Sunday, September 11, 2022

THE WHIRLWIND CROSS COUNTRY TOUR

 Every now and then, a one-of-a-kind opportunity shows up. Recently I had the opportunity to drive across Canada in a whirlwind tour with my son. Adrian and Carolyn decided to move back to Ontario (yippee!) from Vancouver and as Carolyn and Prince Caleb were flying back Adrian would have to drive. The Mama in me did not want him doing such a trek alone so I flew out and met him in Kelowna for the drive back together. 


The 5 day whirlwind mother/son tour involved stops in Calgary, Brandon Manitoba, Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie. We drove anywhere from 7 hours to 13 hours a day! 


But Oh, Canada! What a beautiful country you are! The Rockies will take your breath away. Lunches consisted of crackers, cheeses, apples, blueberries and sugar snap peas. Revelstoke was our first lunch stop and a local snapped a pic for us!

Carolyn brother Joel and his wife Adrienne put us up for the first night in Calgary and Adrienne made a fresh pecan pie with and crisp oat crust. 
      We took some of this bad boy on the road with us!

The prairies gave us a cloud free endless sky the entire way through Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Ontario has it’s own charms too, including quick connections with old friends! In Thunder Bay, my friend Michelle met us in the morning with Starbucks for the road! 
It was a brisk morning in northern Canada and a hot bevy and warm smile were greatly appreciated! 

Then, a quick stop in Massey Ontario for a hug from my sweet friend Jocelyn! 


The Rockies are incredible but Ontario has it’s charms as well


         I stuck my toes into Lake Superior. It is C.O.L.D.


Neither Adrian and I are big talkers so we enjoyed a mixed Spotify playlist: John Mayer, Coldplay, City and Colour, The Arkells, Black Pumas, Jamiroquoi, Pink Floyd and Queen, Night at the Opera. We also worked our way through an Audio story about a group of Immortals dodging bad guys from Tibet to Alaska!

After 5 days, we arrived in Peterborough where we met Carolyn and Caleb at her parents and Sheldon drove up to join for supper before taking me home. 

This was the most one-on-one time I’ve had with my son since he was a baby. I know it was a gift of time together. Thanks to Sid and Cheryl, Marc and Sarah, Amanda, Joel and Adrienne, Michelle and Jocelyn who fed us, gave us a place to sleep and/or loved on us. And Thanks Adrian for taking your Old Mom on a whirlwind cross-Canada road tour! 










2 comments:

  1. When my son, Austen, accepted a job in Ontario I flew out to Abbotsford on a Friday. He picked me up on his lunch hour and dropped me off at the apartment. I spent the rest of the day packing and cleaning. We got on the road Saturday morning to head back to Ontario. We stayed a couple nights in Montana at YWAM, where Austen had enrolled in a program a couple years earlier. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to have one on one time with Austen and see the YWAM campus. Great road trip!

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    1. Wonderful! But I’m glad I didn’t have to pack for my son! You went over and above!

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