Wednesday morning, 0730 hrs and Roxy, Barney and I are on our way again. Soon we are passing through Kenora and it is time to gas up again. I never realized that I would be missing the Canadian Shield as there is nothing but trees, trees and more trees. When I gas up at Kenora I can still smell the oil burning and I think about it, but the oil light isn’t coming on so I don’t worry too much. It is here in Kenora the Cellular signal returns and I will not lose it anymore.

Ontario – Manitoba Border. 17 April, 1996

It takes over 2 days to cross Ontario, from Quebec to Manitoba. Soon we are out of the trees and into the start of the Prairie. Manitoba looks so different from Ontario. The Trans Canada is twinned again and has become Highway # 1.

It seems like no time before we are into Winnipeg. The last time I was here was 16 yrs ago when Mum, Dad and I passed through our way to British Columbia on the train. When we are getting close to the city, the eastbound and westbound lanes of the highway seem to be built on dikes. There is a bit of flooding going on and I wonder if I will be getting past this before the waters let go. Just before the city you can take the bypass and avoid the city all together. It is here on the bypass I got to stop and tie the tarp back down on flea, and when I get out I find out how windy it really is.

When I get through the bypass I stop again to gas up, and I still smell the oil burning. I refill the flea, drain the bladder and refill the coffee. Once back on Highway #1 I make good time but feel a vibration coming off the road. It turns out to be ridges in the road, and the vibration soon ends. I don’t have to stop again until Brandon and take a 20-minute rest to cool down the flea and water Roxy and Barney. It is hot and sunny now and the winds have died down.

Manitoba – Saskatchewan Border. 17 April, 1996

Soon we are crossing into Saskatchewan. There isn’t too much in the way of population or towns of any size anywhere near where I am. The major towns are spread far apart. Somewhere east of Regina I stop for another bit of a rest and to let Roxy and Barney have a bit of a look. The Prairies are a nice change from Northern Ontario and the Prairies are not that flat either. Soon I will be in Regina and I will be glad, I have been driving another 13 hrs.

In no time Regina looms into the horizon and soon we are on twinned highway again. I forget where we lost the twinned highway in Manitoba but up until here, the #1 highway is a two-lane blacktop. Just like the movie that stars James Taylor, Dennis Wilson and Warren Oates. It is time to quit driving for the day and I gas up at a truck stop East of Regina, and the attendant checks the oil and wonders where the oil cap is. The mystery is solved as to why the burning oil smell. So now I have to find a Mazda Dealer.

From the truck stop that I am at, I find out where the Mazda Dealer is. So at 1630 hrs Roxy, Barney and I are on our way to downtown Regina to buy an oil cap. I have no problem finding the dealer. It is good to get the new oil cap and when you think about it I was lucky. I was spraying oil all the way from Ignace, Ontario to Regina, Saskatchewan. I only lost a half a litre, I could have had the motor seize up on me. Well Dad always used to say “Experience is the best teacher”. From now on I will sure the oil cap is on tight from now on.

After I get back to the truck stop, I book a motel room. I get Roxy and Barney settled and then to the restaurant to get supper. Of all the places I stopped along the road to get something to eat, this was the best place. I call Edie to let her know how far along I got. I am talking to Courtney and have a nice chat with her. Edie is out to the store.

After supper I return back to the room, call Edie and let her know where I am and she tells me the Trans Canada in Winnipeg washed out behind me where it looked like I was driving on dikes. Barney is crashed on the bed out for the count, Roxy is somewhere else. I watch TV for a bit and wonder why the American Channels are coming from Detroit and not Minneapolis, I am tired and my mind has turned off. Far to the south, I see storm clouds on the horizon and the sound of thunder is in the distance. I am so tired I fall asleep with the storm brewing, tomorrow Calgary.

Day Seven

2006-01-09T00:58:00.000-07:00

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. 16 April, 1996.

Tuesday morning this is going to be a long day, though at 0700 hrs I don’t know how long. Roxy, Barney and I are westbound on the Trans Canada again and we basically have it to ourselves. There is some snow on the road, but the going is good. I must mention here you lose your cellular connection west of Sault Ste. Marie. Actually you lose cellular around Blind River and with the exception of Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay and don’t get the signal back until Kenora, a good 15 hrs from Sault Ste. Marie. So make sure your vehicle is in good working order as if you have trouble, you may as well get out and stand on the roof and holler for help as your cellular will be no good.

