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“CANADA …going on the inside” by N&J
Saskatoon, SK (aug 26/19) – Hobbes is all packed, all N&J affairs in order, Jesse (in his harness), perched in his new travel perch, purring ready for take off, last minute good byes to Whistler and the neighbourhood, Oh wait?? Did we forget anything? anything? check, double check… finally on the road!!! 🚐 click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Literally 35-45 minutes along the Duffey Lake Road (east of Pemberton; towards Lillooet), there was a communal sigh in the van, relief to break the bonds with what ties one down. The rhythm of the road soon overtakes the vibrations of the spirit, and…
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“Zoom, Zoom” by N&J
Kakabeka Falls, ON (Aug 29/19) – When fleshing out this cross country journey of Canada, N&J took into consideration the immense distance to be traveled, the ever-changing weather & what lofty goals to be achieved from such an almost ‘insurmountable’ challenge… a trip that entails the world’s second largest land mass. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Looking at the 15-20,000 kms round trip, it is obvious the 2 month travel window could be strained; weather in the Canadian autumn can be anyone’s guess (sun, hot; rain, cold; mud, really really slippery snow conditions) can make or break your travel plans; making travel…
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“A Lake Most Superior” by N&J
Sault Ste. Marie, ON (Sep 01/19) – The first stop after leaving Thunder Bay was at the Terry Fox Monument commemorating the ‘Marathon of Hope’ run to raise awareness & funding for cancer research. It was here that N&J become aware of the immensity of this young Canadian’s courage, his unselfishness & tenacity to push through the pain he was experiencing (his cancer had returned), to capture hearts worldwide…. his ‘marathon a day’ (in 143 days of running; 37.5 kms average per day on 1 leg!!!) ended a few kilometres east of here. While standing in reverence to this remarkable person, you can feel Terry’s spirit live on. click on…
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“Brake-down” by N&J
St. Lazure, QC (Sep 04/19) – The drive from the ‘Soo’ in search of a suitable overnight was somewhat ‘dull’, as this part of the highway (which runs north of Lake Erie) is void of any… points of interest. It would seem whereas, the Lake Superior section had plenty of unrestricted rest areas, the Lake Erie portion was opposite. So finding a ‘welcoming’ candidate to overnight was difficult. Eventually settling on an unremarkable alcove off the highway (near Blind River, ON) …where hikers park. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Driving east brings Manitoulin Island situated to the south in the North Channel…
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“la vie est douce comme le sirop d’erable” by N&J
Mont-Joli, QC (Sep 08/19) – N&J’s cross country trip would be incomplete without a visit to friends Rick & Judy. Long term Whistler locals who it seems everyone knows and could always be guaranteed to be enjoying ‘apres’ somewhere in the village after a day of skiing bliss. Having left Whistler 2 years ago, they currently live in the quaint village of St. Lazare, QC on almost 9 acres that has a fabulous french-style farmhouse, complete with a barn (for their two horses), riding ring, numerous trails & a sugar shack. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Like stepping back in time or…
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“Three Provinces in as Many Days” by N&J
Pictou, NS (Sep 11/19) – Upon deeper reflection after leaving Quebec, left N&J with an impression of a class of perfectionism; honour and pride of belongings and property. Each township showcasing finely manicured homes & properties, without a fault, massive expanses of carefully mowed lawns, perfectly happy flowers, nothing out of place. Driving the secondary roads allowed N&J to witness the Quebec countryside at a leisurely pace, in “Hobbes style”… to see up close what rural life is like in ‘la belle province’, the slow pace, the quiet beauty and relaxing nature of it all. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery While leaving…
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“Overlanders” by N&J
North Sydney, NS (Sep 14/19) – The internationally famous Cabot Trail that snakes it’s way up & around the hilly terrain on Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island is calling… a beautiful sunny day, no rain, warm wind and blue skies… the road ahead is beckoning, inviting N&J onwards & upwards 🙂 click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery Small petite communities dot the western coast of Cape Breton, gorgeous ocean views of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, tiny harbours with fishing boats & huts abound. It was here that N&J found the best ‘freestyle camp spot’ to date… Margaree Bay. Set beside a small…
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“The ‘Brocks’ are on The Rock” by N&J
Port Aux Basques, NF (Sep 19/19) – The 6 hour ferry ride from North Sidney, NS to Port Aux Basques, NF was pleasant enough with relatively calm seas (1-2 metres) & winds (10-15 knots) …all aft of the ship’s heading. ‘Below deck’ may have been a different matter though as the look of ‘miserable’ all over Jesse’s face was not easily erased, requiring continuous head rubs, love and attention to divert his mind of what he endured alone in Hobbes (he is not allowed on the passenger decks; N&J are not permitted below those decks during passage). click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery…
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“Where’s Dildo?” by N&J
Baddeck, NS (Sep 23/19) – The journey from the west side of Newfoundland to the far east side of the island to St. John’s is a long, long drive (900kms). Thankfully, being part of the Trans-Canada route, this extensive highway is well maintained. A nice & wide, smooth, and easy to drive mostly 4 lane highway. Signs warning of moose collisions are scattered strategically, tallying the number of incidents to date, urging drivers to slow down… an ominous beacon of others misfortune. Hobbes relies on the ‘deer whistles’ placed on his front bumper, meant to ward off any wild animals that may be close to the highway, they are doing…
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“Six Degrees of Separation” by N&J
Harrington, Maine (Sep 27/19) – Overjoyed with excitement to be in the beauty of the historic town of Baddeck NS, visiting the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, N&J woke with a bounce in their step and smiles on their faces, the experience was as much fascinating as it was educational. click on pic to enlarge – right/left arrow to scroll thru the gallery “Mr. Watson, come here, I need you” were the first words ever spoken on a telephone (after Bell accidentally spilled hydrochloric acid on his clothes & Watson his assistant was in the other room). One would automatically assumes Alexander Graham Bell’s major invention was the ‘telephone’,…