My Flog for March 28 - 30 Road Trip to Prince George, and A ReRun

Late Thursday afternoon, Neil picked me up in his Big Red Truck and off we went on another road trip - this time to Prince George.

First we had to go pick up a container full of goodies for the Great Canadian Superstore,which was at a warehouse in South Surrey. Geez, there's a lot of Surrey I haven't biked yet, and poor old Breehy is sitting in my junk room with a flat tire - seems the 'self-healing' tire didn't know it wasn't supposed to heal. Walmart crap.

When we pull into the warehouse complex, I saw a row of containers, all lined up like piglets at their mommy's belly, getting their tummies filled up.

While on the other side of the lot, trucks waited patiently for a go time.

And we were off - Neil blasted his Traditional Trio (Road Hammers songs) over the speakers and we were heading into the sunset. Well, not literally - we actually were east-bound (and down) but the sky was pinking all around us as we rolled towards Chilliwack.

Chilliwack may be a wonderful town, with wonderful things - I saw a sculpture like a tree with big red flowers on it, so I'll have to try and find it again sometime for a photo shoot - and Chilliwack may be famous for its singing sons  and its corn, but after two rides through I will remember it for something else - the smell of the fertilizer that permeates the air from one end to the next. 

Our first stop was to gas up at the Husky Truck Stop, where they sell the best yogurt parfaits in the world. However, to my utter disappointment, they were all out. During the whole trip, at all the Huskys we stopped at, there were no yogurts. There was lots of jello - but who wanted jello when one's heart was set on yogurt parfaits? Not me.

The truck stop had a line of semis - most of them would be cradling sleeping truckers in their semi-beds. When your 14 hours is up, you get a bed-time, whether you want it or not. From my little experience, by then you really want it!

The only way to make your big boy look little is to see him in a Big Truck.

This was mostly a night time trip, and we arrived in Prince George just before 3 am. (This picture was actually taken when we were leaving, it's pretty dark in Prince George at 3 am. But the stars are humongous.)

Since we couldn't get the return load until 1:30 the next afternoon, we had a good half-night's sleep. When you don't go to bed until almost 5 o'clock in the morning, 11:30 is not sleeping in. We had breakfast at the Husky restaurant, and to tell the truth the food was forgettable, the Hash Browns looked and tasted just like cut up boiled potatoes. 

Neil did have a great story about something that happened to him while he was filling his tank (and I was emptying mine) but he won't let me blog about it. Because it's His Story. If you want to hear it you'll have to call him - personally I think he's a little mean about it. If I had known I was going to forget the name of the Ice Road Trucker  he met, and he wouldn't tell me again, I would have written it down.

However, we did get some nice daytime driving - Neil pointed out a few birds flying from the side of the road - he sees them quite often on his trips. I think they were probably northern jays - striking shades of blues with white, and larger than the Stellar Jays we feed peanuts to. (Internet picture follows)

Some pics on the way - still snow closer to PG, although a bit more south has none. The white expanses look like ponds or lakes, but they are just fields. There is a lot of farm/ranch country here.

After my last trip (to Calgary) and the fiasco with the fizzy water, I came up with a foolproof way to open my pop - if it decided to spout and foam its way out of the bottle, the bag would keep it off my jeans. I am so smrt. However, this was very well behaved and I didn't spill a drop.

And no, it's not a beer bottle. It's grapefruit pop.

You don't expect to see a yellow submarine on the side of the Cariboo Highway. Looks like it's for sale if anyone's interested - the sub, not the highway.

Quesnel is definitely a town I would like to explore - there are a few towns in this part of the province on my Pail List now,such as Clinton, 100 Mile House and Cache Creek.

Logging is a huge industry in the north (Neil always brings a load of pulp back to Richmond.) 

Heading south past Quesnel ...

There is an interesting story of how Lac La Hache got its name - curious minds wanted to know and are willing to share.

Coming into Williams Lake.

How apt is that? A cowboy and a bull - and A&W in the background. It's almost a pictorial life story, don't you think?

And before the light ended, we saw deer. Seeing deer was easier than taking pictures of deer.

Neil, however, stopped the Big Red Truck and took some shots.

Another town we passed through was Spences Bridge - nothing spectacular - except for a motel there called BAITS MOTEL. Now, I don't care how they spell it - there is nothing on this earth that would persuade me to sleep there, or even worse, shower there. 

More deer - this was the deeriest trip ever

And here are the pretty night lights of Cache Creek - it was time to put my camera to bed, and concentrate on staying awake - although that was more important for Neil than me, I suppose.

