On Friday our good friend Wendy turned 50. Charlie decided to have a surprise birthday party for her and we were invited. One small problem. The party was scheduled for January 31st and Charlie and Wendy (The T’s) live in Wawa 3 1/2 hours north of us. The trip means traveling along the east coast of Lake Superior which routinely experiences heavy snow squalls, white outs and extended road closures. It can be a really crappy drive which I never undertake lightly. As the planning progressed I was tasked with sourcing and delivering the fruit for a chocolate fountain and as of Thursday picking up a Wii game system, Charlies gift to Wendy. I also volunteered to make a batch of baked beans and a loaf of whole grain bread. Friday the beans were cooked and bread was baked.Also on Friday I discovered that my good friend Inga had to go to Wawa for another event and we arranged to travel together. All week it was clear with no precipitation. Saturday morning I woke up to snow – of course. A check of the road conditions online foretold less than ideal road conditions but I was committed and decided that if the highway was open we would go. I loaded the car with lots of heavy clothes and boots in case we got stopped somewhere. After stops in the Sault to buy the fruit and the Wii I collected Inga and off we went. The weather actually improved as we headed north. Highway 17 was almost bare, the snow quit and the traffic was light. About halfway to Wawa you reach the hamlet of Montreal River Harbour and climb one of the nastiest hills east of the Rockie Mountains.At the top of the hill the weather and road conditions changed abruptly. We experienced a series of squalls blowing in off the lake which caused sharply reduced visibility and the road surface became snow packed a lot more slippery. We slowed own and made it into Wawa about a half hour later than anticipated but safe and sound. I dropped Inga with her friend and then headed to the party site to deliver the goods and help with set up. Preparations were in full swing. By 2pm 30+ people were sitting chatting when Wendy walked in and was completely surprised. She had no hint what was going on. It was a fun afternoon with visiting and a few drinks and lots of snacks. 
People came and went. Wendy was having a great time. A number of gifts and cards were opened and a funny hat was produced. 
After a while it was suppertime and out came lasagna, salad, beans, home made bread and buns and afterward a huge birthday cake. Everybody ate as much as they wanted and there was lots left over. After supper we broke out the Wii and played a few games of bowling. It really is a lot of fun.About 9.30pm I decided to head up the hill to my hotel room and made arrangements to be back at the chalet in the morning to help load all of the leftover food and booze into Charlies van for the trip back to their place.
I was down in the morning to enjoy a cup of coffee and some chat with Charlie and Wendy before heading to their place. We arrived just after 9 and Charlie immediately started organizing breakfast. Jon and I were dispatched to buy some bacon and Jon’s friend Eric was sent downstairs to start a fire in the wood stove. Just before 10 the bacon was frying and the pile of pancakes was growing when Charlie started mentioning that he could smell something like plastic burning. A few more sniffs and all of a sudden Charlie was yelling at Eric to look outside at the chimney. Yup it was on fire! Eric had overachieved on the fire. Well, then things got exciting. Charlie was roaring at everyone to get out of the house and Wendy called 911. Rebecca stumbled out the door in a tee shirt, boxer shorts and her boots, still mostly asleep. Jon was ordered out of the shower and into the street. In a few minutes the fire trucks arrived with 8 volunteer firefighters in all their gear including breathing apparatus and after some discussion insisted on going up on the roof to inspect the chimney. The street was blocked off, the neighbours were out and the red lights on the fire truck were going round and round. 
By this time the forecasted snow squalls were starting to amke an appearance, the prospect of pancakes and bacon had, pardon the pun, gone up in smoke and it was time to head south. I collected Inga from down the street and Jon from the house and off we went. The weather and road conditions were very similar to what they had been on the way north and but again the traffic was light and we took our time. We arrived back in the Sault just after 2pm and after dropping my passengers I headed back to the island to see Val and tell her of all the adventures. Many thanks to the T’s for a great party and a fun-filled visit.
Last Sunday while having supper with Wayne and Karen she mentioned that she and Emily were heading to London on Thursday for a tour of the college Emily will be attending in September. Monday morning I called Karen at work to see if I could invite myself along. I then called my always hospitable sister to see if I could invite the three of us to stay with her and Robin for a couple of nights. With those two invitations secured I called my Mom to see if she had any plans for Friday and would she like some company. After the requisite 20 questions and being satisfied that aliens had not taken over my body she allowed as how this was a good idea. She was also as always concerned about “Val the Hermit” managing on her own but once reassured that the well would not run dry, there was gas in the car and that she shouldn’t have to light the woodstove during my absence she relented and said that I could come for a visit.
Thursday after my weekly visit to the local soup kitchen we met up and headed for the border. The drive down I-75 is not particularly inspiring like say a trip along the north shore of Lake Superior or a run down the west side of the Kicking Horse Pass . No, it is more like watching paint dry or very slowly having a tooth extracted but it is straight, the speed limit is generous (with the cruise set at 112kph you cover ground and are still within the legal limit) and the the traffic is very light . For those of you who like to support the economy the route passes two towns with major outlet malls and about every 15 km there is another set of every fastfood restaurant known to humankind! As you approach Frankenmuth you are invited to stop at Zhenders for some fine dining or to come on in to Freeway Fritz for some freeway chicken or a Blimpie. The choices are endless and in some cases frightening. What in hell is a Blimpie? And then there are the Jerky Outlets. Every gas station along I-75 advertises itself as a Jerky Outlet. You can fuel up and get a couple of sticks of hickory and chocolate flavoured jerky to get you through to the hunt camp or the militia training facility.
Around the corner at Flint and its a straight run back to the border but not before a stop for some fuel and a coffee. You see there are now 3 Tim Hortons between Flint and Port Huron. Ah, we’ll make it now!