After Sault Ste. Marie the trip through the Canadian Shield starts. Rock, Rock and more Rock I forgot how boring the trip through Northern Ontario could be. It didn’t seem to take as long on the train to get through this part of the Country. After the Shield, we will have lots of trees to get through.

There are a lot of places the Trans Canada seems to go straight up and then straight down. The rock over hangs the highway in a few places as well. Many signs along the way say to watch of fallen rock. The fist place of any size after the Sault is Wawa and there isn’t that much to do in Wawa. The next place of a good size population is White River. After this it is Marathon where I gas up again and decide to get some lunch for myself and tend to Roxy and Barney. A&W is lunch for me, and the CD diet for Roxy and Barney. It is around here Barney seems to be getting used to the Flea but it will be Thunder Bay before he is used to the trip.

By Marathon the sun has come out and it makes the drive along the North Shore of Lake Superior really pretty. Lots of steep hills though and they have no passing lanes. There is no room to make a passing lane. It is after the hills there are the passing lanes along the flat land where the passing lanes can be put down. I am also surprised at the lack of traffic along the Trans Canada as it is the only road through here and all along the Trans Canada the towns and villages seem more plentiful. It must be the time of year, I can only imagine the traffic at the height of the tourist season. Even getting into Thunder Bay there isn’t much traffic it’s not until you are right in the city that you hit the traffic.

After Thunder Bay the Trans Canada seems to go through nowhere. It‘s not until Ignace that I see more than a couple of cars. I gas up at Ignace and decide to have the oil level checked. The oil is down about half a litre and I top up the level and later on find out I didn’t put the cap back on. Story to be explained later in the tale.

When I get to Dryden it is about 13 hrs since we left Sault Ste. Marie. These next three days will be the longest days for driving. I have got to the point where I am crossing time zones and keep going. But I think it is time to find a motel. Along the Trans Canada there is a motel village. When I finally get a motel room and start unloading the flea, I smell the oil burning. I don’t think too much about it as I figure it is the flea being pushed a bit hard and being driven 13 hrs. After getting Roxy and Barney settled, I head out to the McDonalds next to the motel to get supper.

At the motel I find out from the fellow who owns it that a lady from Antigonish cleans the motel. He says her name is Hemlow and I tell him I went to school in the 1970’s with a Primrose Hemlow. He was going to ask his cleaner if she was related. After I eat my supper I settle down and write a letter to my friend Don in Bridgewater as I know he will enjoy getting the letter.

Day Six

2006-01-08T01:22:00.000-07:00

Torrance, Ontario. 15 April, 1996

Monday 0800 hrs we are headed out on our journey. It is sad to leave Marg and Raymond as I really had a good time while there. I was treated like family but all good things must come to an end. Anyhow I have Calgary to look forward to.

The day starts out nice and sunny. We are traveling west on Highway # 169 to connect to Trans Canada Highway # 69. We get onto the Trans Canada at Parry Sound and # 69 goes as far as Sudbury where it ends and joins Trans Canada Highway # 17 from Ottawa. We will be on Highway # 17 as far as the Manitoba border.

After Parry Sound there isn’t too much to see except a lot of barren waste land and it is here that you know if you have car trouble you don’t expect to see any body else to help. The speed along Highway # 17 is 90 kph max. You seem to be able to do what you want though as you don’t see too many members of the OPP.

One thing I did notice here is you know you are coming into some sort of civilization as you soon see lots of billboards along the Highway. This is more so in Ontario than anywhere else. I guess it has to be something to do with there being nothing between the towns and the Powers that be not wanting drivers not used to the area panicking.

At Sudbury the # 69 bypasses the town. We gas up at Lively and then get back onto the # 17 and continue on with the journey. By Blind River we run into a snowstorm and some places it is really bad and the visibility is next to nothing. By Sault Ste. Marie I decide to stay for the rest of the day. Just east of the Sault we gas up again. We then find a really nice motel along the Trans Canada and crash for the rest of the day.

I turn on the TV to get the weather forecast for tomorrow. It is a decent forecast and I then grab a shower then I snack on the food Aunt Betsy packed for me. There isn’t that much to do so I watch TV and sleep. When I wake up I give my friend Jackie a call to let her know how far I have got, and to let Don know I am doing ok as I know he is worried about me.

