Rolls Around the World 2007: 2 - Victoria BC to Nipigon, Ontario

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Only a week ago we were enjoying a send off party at the home of our friends Brian & Pat Martin. The following day, Sunday, June 17, we drove the car through mile zero of the Trans Canada Highway in Victoria, recorded the mileage and headed for the Swartz Bay car ferry to Tswassen, near Vancouver. After a one sailing (1 hour) wait we arrived late at the Sheraton Four Points in Richmond, having driven a mighty total of 48 miles (77 km). The following evening another send off party was held with Vancouver area friends at the Flying Beaver Pub near Vancouver airport. Proceedings came to an end when they cut me off after having five beer - not for being disorderly, but simply a pub policy!

On Tuesday, June 19 we headed north on the Trans Canada Highway from Vancouver, after spending almost an hour disentangling ourselves from the morning rush hour traffic. At the end of a drive of 378 miles (608 km) we pulled into the home of John & Lee Campbell in Revelstoke, BC, where John thoughtfully pressed a cold beer into my hand before I was out of the car. A group of car enthusiasts had gathered to have a look at the Rolls, so we were all soon in conversation and beer on the sundeck.

John & Lee have been Marilynn's friends since she taught high school in Revelstoke at the age of 19. They have travelled with us in the Peruvian Andes, down the length of the Amazon River and through Southern Africa. They kindly provided a great BBQ dinner, put us up for the night, then braved the early hour of our departure to say goodbye.

Wednesday, June 20 saw us heading through the Canadian Rockies on a disgraceful Trans Canada Highway, which had patches on patches and potholes that made Costa Rica's road system look good. The weather was bright and clear, and the scenery spectacular. We left the Trans Canada to head north on the Banff to Jasper Parkway and then headed west again through Rocky Mountain House, where Marilynn had a look at cameras but fortunately didn't buy - the price was better in Edmonton.

Late that afternoon we arrived at the home of Vic & Joan Paananen near Edmonton, after a drive of 467 miles (752 km). They accompanied us to a mall where Vic, a camera buff himself, knew of a camera store. Marilynn upgraded her camera collection, and purchased a new high performance lens before we headed back to the Paananen's and tied into the beer and wine. After a delicious BBQ meal and more drinks we retired to their fifth wheel trailer, our home away from home for the night.

Vic was my first travel companion when in 1994 we sold everything we owned and stuck out our thumbs to head off around the world - with total cash between us of about $30.00. We slept wherever there was no charge, worked until we had enough money to travel again, and in this way covered a lot of the US and Mexico. Vic went home from Texas, and I got married in New Brunswick, Canada - but while we didn't complete the project we were on the road for many months and learned a great deal.

Once again our friends left the warmth of their beds to see us off before 6 AM on Thursday, June 21. We headed east on good highway, passing through Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and spending the night in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, having covered 540 miles (869 km). Alberta and Saskatchewan drivers move along quickly, zipping past us as we travelled at a steady 70 miles per hour cruising speed. The weather varied from hot and sunny, to freezing cold and rainy as we passed through prairie rain squalls. One of the things our fine mechanics in Victoria had been unable to repair was the heater-defroster system, so Marilynn and I bundled up as best we could to brave the cold. Dinner was at a good restaurant in a mall across from the Days Inn where we crashed for the night. An email from Richard Dill of Agility Logistics in Montreal was a bit of a blow when it informed me our car would arrive in London five days later than expected!

Friday, June 22 saw us on the road by 6:30 AM in improved weather. By early afternoon we were crossing Manitoba and it was hot, around 30 degrees. Marilynn was having some problems with photos, as a clean windshield turned into a bug-splattered mess in only a few miles. Roads had deteriorated somewhat - but not to the level of the Trans Canada Hwy in the BC mountains. A detour from the Trans Canada Hwy, which we had rejoined, took us along very rough dirt roads, but we were soon on good four-lane highway again. The scenery was similar to the other prairie provinces, lots of grain elevators and groups of short round silos that look very much like African villages from a distance. Drivers in Manitoba were much slower, likely because we saw traffic police for the first time on this trip. Now we were doing most of the passing. After a good lunch near Winnipeg we finished the day's drive by pulling into Kenora, Ontario having clocked 446 miles (718 km).

Just before Kenora we stopped at a tourist information office, where a hotel was recommended and booked sight unseen. I suspect a commission was involved; as the place was still under construction - but the Southview Inn had a great bistro restaurant, wireless internet and comfortable beds, so it all worked out in the end. After checking in we drove around the city of Kenora, located on beautiful Lake of the Woods, and got thoroughly lost. Swallowing my pride, we were forced to ask for directions, and eventually found our way back to the hotel. Tonight's internet check had good news and bad from Richard Dill - for a higher cost he can ship the car on a freighter that would get it to London ahead of the previously anticipated time, but he requires a carnet which we don't have, and there is no time to arrange one. We are very anxious to hear what can be done, but nothing will happen until after the weekend. Today's distance was 446 miles (718 km)

Today, Saturday, June 23, we were into beautiful lake country in northwest Ontario. More lakes appeared around every bend in the road, clear and inviting. We stopped for lunch and gas in the "town" of Upsala, which apparently consists of only the gas pumps, restaurant and tiny store where we were, plus a couple of houses. The car attracted quite a bit of attention, so we soon had the gas attendant, the owner and his wife out being photographed at the pumps as the car was gassed up.

Our plan was to stay in Thunder Bay, but we didn't see anywhere we liked where they car may be safe, so we pressed on to the small town of Nipigon where we found a great little motel. We drove into town, most of which seems to be for sale, and had dinner at a restaurant that could have been used as a movie prop for a 1950s diner - even the cast of characters fit right in! This looks like a one industry town where the major employer closed and the new highway bypassed the town. It seems to be losing its fight for survival - even the restaurant we ate in was for sale. Our ending mileage today was 377 (607 km) for a total of 2,256 miles (3,631 km) since leaving Victoria..

Gas costs per litre have varied greatly (prices in Canadian dollars) Hope, BC $1.059 Banff-Jasper Parkway in Alberta - $1.37, Edmonton Alta - $0.999, Lloydminster, Alta - $1.029 Yorkton, Saskatchewan $1.099 Winnipeg Manitoba - $1.099 Kenora, Ontario $1.169, Upsala, Ont $1.24

We are currently running two days ahead of schedule. The next few days we will be driving around the top of Lake Superior and across Ontario to Ottawa where we will have a three day break for Canada Day after picking up our passports and Mongolia visas.