And so, Goddess, I thankit ...

November 2, 2009 - 00:33
Music: If - Bread

I'm being jogged around by popular demand, so here I am ...

The day-late adventure of the trip to Pender ... egad. What I would have given to have been a passenger and not the driver! It was exhilarating, and frightening all at once. Some of it was beautiful, and some was stressful and scary. Some of it I just don't remember because I slept through it.

No, really.

I pulled over, when I could, to stretch and get some fresh air. There were only a couple of stops where I could bring Spot out. It was at the second one ... Thunder Creek? where I felt a change in the air. A change that quickly made it's presence known. It started to snow. (Side note: Very beautiful stop ... but had a strong presence that made me feel watched. The strength of it made me a bit uncomfortable ... mostly because I couldn't locate the source!)

Part of me wasn't alarmed. It was just a few flakes here and there ... another part of me went stiff with dread. I felt myself moved to follow the instincts of the second feeling and rushed Spot back into his box. He was cold enough that he didn't complain too much and we were off.

It was the last pit stop we'd make for the next few hours.

I had a lot of trouble keeping myself awake. There was nobody to talk to, the Sirius satelite radio was repetative, and my family had packed my travel CD's away ... there were times I kept myself alert by talking aloud to myself ... even if it was just to recite the alphbet. Ironically, I sang a lot of lullabies too. Songs from Choral class in high school. I pulled over to another lovely spot just minutes (I discovered later) from the border, and Mt Robson Park ... I tried to take a bit of a nap. Hard to get comfy, though, when you can't move your seat. I eventually half curled in the driver's seat, with a half pack of toilet paper rolls on the centre console for a pillow. I'm not sure how long I slept ... not too long, I think, but I felt refreshed and pushed on again. It had stopped snowing before I arrived, but that didn't last too much longer. Snow fell in flits, spits, and spurts. Sometimes there was a smattering of rain, but it soon developed into a full blown blizzard. Within minutes, the snow was impressively deep. I couldn't see the road. The only thing that kept me on track (and slowed me down!!) was a large truck in fron of me. I followed in his tracks until it was safe to pass him (read: extra lane presented itself!)

By the time I landed myself at a gas station/A&W in Kamloops, I was shaking from strain and exhaustion. I walked like I'd been out horseback riding for the past hour or so. I probably looked like I'd been through Hell and back. I got a couple maps and once I'd eaten and made a few texts and calls to the concerned (<3) I made my way to a hotel, doing my best to not go to far from the highway, 'cause I didn't want to lose it.

I ended up at the Acadian. I walked in to the office and was immediately enveloped in the scent of curry. The kind gentleman manager seemed to like my looks (or pitied them, I don't know) and only charged me $65 for the room. And he didn't charge me for Spot, even though I warned him up front that I had him. Delightful.

I put Spot and a couple necessaries into the room, set out food and water, opened the cage and ran out to Superstore for some litter. If you are ever stuck in a rut for littler while travelling, Stupidstore has these lovely liner trays with the litter already in it. Just peel back the paper. $4. Nice.

I was a little concerned that Spot hadn't been able to go to the bathroom during his two pit stops. What concerned me more was that he never used the litter that I bought. I should have taken it with me, but it had no way of securing it, and no way to let him use it in the car. It got left behind. Got up early the next morning - earlier than I had intended ... I didn't have a clock in the room and had to use my cell phone -which I forgot had an alarm. I also forgot to figure for the time zone in my head. I ended up doing the Coquihalla in the dark after all.

I wish that had been my only concern.

Another blizzard ... on the highest point of the Yellowhead highway in all of Canada. *sigh*

Again, the accumulation was impressive. Apparently, they closed the Coquihalla down ... a little after I went through it. When I went through I was the second car behind a highway grader. We passed a rest stop that I knew I wouldn't try to stop at ... I was worried that I wouldn't get in, never mind out ... too much snow.

I got past the snow ... and got into falling rock/avalanche area, where stopping is not allowed. Apparently, my need to stop was so great that I opened my eyes in time to find myself on the wrong side of road ... and headed straight for the river. Thank Everything Good that I was alone on that highway for long stretches at a time. Felt like I was the only one driving this highway!!

Back on track, and saying the alphabet at the top of my lungs, I continued on my way.

I can't recall if I stopped somewhere between there and Vancouver ... but the fun didn't stop there. See, nobody told me what turnoff I'd actually need to find the Tsawassen Ferry ... Jade gave me some direction but assumed that there would be plenty of signage for the ferry. And there was ... for Horseshoe Bay. I got lost for three hours. I should have made it in plenty of time for the morning ferry - blizzard or no. I missed it completely. Stopped somwhere for directions and gas. Decided that hte directions were a bit on the complex side since I was completely unfamilair withthe area and stressed to the max. Jade tried to help by text, but I got to a breaking point and ended up spouting some foul language. I was pulled over to text this and a handsome city worker came up behindme to make sure things were alright. He tried to help me, but while he knew where to go, he wasn't sure how to describe it to somebody who wasn't even passingly familiar with the area. *sigh*

I ended up at Horseshoe Bay. Accidentally burst into tears when I explained to the tollbooth lady that I was lost, and she gave me a map (which helped the earlier directions make sense!!) She directed me to a "secret exit", opened the remote gate for me, and I was off again ... feeling a sense of hope and courage. I was at Tswassen Ferry with 45 minutes. Jade was almost as relieved as I was. (I texted him at red lights.)

I had to wait about an hour until the 5:00 ferry, which would take me to Swartz Bay (Victoria), where I had to get off the ferry, use a special u-turn, and come back to load onto another ferry. Alot of work, but, believe it or not, faster than waiting for the 7:00 ferry that would have taken me directly to Otter Bay.

Joyce met me at the Otter Bay parking lot. 15 minutes of curves and hills later, I was sitting in a warm chair, watching TV and trying to keep an eye out for Spot (who had retreated behind the washing machine to collect himself)

We slept in the next morning, unpacked the Flex (I'll miss it) and caught the afternoon ferry to Vancouver. The Edmonton location had lied to me about not having any locations in Victoria (the easier, and less expensive ferry). Apparently, they didn't want me to drop the car off there because hty have trouble getting them back! Anyway, the Vancouver International location was horrified by my experience with the Edmonton location (what a joke!) ... they didn't charge me the extra, extra day, and I got over a $100 in free coupons to local attractions (that I won't use because I need a vehicle to get to them!)

Not alot of pics were taken on the trip, but I will post a few soon. I keep them coming too ...

Yes, the updates too. ;)

No job yet. Harry Potter was utterly brilliant. The island is green and I'm getting daily walks in. Spiders have not been in attendance ... but I don't mind.

Sweet Dreams!