It’s A Long Way to Tipperary

That old World War 1 song kept surfacing from one person to another as we drove the 3800 kilometers (approx. 2200 miles) to Vancouver Island.

I can’t tell you how strained my eyes were when it grew dark and we drove around the lake head of Lake Superior. I watched sign after sign, saying watch for moose crossing; one was flashing in bright lights; seeming foreboding. My imagination was getting the best of me; I half expected a wide-eyed moose to jump out in front of us just for the sport of it..


At one point in Manitoba, we were making good timing, waking well before the sun rose from our hotel room and setting off, but things slowed considerably when a train that had to be at least two and half miles long crossed our path at turtle's pace, even our dog Lucy had to wonder what was going on.








Rain followed us throughout most of the prairies, the sun eventually came out and I actually seen the end of a rainbow in Fort Macleod, Alberta. I looked but didn’t see no pot of gold waiting there (fanciful thought I know, but it sure would have been sweet).



We got some great shots of the mountains and a beautiful church.







So now I’m home to stay in BC until spring once again touches Ontario.

Countdown to September 30th

Just when the leaves turn to an earthy palette of rusts, gold and reds, I’m packing up and heading for Vancouver Island. It will be a long four day trek, driving through the better half of scenic Ontario, into the prairies where land and sky meet on the thin line of the horizon. On the third or fourth day hopefully we’ll be making our way into the majestic Rockies and at last the island.

This will be the second time we’ll escape winter’s grip in Ontario. With luck the winter will be as good in B.C. as it was back in 2004 when we were last there.

In preparation, we’re checking over our vehicle, pricing tires for the poor old thing. As for the writer in me, I’m planning on getting a new laptop (my old one had seen better days).

I’ve already begun to think about the countless TBR books I have, trying to decide which one to take. I have a ton of 80’s and 90’s books that I’ve always wanted to get through. They’re historicals. If you have any suggestions, let me know. I’m a big fan of Judith McNaught, Teresa Medeiros, Heather Graham… And the list goes on.