Day Five

2006-01-07T00:57:00.000-07:00

Torrance, Ontario. 14 April, 1996

Sunday morning I go to Church with Marg and Raymond. It is a nice feeling to go to church. It has been a long while that I have been to church. For lunch we have my World Famous corn chowder. Marg makes the biscuits. Marg and I have two helpings. There is a lot of chowder left. After lunch Raymond and I go to Gravenhurst to do some laundry and gas the Flea .

While the laundry is being done Raymond and I take the Flea to be gassed up and then we have a coffee at Tim Hortons. Why is it no matter where you go, all Tim Horton's look the same. Gravenhurst is a really nice town. Today it is nice and sunny and the temperatures are starting to get warm. I am telling Raymond how busy the roads seem to be in Ontario. We are in Cottage Country and a lot of folks from Toronto come to their cottages on the weekend. This must be true, as more traffic seems to be heading back to Toronto than heading North.

After the laundry is done, we head back to Torrance. I meet Raymond’s sister Evelyn. I met Lucas and Ellie the day before. I then take a nap, which Roxy and Barney enjoy, as they have me for company. After I get up it is nearly suppertime. Tonight it is the roast beef and all the trimmings.

After supper the phone rings and it is a chap I met at Church earlier in the day. He wanted to know something about Antigonish. I have a nice chat with him and then join Marg and Raymond in the living room. We watch a movie on TV, Captive Heart: The James Mink Story.

It is about James Mink who is a freed black man in Canada and has a successful livery business. He enjoys a happy marriage and has a beautiful daughter Mary. An match is arranged with an American businessman, but when he takes his new wife across the border his true character emerges - he sells her into slavery. James and Elizabeth must go to Virginia to rescue their daughter. The movie has a happy ending and stars Louis Gossett Jr. After the movie Raymond and I sit up and have a yarn about this and that as this will be the last time we visit for awhile. Tomrorow Roxy, Barney and I continue on our journey.

Day Four

2006-01-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

Chateauguay, Quebec. 13 April, 1996

Saturday morning, 0800 hrs. I spend the morning visiting with Aunt Betsy and Uncle David. Uncle David is telling me how margarine has to be white in color in Quebec as it cannot be the color of butter. I have my picture taken standing next to the Flea. Aunt Betsy has something for Mark and Courtney in Calgary. Uncle David gives me a bottle of Cologne that was made in Latavia. It is sad saying goodbye but it is time to get on the road for Torrance.

The weather is nice and sunny and the temperatures are warm. Spring comes a bit earlier to Quebec then it does in the Maritimes. I hope the weather stays nice for the trip, but about halfway to Torrance the weather changes. I am in for another storm. It is like I am having obstacles thrown in my path to see how I am going to cope.

Roxy, Barney and I are on the road again. We have to retrace our steps until the Mercier Bridge then we have to cross over the Saint Lawrence to get to the #20 to take us to the Ontario Border.. When we are passing through Dorval my cell rings and it is my cousin Alice. She wants to know how far I am and how the trip is going. I let her know everything is fine and we are doing well. I Promise to call when I get to Calgary and let her know how I got along.

I must mention here I had no problem speaking to the people of Quebec. Everyone spoke to me in English when I apologized to them saying I was from Nova Scotia and couldn’t speak French. I found the people in Quebec very friendly and warm towards strangers. Even the little old lady who ran the convenience store in the Heart of Separatist Quebec where I stopped. God Bless the good folks in Quebec.

Quebec – Ontario Border. 13 April, 1996

I finish my trip through Quebec and before we know it, Highway # 20 is ending and Highway # 401 is beginning. I have just gassed up beyond the Quebec Border. I am no longer on the Trans Canada Highway. I won’t see the Trans Canada again until after Whitby.

There is going to be a lot of road work done this summer on the # 401. At a lot of places, the upper layer of tar is removed to be repaved at a later time. My friend Don is right, at Kingston you see the signs along the road stating the different fines involved with speeding. 100 kph zero fine, Up to 115 kph around $95.00, 135 kph $200.00 and up. Right around these signs you see the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) on the roads. All along the # 401 the median has 10 foot weeds growing. In these weeds sit the OPP. Around Kingston I was coming along at 100 kph and guess who was sitting in the weeds? I guess he must have been looking for bigger fish to fry as he didn’t bother me.