At Port Huron/Sarnia you cross the Bluewater Bridge where you find an odd situation. You have to pay a toll to cross this bridge. Unlike the bridge at SSM there is a toll booth at both ends of the bridge. As you approach from the US the toll is C$2.00 and on the return trip when heading into the US the toll at the east end of the bridge is C$2.50. I can not for the life of me figure out why it costs more to out of Canada then it does to get in!
A little later than planned we arrived in London and after a short chat headed to bed. Friday morning I was up early to go to breakfast with Cathy at her Rotary Club weekly meeting. I know a few of the folks slightly and it is a hearty breakfast and a good time.
By 9AM I was back at Cathy’s and walked in just as Mom called to see where I was and when was I coming over. We made the arrangements and I headed out to get a new bag for my laptop. That done I was off to the Dearness Home. Mom was all spiffed up and waiting. We headed outside for a walk around the grounds and some chat just in time for the rain to start falling, not hard but enough to get us both a little damp. We headed back inside for lunch which Mom insisted on paying for – Thank you! Mom always wants to know what is going on, how is Val, what are the kids up to etc etc. Later in the afternoon I go back to pick Mom up and bring her to Cathy’s for supper. We prepare it together and spend some more time chatting idly. After supper when mom is ready we take her back to the DH. As always she is very stoic as we say goodbye until the next time I can get down for a visit. After a stop to visit with Quinn and see Jesse and Christy’s new house we get back to Cathy’s just before Karen and Emily breeze in and my niece Carolyn arrives. We spend an hour sitting on the patio and trading stories about our day.
Saturday after some more visiting time we are ready to head north. By 11.30 we are across the border after a short chat with Agent Crusty of the US Border Patrol – lighten up sport. At Imlay City we stop for fuel and a sandwich at the Tim Hortons next door. We manage to have our orders filled by the snottiest little teenager I have had the misfortune to encounter in some time. Her attitude is such that I feel compelled to find and complete a comment card telling whatever corporate knob reads those things about our experience.
The drive north is almost as exciting as the drive south and just as long. Again the road is straight and the traffic is light. Crossing the Mackinac Bridge is always a highlight of the trip. It really is an engineering marvel and the view from the top is spectacular. Forty five minutes later we pull up to Canada Customs where the officer doesn’t want to see our passports and merely says “what did you but” and “have a nice day”. Welcome home.
It was a fast trip but well worth it. Thanks to Karen and Cathy.
hi Arlo, it’s your Grandad, how are you feeling.? Have you gotten over your trip to Ontario? It sure was a lot of travelling in a short time wasn’t it? You did really well. Having to sit in that car seat all day is tough for a guy and I understand. I’m sure that the great road trip of ‘07 will be something you will only know by pictures but you left lots of memories for other folks.
Your Great-grandmothers were both so happy to meet you. As your Great Grandmother Simpson said, she will probably not get to see you grow up and the same holds true for your GG Brown but they both know what you look like, they have memories of how you sounded and how much you weighed and how incredibly soft your skin is. All important memories to have.
All your great aunts and uncles and cousins of all sorts were thrilled too. You allowed them to coo and admire you and just love you. In time I hope that you will get to know lots of members of your family and come to realize how important family is. You really do have a lot of very loving family – The Simpsons, the Browns and the Burritts so far. Maybe some day you will get to meet the Cristofaros and find out where your papanon came from.
I got to know you too! At first you weren’t too sure but by the end of the trip you’d smile when you saw me and hold out your hands when I went to take you. Boy that felt so good. I got to take you for a few walks and those are special memories that I will cherish. When you get a little older we will do different things but for now taking you for a walk while you have a long nap is a great thing for a Grandad. It also gave me some time to talk to your Dad, something I don’t get to do very often because we live so far apart.
I’m sure that it felt as good for you as it did for your Mom and Dad to get back to your own house with everything that is so familiar – your favourite toys and your own bed and the routine that is so important.
We love you very much and we miss being able to see you a lot more frequently but we will be out to visit you soon enough. In the meantime you just go on growing and learning and being a beautiful boy!
Love Grandad.
We have been traveling around southern Ontario for the pst 10 days with about another week to go. #1 son,his wife and 10 month old son are here from the far west on a show the new baby tour of assorted relatives including 2 great grandmothers who are both elderly and ill, 4 great-aunts, 1 great-uncle and a bunch of cousins who are all anxious to meet the new family member. He, for his part, has taken to the adulation and attention like a rock star. He has been held, dandled, cooed over, kissed, amused, fed and generally adored by everyone who has encountered him. He has also throughout been very well behaved and come through a long flight from Vancouver to Ottawa followed a few days later by a full day of traveling from Ottawa to London. His parents have likewise been patient and attentive to one and all. It has been a real treat in amongst all the family events to have some good talk time. A chance to talk about work and plans and babies and all the other things that it is difficult to have telephone chats about when the chatters are three time zones apart and the daily minutiae is not easily put aside at the ring of a telephone. It has also been a chance to for me to ask about a lot of computer things in which he is an expert. There has also been time enough to talk about books and movies and cooking and beer and a myriad of other things.
For all the traveling and attendant stress that come with unfamiliar beds and other peoples habits and schedules and routines it has been a great trip so far. The two sisters and their spouses who have opened their homes to this traveling road show and both hosted major family gatherings are wonderful and generous and loving and hard to say enough about. Saturday three generations of mothers sat down to dinner together and all but 1 offspring were there with them. A rare event anymore.
Tomorrow we get back on the road and in the back of my mind is the realization that this wonderful time will be ending in another few days when they all have to head back to their life in BC, but thats for another chapter. For now we have another week to enjoy them all.