Got home about 2 in the morning, and was telling Howard about the trip - until he told me to be quiet and go to sleep. So I`m still trying to honour his request - reminds me of a long -ago post from Tamars Day Off - The Sounds of Silence, or How Long Is A Shut Up Supposed To Last?

My Flog for March 28 - Spring Has Sprung, Finally - and A Mini Trip To New Westminster

Let's see if I can remember anything that happened during the last five days.

On Monday, I got a break from rising way too early and bussing/skytraining to work at an Ungodly Hour, as Howard had to take his wrist to the doctor and get a note so he could go back to work, and as he doesn't like going alone, he begged me to start late and go with him. No arm twisting was required.

Since we got into Richmond way too early for his appointment, we dropped in to the Richmond Centre so I could pick up my knitting magazine. Spring may seem late and too cold outdoors, but it's blooming in the atrium - 

Since there was a Chinese bakery inside the mall, I decided to check it out instead of going to my usual spot, Kam Do. Maxims isn't quite a big as Kam Do, so doesn't seem to have such a large selection, but since we are careful eaters (mostly) it doesn't really matter. I bought 4 Pineapple Cream Buns and 2 Wife Cakes - the Wife Cakes for exploration purposes only. Since the literal translation of the Chinese name is Old Lady Cakes they seemed to fit, anyway.

So. The buns are better than the ones at Kam Do - a different kind of bun entirely. Kam Do's is a bit chewier, where these were soft, and more like a dessert bun. Really good. The Wife Cakes? Well, Pauline didn't really like the half I allowed her - I don't know if she ate all of it or not, but kudos to her if she did. I took one bite and threw the rest in the garbage. The other one got the same reaction from Steve later on that night, although his pal Adrian really liked it. Go figure.

Nothing much happened on Tuesday - except this wake-up gift -

Plus - I saw a heron flying while I was on the bus to work, and a couple of eagles on the way home, so that was good. I love catching glimpses of blue herons - one day when we lived in Richmond one flew just overhead as I was walking down the road - at first all I could hear was the flapping of mighty wings. Then a few feet past me, it dropped a huge white splattery load on the road. I was very grateful it had waited.

I hadn't planned much on Wednesday, but the sunshiney day proved to be much to ignore, so I headed to New Westminster in the morning. I couldn't stay for long, so just had a stroll up Columbia, near the sky train entrance. I decided I would get a bit more up close and personal with the Skybridge, and in case you don't bother clicking the link to find out more about it, this bridge is the longest cable-supported transit-only bridge in the world. Pretty cool, eh?

 I may have walked only a short way - I had about an hour left on my transit ticket, so I wanted to get back to Surrey before the time ran out and I would have had to fork over another $4 to get home - but I saw SO MUCH. There's gotta be another trip in the near future.

 There's another church to check out -

Some really cool antiquey looking thingies on older buildings ...

This reminded me of summer stuff back home in Traytown, NL - I can't remember the name of the rock formation we used to sit on, with our bamboo poles, waiting for a nibble.

New Westminster is such an interesting city, as it has lots of history and lots of old buildings - The Hamley Block is a great example.

This gave me an Alice In Wonderland moment - but I do like the .... door?

And I found a yarn shop, so I had to go in and talk to Shan, the owner. 

And very nearby - a bead shop ...

This phone booth is in front of a British Sweets and Grocery store  - good job I had my cell phone though, cos I don't think there's a dial tone anywhere near this.

They don't have as much produce as Mary's British Home in Steveston, though. Maybe next time I go there I'll try something from their cafe.

See what I mean? Topo Maps & Flags ... and a store called Paper Poet. How could I not cross the street and check these out?

The map store sells .... lots of maps, travel books, flags - it's a really interesting place to browse, but you have to walk sort of sideways as the aisles are so narrow. I got a great map for a future exciting trip I'm planning. And Paper Poet? Well, they sell tons of paper, rubber stamps, etc - great if you are a scrapper. Which I'm not.

I got back on the sky train a few minutes before my transfer ran out, so rather than pay for another ticket in Surrey, I walked home from the skytrain station. In my new shoes. Big mistake. Now I have a sore spot on one of my toes.

After lunch, I stole Christopher and we walked to the library - I had registered him for a kite-making class a few weeks ago, so I spent an hour in a room full of kids of all sizes, and between the two of us, we managed to put his kite together. Now I have to get some coloured Sharpies so he can decorate/colour it, whatever. So far it hasn't seen the sky or felt the wind, but the day will come. After, we waked to Dairy Queen and had a Blizzard (Chris) and a Cherry Sundae (me.) I love cherries. Then we walked home. Poor feet. Poor legs. 

Spring is definitely here. I love Spring.