By Belleville I hit a bad rain storm. I travel along the # 401 until I get to Whitby. Just before Whitby I gas up again. I then travel along Highway # 12 until it heads to Orillia. As I am traveling along the # 12, I notice the rain storm had turned into an ice storm with high winds. We slow down and take our time. I have to take the # 169 to Washago. Before this Highway # 7 from Peterborough joins the # 12. We then are on the Trans Canada again. At Washago I take Highway # 11 to Gravenhurst. At Gravenhurst I leave the # 11 and take continue on the # 169 to a place called Torrance. Here I will call it a day.

My friends Marg and Raymond live here. My buddy Don said you take the second road into Torrance to get to his Mum’s. Don Said she lives across from Ward’s Plumbing. Of course I get lost again. I drive by the house three times. It doesn’t look the same as in the picture Don has on his living room wall in Bridgewater. I finally find the place when Raymond comes out, to flag me down.

When I get to Torrance the ice storm is bad. The power goes out not too long after I arrive. The roast beef supper we are having is re-scheduled for Sunday Night. The power goes out around 1630 hrs and comes back on about 2 hours later.

I have a really good time staying in Torrance. Outside Marg’s picture window and across the road is the Main Line for the CNR between Toronto and Capreol. I am in heaven and there are a lot of trains to watch that weekend. I video tape one and think about Dad and know he would love to be here as well.

After supper we watch the Grand Street Parade from last summer’s Highland Games Parade in Antigonish. It sort of makes me a bit homesick for Nova Scotia. After this we just sit around and chat. Raymond and I play cards. Roxy and Barney are in my bedroom. Barney hides under the bed until I retire for the evening and go to bed.

Day Three

2006-01-05T01:53:00.000-07:00

Chateauguay, Quebec 12 April, 1996.

Friday morning turns into a nice sunny day. I had a good sleep from the night before. I walk to the mall and meet Cindy. It is good to see her again. Cindy tells me about their move to Edmonton in June. I give Cindy the address where I am going to be staying. Cindy will contact us when she gets to Alberta. I buy two post cards and mail them off. One is for Jackie and Karen, the other is for the Cinema Crew.

I spend a lot of the time visiting with Aunt Betsy and Uncle David. I know it will be awhile before I can visit with them again. We talk about the old times, Mum and Dad, how it will be fun visiting Edie, Mike, Mark and Courtney in Calgary and being able to be close to them.

Later in the day we get a telephone call from Edie, Mike has found a job posting with Famous Players and Edie has called to say Mike has faxed my resume to them. Aunt Betsy thinks this is good and I think it is not so good. Once the brains at Famous Players see that I am part of the union, they will throw the resume away.

That afternoon I spend some time sitting the flea visiting with Roxy and Barney listening to AM Radio CJAD 800. While staying in Chateauguay, I have become a fan of talk radio. The news comes on and we hear about severe weather up the line. The news is not good and there is flooding in Manitoba around Winnipeg. I look at Roxy and Barney and they watch me with the trusting eyes and I wonder what I am getting ourselves in for.

It is supper time and Aunt Betsy is calling me in. After supper we sit and talk and just enjoy each other’s company. I think about the last time I was in Chateauguay and it was when Mum, Dad and I made our trip to British Columbia and home on the Train in 1980. I am going to miss Aunt Betsy and Uncle David when I head out tomorrow.

I go back to the flea to spend a bit more time with Roxy and Barney and feed and water them. Have a couple more smokes and catch the news again. The flooding is getting worse and I don’t realize how bad, until I get to Winnipeg. But you will read all about that when we get there. Later I go and visit Edgar at his place. I meet his girlfriend, she is really nice. Tomorrow Roxy, Barney and I are off to Torrance, Ontario.

Day Two

2006-01-04T01:25:00.000-07:00

Woodstock, New Brunswick 11 April, 1996

Thursday morning it is 0730 hrs and turned out to be a nice sunny day. Roxy, Barney and I are about to resume the journey to Calgary. We gas up in Woodstock and after I get my coffee we are Westbound on the Trans Canada. Most of the traffic is heading east. We will be in Montreal by this afternoon. New Brunswick is a pretty province, now that I can see a bit further past the hood of the flea. There are not too mamy passing lanes in New Brunswick, but I don't have to worry about this as there isn't that much traffic. I can only imagine what this road is like at the height of the tourist season.

This part of the trip is very scenic, and the Trans Canada seems to meander over hill and dale. You can tell the Trans Canada was not that well thought out when it was designed in the 1950's/60's. Though back then, the highways wern't that busy and there was nowhere near the traffic there is today. We are in the farming area of New Brunswick. By Grand Falls it is cloudy again and when we get to Edmunston it is snowing again. The snow plows are out cleaning the highway. By the time I cross into Quebec it is another blizzard.

