Day 8 - We're on our way "home"

Lake Louise, AB to Vancouver, B.C.
3950km-4780km
Buck 65 - Situation
M. Ward - Post-war
The Rosebuds - Night of the Furies (this one didn't last long...it's pretty terrible, as it turns out)
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day audiobook
This American Life podcasts
Portishead - Third
Mates of State - My Solo Project
Broadcast - Tender Buttons
Final Fantasy - Has A Good Home


So the morning started out with an argument, but fortunately neither of us tend to pout for too long after we fight, so soon enough we were smiling again. Aside from the fact that I was chilled to the bone, I was in a better mood. We were able to sneak into the Lake Louise trailer camp showers, and I've never been so happy to shower in a public washroom. The initial plan had been to go for a hike around the area before heading out on the final stretch of highway, but it was raining and freezing still, so we just started to drive. The view was totally breathtaking. The cold and rain had contributed to huge puffs of mist around all the mountains, and the drive through the mountains WAS really nice. But I saw NOTHING!! Actually that isn't technically true -- I think I saw a bighorn sheep, but Colin maintains that it was a fake. I'm not convinced, but I still feel ripped off!! I guess all the animals were hiding in their cozy caves away from the rain and cold. I think I preferred the Northern Ontario driving, but that doesn't mean I'm turning my nose up at mountains. We stopped at a few lookouts, and once I was SURE I was going to spot a beaver, but no. Umberto hit the 100,000km mark! What a great car.

My dad said to me that Kamloops was sort of desert-like, and I couldn't picture that, but it's true. The mountains are all brown and nearly barren of trees, and there are short bushes and sparse trees along the side of the highway. Again, I'm so amazed at the vast difference between provinces and even cities within the provinces. Maybe once I am able to upload this and add photos, I will do a cross-country selection of photos just to show the wide diversity.

The weather cleared up for a couple hundred kms, but as we drive through Kamloops, the clouds have gathered into a threatening sign of things to come. Hopefully not, but that's what I've been led to believe by basically every single soul that I've told about my move. I guess I'll be getting a whole lot of use out of the umbrella that Robin got us, which says "Shit...it's raining." Sigh. As I type this, the sky has opened up and our wipers are going at full force. What a welcome.

An hour later, we've got blue skies and fluffy clouds again. This is the way that I have sort of told myself that Vancouver will be -- rain for a bit, and then sun, or at least grey skies without sun. Seriously though, everytime I've been to BC the weather has been lovely and the rain comes in short stints. Granted, it's mostly been in the summer or springtime, but I'm sticking to the memory of being in Vancouver in February with only my spring jacket and a hoodie on. I might need to get Linh to send me an Adult Parka from Vietnam, but we'll see. First I need to find a job to commute to, then I will figure out HOW I will get there.

Venessa called me a few minutes ago and said she was so excited for me to get there and that she'd be there if things were hard or crazy, and would take me out with her friends, who are awesome. It was so nice to hear. I know that Colin's family is so happy he's coming home, and they are wonderful and caring and lovely, but I think it's only natural to worry about being the girlfriend tagging along, at least for the first while. Stuff will be different -- I know that. For example, the barn for me was always somewhere to go where I didn't have to be social and though I absolutely loved almost everyone I met and knew at my barn, it was so nice to have that place to go and be alone with only Jack. Now, I will be using the barn as a way to potentially meet people and make friends. That's obviously not a bad thing, but it's different. I will just have to adapt so that I can find another way to find that serenity. Maybe it will be through running...with Carol's doggie, Marley...right Marie? I know you're going to kick my ass the next time I see you if I'm not keeping up with my running. I mean, I know that riding won't be totally destroyed by social aspirations or anything, but I will just have different short-term goals in that realm of my life. It's going to take a while to feel comfortable with pretty much anything.

Hey! Guess what, it's raining again. I can't believe I just typed that...I've been so sick of people saying that to me about BC. Anyhow, it's been raining really hard, and the wind has been ridiculous, and I've been sitting in the passenger seat so stressed out that I've actually covered my eyes a couple of times. And just when I thought we'd gotten through the worst of it, we encountered completely dead stopped traffic on the highway, and watched as truck and car one after another did U-turns on the highway through the grass median. Colin didn't want to sit there and wait, so instead we also did a U turn and drove back through the pouring rain and driving wind to get to an alternate road to take us past the roadblock. God forbid the drive be easy for the last 3 hours or anything.

And now...after 3 hours of a hell drive, which fortunately I wasn't actually behind the wheel for and tried to watch episodes of Greek rather than concentrate on the death roads, we are here, in North Vancouver, at Colin's mom Carol's house. PHEW. Her dog is ADORABLE. She's wonderful. It's going to be hard living at someone else's house with little room for our clothes and other things, but all I'm thinking about right now is sleeping in a proper bed and having tomorrow to be somewhat lazy and get ready for the weeks ahead.

I'll put this post up now so you all know we've arrived safe and sound, but again, I'm too exhausted to get photos up right now and the cable is in the car, and I'm in this bed in my pjs and am about to pass out.

xo for now.