The Eastwest Tour: Complete

Sept. 1-3: Thunder Bay to Winnipeg, MB (clocked 713 kms)
We were welcomed to Winnipeg by our dear friend Jana Plett, former YWAM Vancouverite, and her family.  Once again we were fed to our stomach’s content.  We visited the Muddy Waters at The Forks, were three rivers meet.  Not only did we find those muddy waters and its flock of ducks wildly exciting, the crown moment of the day was when Hannah and Marie were interviewed by the CBC news.  They wanted to know what we tourists thought of the especially high waters of the river and the fact that the boardwalk was underwater.  Riveting.  Let’s just say it didn’t make the 5:30 news as the reporter told us it would.  We also spent a night at the home of Lori Ternowetsky and her husband Neil.  Lori and I did our DTS together in 2005.  It was great to catch up with her, meet her husband, and again - we were fed well.

Sept. 3-4: Winnipeg to Caronport, SK (clocked 693 kms)
Caronport is an intriguing place.  It is a small town just west of Regina and has one reason for its existence: Briercrest Bible College and Seminary.  We visited my friends Jeri and Sam Brainard, and also caught up with Brian Peters once again.  Jeri and I met  at a hockey camp in Northern Alberta a few years ago where she was the camp coordinator or director or some fancy title like that.  You could say we became instant friends and even though we don’t see each other often, we always just pick up where we left off.

Sept. 4-7: Caronport through Grassy Lake to Lacombe, AB (clocked 959 kms)
After being fed a giant breakfast of waffles and pancakes of the chocolate chip and blueberry variety we were off to Alberta.  We made a detour through the south to visit the Keijzer farm, residence of my Auntie Sabina and Uncle Marinus and their four kids.  I hadn’t been to their farm in about ten years.  My Aunt had made us an awesome lunch and we visited for a few hours before we made the trek to my family’s farm near Lacombe.  It was nice to settle for a few days without having to worry about packing the car the next day and moving on.  I found out that my dad had bought a new quad and we definitely made use of that.  Especially Marie.  She told me a few times that visiting my farm was one of the highlights of her life because she got to drive a quad, milk cows, ride in a tractor, and look at cows and sheep.  Sure gives me some perspective on what kind of childhood I had....

Sept. 7-8: Lacombe to Banff, AB (clocked 309 kms)
We had hoped to camp for our last night somewhere in BC but there were rain forecasts for every location we looked at.  So my parents chipped in for us to stay in a hotel room in Banff.  We played tourist for a while and then sat down to enjoy a nice meal and toasted to our last night on the road and a trip well done.  Later on at the hotel room we painted our nails with $3 Barbie nailpolish while enjoying a cheap bottle of wine.  Normally I wouldn’t confess that but I think it’s hilarious.  The wine did not go down well and the nailpolish did not stay on, nor did it come with us the next day.  Both were not worth what we paid for them but it made for a silly evening which is good enough for us.

Sept. 8: Banff through Lake Louise to Vancouver, BC (clocked 882 kms)
Our final day on the road.  We wanted Marie to enjoy her journey through the Canadian Rockies as her only other trip through had been an overnight ride on the Greyhound.  We visited the famous Lake Louise despite the fog and clouds and took copious amounts of pictures.  We also made a stop at a Wolf Conservation Site.  Marie loves wolves so we couldn’t drive by without stopping.  There was a bit of sadness as we pulled into Vancouver, not because we dislike our home and our friends, but we were sad to know the adventure was complete.

Naturally, this is the point where I would offer you some thoughts and reflections on The Eastwest Tour but I am tired so it will not happen tonight.  Soon.  To be continued...