New Brunswick – Quebec Border 11 April, 1996

When you cross into Quebec all the signs are in French. The only English sign I saw when I crossed over into Quebec was the one saying Radar Detectors are Illegal in Quebec. There isn’t any sign of snow plows at all and the Trans Canada is ice covered. This will turn out to be the worst part of the Trans Canada in all the country. This little stretch of Trans Canada, # 185 connects New Brunswick with highway #20, the Trans Canada at Riviere du Loup.

At Riviere du Loup I gas up again. An hour west of Riviere du Loup the weather is sunny and warm. I put the hammer down and try to make up for lost time. Somewhere past Riviere du Loup I swing off the # 20 to get some water for Roxy and Barney. The Flea has heated up a bit with the warm sun. This is in the heart of Separatist County. The Little Old Lady who is running the convenience store doesn't seem to be too happy about helping me with directions back to the # 20. She only seems to want to speak French and doesn't seem to understand what I want to say.

This is until I tell her about Roxy and Barney being in the truck and needing water. She then speaks in English, though broken and gives me the directions back to the # 20 and tells me there is a rest stop down the way where I can get water for the cats. Then wishes me Bon Chance on my journey.

The nice thing about traveling along the # 20 is there are rest stops every 30 to 40 miles. Here you can take a break from the driving and have a rest and freshen up. It was here at these stops I fed and watered Roxy and Barney. It also rested the flea.

The next time I gas up is in Drummondville. It paid to have Roxy and Barney along for the trip. People would come along and see them and say hello. I think there a few cat lovers in Quebec. A lady who was gassing up in Drummondville the same time I was called us voyageurs when she found out we were on our way to Calgary.

It was here in Drummondville I got directions on how to avoid the Lafontaine tunnel which passes under the Saint Lawrence River. I wanted to stay on the south side of the river and get on the #15 which travels through Chateauguay and eventually finishes at the US Border. The Lady at the Tourist Information Center said to watch for the signs that said #20 and the bridges. Jacques Cartier, Victoria, and Champlain.

Everyone that gave advice about avoiding the tunnel with the exception of one said to stay in the far left lane of highway # 20. So here we are traveling down the # 20 at 110 kph keeping up with traffic. I am on the entrance to the tunnel before I know it. I see the off ramp to the # 20 and the bridges over at the right lane. I take a look over my shoulder and cross over two lanes of traffic to get to this ramp. I hit the ramp at 100 kph. I figure this has to be one of the worst designed off ramps in all of Canada. You make a very hard right as soon as you exit, then while climbing you make a hard left all the while you are climbing to cross over the #15 which is multi lane divided. Then you make another sharp left while you are descending to merge with the # 15. The lanes of the # 15 seem to come from all directions. This off ramp has two lanes that exit off of the # 20 and both merge into the # 15. The # 15 and # 20 are combined until the # 20 uses the Champlain Bridge to cross over to Montreal Island and the # 15 continuing to the United States.

I get to Chateauguay in one piece, though about 24 hrs behind schedule. I manage to turn off at the wrong Esso and get lost. Anyhow I eventually find Aunt Betsy and Uncle David’s. I freshen up and Aunt Betsy has made a great Ham supper. It is nice to see Aunt Betsy and Uncle David, and Edgar comes for a visit after he gets off work. Later in the evening before I head off to bed, I go and sit with Roxy and Barney in the Flea and listen to the radio for a spell. Roxy and Barney are to live in the Flea while we are staying in Chateauguay, they learn to cope.

Day One

2006-01-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. 10 April, 1996

Wednesday morning it is 0430 hrs. I’m pretty much ready to leave. I have the truck loaded with the things I needed at Jackie’s for the last couple of days I stayed there. All that is left is to load Roxy & Barney in the Flea and we are off. The last place I buy something in Bridgewater is at the Sobeys. I get a couple of packs of smokes. Little did I know how much I would smoke on the trip to Calgary.

By 0455 hrs we are on Highway # 103 heading East. You have to travel East to Halifax before heading North on Highway # 102 to the Trans Canada Highway # 104 to travel West. I have the road basically to myself until the other side of Halifax when I get on to Highway # 102. I call my friend George and wake him up. I telephone to say goodbye and tell George I will contact him when I finally pitch the tent in Calgary and put down roots. The trip so far is pretty much uneventful. Little did I know what was in store when I got into New Brunswick?

