I can’t help it, I am Canadian through and through, but I have ached for most of my life to explore this globe of ours. I am slowly taking places off the list.
Some time ago I began to make a plan with the A(merican) friends I’d met on my Peru trip for a road trip from St. John’s, Newfoundland throughout the Canadian Maritimes and end somewhere that time would allow.
The planning began and when I saw a deal I couldn’t refuse (3600 air miles and $50), I booked a one way flight to St. John’s for September 1, 2019 and waited for the rest to finalize their plans.
I was sad to hear they’d decided to ‘postpone’ as I’d really looked forward to showing off this beautiful part of the planet to my traveler friends.
It only took a day or a minute really to conclude that I was still going and that it was a perfect halfway to the UK. I contacted the B(rits) of our ABC Peru tour group and we easily knew this was to have been the plan all along!
Two weeks off work, an excellent deal for the flight to Heathrow and return to Cranbrook, two day rental car on Aeroplan points in Newfoundland, an Airbnb in downtown SJ and the gracious offer of hosting by the Hearnden’s in Biggin Hill, UK and the framework was in place to let the planning begin.
First thing booked will be the last event of the trip – stay tuned!
The time leading up to this adventure was VERY full as I seemed to end up with all of my obligations due at the same time! I am on the Board for Cranbrook Community Theatre and our AGM is the night after I arrive home, am Producing a play that opens less than a month after I return, decided I should volunteer for a Peak Music Festival the two nights before I left and oh yes, I work more than full time as a bookkeeper at a busy accounting firm.
When Sunday morning finally arrived I was ready. Well, not quite ready ready but READY to get out of town.
So, I went out for brunch with my friend Steph to discuss a future project, repacked, took out the trash, searched for and did not find my iPod, added another pair of shoes to the suitcase, went to daughter’s for dinner with three of four grandsons and two new exchange students, dropped George (my fish) off at work and finally was on my way to the airport.
As the sun was setting, red sky at night, sailor’s delight crossed my mind. Jake dropped me and was about to drive off when the doors open and there was his co-worker (other Mom), Kim and family. Seems they had just dropped off her Dad, Larry who was heading home to Nova Scotia. After weighing my bag (I managed to bring 49.85 of my allotted 50) and checking through security I walked up to Larry who had never seen me before and asked for a selfie. He enjoyed the joke and we sent the pic to his family.
The sky was ominous as we boarded. The flight was lumpy and there were many flashes of lightening below us as we headed for Calgary. Once on the ground we had to sit for over 10 minutes on the plane as we were early and no stairs came to greet us. A few of us got turned around but I had just enough time to buy a travel pillow and call Mom before boarding again. Wookiee and I settled in beside a lovely couple who had come from Lumby, and were on their way for a month long tour of his home island of Newfoundland. They’ve been married 56 years!
The initial 5-10 minutes were pretty rough due to the storms but soon smoothed out and I dozed on and off. The 3.5 hour time difference meant I left Cranbrook at 9 pm and arrived in SJ at 7:37 am. But it feels like 4 am.
I picked up my rental car, (It’s a beaut, 2019 Ford Fusion Hybrid), plugged McDonalds into the GPS and headed over to take advantage of the WiFi before I head into town and begin another day.
triumphgal 