(

And this morning? Well, this morning was absolutely gorgeous. In fact, it was (and still is) A Great Day To Be Alive. On my loooong walk to the market and bakery, I even got a chance to stop and smell the roses.

My Flog for March 27 - Our 1997 Trip to Scotland Continues - The Final Chapter - Goodbye Roundabouts ... etc

March 29 - Saturday - after breakfast we fiddled around - went to Cumbernnauld to a mall. Got pictures developed, did a 'wee' bit of shopping. Had a pop and scone at Tesco, which is a big grocery store, then back to the hotel to relax, nap, read, watch TV, knit, whatever. Went to Aunt Minnie's around 6 - another gathering of the clan!

Andrew, Darren, Mom, Edward and Thomas

Steven, Minnie, Catherine, Mom, Rose, Geraldine and Darren

Here is Geraldine modeling the T shirt Cliff gave her. And meeting her - I believe it. (Sorry, Gerry - but I still do.)

Aunt Minnie's son Anthony is a very talented artist - we were all impressed with his work ...

.... see? How intricate is that? Wow.

Tomorrow we're heading south towards Wales and England. Will spend the night in Wales. Tonight the clocks go ahead one hour, so even though it's 11:12 pm it's actually 12:12 am. Time change is just as confusing in Scotland as it is in Canada.

March 30 - Easter Sunday - about 1 1/2 hours out of Glasgow heading south. Saw a herd of windmills high on a hill. Baby sheep around too. Stopped at Gretna Green for potty, food and souvenirs (in that order) at noon. This is where I discovered my  bank card WORKS IN SCOTLAND - and we had loads of pounds of money in 'our' account. Wow! 

All petrol is do-it-yourself - so Cliff did it. Loads of fun.

4:45pm  In hotel in Wales. Arrived about three, went to Cliff and Penny's friends, Mel and Sue -

- and are returning for dinner - if we can find our way back, that is. Called home.

Later - got back from Mel and Sue's after only one wrong scenic view. 

March 31- Beautiful sunny day. Still tired - should still be asleep. Waiting for the others to get on the move.

Later - now in England at the Hilton - (reminded me of this song - I used to have it on an old English pub song record - but the only YouTube version I can find substitutes Astor for Hilton - well, one has to make do with what one has, I guess.) We were driving all day - half of it between here and Wales, and the other half in Milton Keynes looking for something - Aunt Betty, hotel .... whatever. Quite frustrating for driver and navigator.

But find the hotel we did - and enjoyed the cherry blossoms that popped out to welcome us!

We did a side trip to Hadrian's Wall where we met this fellow. Same grad class as Penny, I think.

April 1 -Left Milton Keynes about 11am to head to Aunt Betty's. Cousin Christopher and Cousin-in-Law Robert met us At The Hilton (ahem) and we followed them through roundabouts and country lanes - about 40 minutes drive through lovely English countryside - fields, trees, canals ... windmills.

Met Aunt Betty and some of her crew - Christopher, Jenny, Robert, and Joanna. Had dinner at The Old Swan in Cheddington - 

Christopher, Jennifer, Aunt Betty, Mom and Robert

Left about 3 o'clock. Robert and Christopher led us out. I don't think Cliff enjoyed driving through that particular town, for some reason.

Everyone (except Cliff) sort of dozed as we headed back north to Preston - where we are now! In a hotel with a chef who can't make veggie soup - must send him a recipe - boil water, add veggies, do not ferment. (Actually, now, 16 years later, I could really teach him to make soup. It took me that long to perfect the procedure.)

We actually travelled three pages in the map book today!

Well, here is where my diary keeping gets a bit sketchy, as I seem to be missing days. I guess nothing exciting happened or I would have taken note about it. My memory isn't very good at the best of times.

April 3 - Sooooo tired! Went to St Enoch (shopping centre) today for last minute stuff and 1 hour photo. Another gathering at Aunt Rose's for goodbyes.

Back to hotel now. Dead tired, and a 5am rise waiting. So we really should sleep.

But Mom looks so serious ...

I know he's re-living all the roundabouts ...

... Penny's trying to look serious .. not really working though ...

... oh yes, she lost it. Completely .....

... and brought Mom along for the ride ....

...those darn drugs.... At least Cliff and I are sensible.

And here he goes again - pack that boot, Killie, you know it will all fit - somehow ...

And farewell to the last roundabout at the airport. Good surviving them, brother.

(And so ends our trip. It was the best of times, and the last time we were all together, brothers,sisters and Mom, who ties us all together. This was the last of the good years for Mom, for after this birthday dementia took hold of her and slowly pulled her away. I am forever grateful for Cliff and Penny for allowing me the joy and the privilege of sharing these days in Scotland. Love to all.)