By Truro I am at the point I need to gas up. When I saw the gas getting to half a tank I filled up. I stop at the Esso and fill up. This would be the last time I get gas in Nova Scotia. The lady pumping the gas in Truro is cute, but that is another story.

Finally we are on Trans Canada Highway # 104. Most of the # 104 is twinned to the New Brunswick border. The only exception is Death Valley. This is where the Trans Canada passes through the Wentworth Valley. The Cobequid bypass is under construction. When I make my return visit to Nova Scotia in 3 to 4 years all the Trans Canada between Amherst and New Glasgow should be twinned.

Passing through the Wentworth Valley I can see the storm clouds lurking on the horizon. When I got to Amherst, the little puffs of snow start. It is here I call Francis on my cellular to see if he and Debbie still want to meet in Sussex, New Brunswick. Francis tells me that they have a previous engagement and they can’t meet for coffee in Sussex. I ask Francis what the weather is like. Francis says it is bad and wishes me Good Luck.

At this point after I hang up with Francis, I am reminded of the movie “Airport” and the scene where the air traffic controller wishes Dean Martin good luck as he and Barry Nelson are about to land the 707 in Chicago in a raging Blizzard after Van Heflin blows a hole in the starboard Loo with a bomb he has jerry rigged together. Little did I know at this point of the journey, I would need all the luck I had on the trip to Calgary. But we will get into this as the story progresses.

Nova Scotia - New Brunswick Border. 10 April, 1996

I am into New Brunswick. Trans Canada Highway # 2. By Sussex the snow has turned into a Blizzard. I gas up just west of Sussex where the highway heads to Fredericton. I am back on the road and see the roam light on my cell has lit up. I try to use the phone and the call is not allowed. I try again, the same thing, I think to myself isn’t this nice? So here I am at a pay phone along the highway talking to a lady at Maritime Tel and Tel Mobility trying to find out why my cell isn’t working.

The nice lady at MT&T says everything at their end is fine and whoever programmed my cell must have put a restriction on it that the phone can only be used in Nova Scotia. She suggests I go to the dealer who sold me the phone and get them to check out the settings. I tell her I bought the phone at a Radio Shack in Bridgewater, and I figure the closest one is in Fredericton. This is the second time today I can remember being wished Good Luck.

So here I am, traveling through New Brunswick in a Blizzard with a phone that doesn’t work and on the way to Fredericton to find a Radio Shack Dealer. I should mention here this is the only the second time I am driving in New Brunswick The only other time is when I am taking a friend to the Ferry Terminal very late in the night to meet the Ferry at Cape Tormentine to pick up a dog. I know the drive would be pretty if wasn’t for the blizzard. The Trans Canada is following the Saint John River. I must make this trip again someday when the weather is better.

We finally make it to the Eastern outskirts of Fredericton. I stop at an Irving Service Station to get directions to the nearest Radio Shack dealer. The fellow at the Irving tells me to stay on the Trans Canada and cross the Princess Margaret Bridge over the Saint John River. What a big bridge. Anyhow I have to find the Regent Mall. Needless to say I find the mall and get the cellular reprogrammed to roam. So what do I do when the cell is fixed? I call Stuart and Barb in Bridgewater to see if it will roam. Duh!!

Any how we are back on our journey to Calgary. We are now on the West side of the Saint John River. You cannot see where you are going. Everything is at a crawl on the Trans Canada. By Woodstock I had enough because of the blizzard I am getting tired. You cannot see past the hood of the flea. So it is in Woodstock I end the first part of the drive. There isn’t a heck of a lot to do in Woodstock so after I get something to eat, I have a sleep. It is only 1330 hrs, so much for getting to Montreal in the same day. Bridgewater to Montreal is a 12 to 14 hr drive depending on road conditions and traffic.

About 1730 hrs I wake up and turn on the TV and get the news, the weather forecast is good tomorrow. I spend the rest of the evening looking at the twinkling lights across the Saint John River. There are railway tracks that pass behind the motel. Do they belong to Canadian National or Canadian Pacific? I must find the answer when I get to Calgary. I call Aunt Betsy in Chateauguay, Quebec to let her and Uncle David know I will be not arriving today. They are disappointed, but know it is for the best as it is still storming. I fall back to sleep and have restless sleep.