Summary of Trip Across Canada May/June 2010

 Our cross country adventure lasted 43 days.  We departed Vancouver on May 1^st and returned June 12^th.  We stayed in hotels for 29 nights and stayed with friends or family on the other days.   Our average cost per night of a hotel room was $98.11.  We stayed in a Super 8 nine times and four nights in a Howard Johnson.  The rest of the hotels were one nighters except for Comfort Inn which was two nights.

We drove 16,613 km or 10,323 miles at a cost of $1304.17 for gasoline.  That works out to 13 cents a mile or 8 cents a kilometer.   

Tolls – In Canada we paid $47.25 (includes bridge to PEI)

           In the U.S. we paid $56.95 plus we had tolls in NJ that were paid by our hosts who let us use their transponder. After Chicago, there were no more tolls. 

Food and spending probably accounted for about $3,000 which included about $500 for tipping alone.  In all, this trip probably cost us about $7,650 or $3,825 each.  That works to $89/day each, if my math is correct.  We stayed in decent hotels and ate well (too well if the truth be known) and did some shopping and all the sightseeing we wanted.   I think that I am fairly close the the budget I had.

Day 44 (actually 43) to Vancouver - Spring Chickens are Home!

A sunny day, an easy ride, until we reached the border.   Today is Sunday, June 11th and the Douglas Crossing is closed until 5:00 p.m. for a "Hands Across The Border Celebration".  We are stopped on I - 5, a few miles away.

We decided to take an early exit from the interstate as soon as we could and found our way on back streets to the truck border crossing.  We originally overshot it so we were able to turn into the line-up on a side street from the east and were through in about 40 minutes.  Possibly, because of the long lines, the border questions were short and quick.   

At the beginning of the trip, I was talking to Julie about a situation and I described the people in the story as "no spring chickens".  It was an expression Julie had not heard before.  Throughout the trip, Julie would comment on Spring Chickens - being slow in front of us or following us or just showing up in so many places that we were going.   We even had a huge busload of  Spring Chickens take over our hotel and breakfast room one day.   We would watch Spring Chickens do things that we would never do. 

Before I dropped her off in Richmond, Julie asked me to let everyone know that we, two Spring Chickens, made it home safely.

Day 43 - Saturday June 11 to Spokane, WA

This is our last hotel on this trip.   We booked into a Howard Johnson in Spokane, WA.  This is the third HJ we have used on the trip and the nicest.   We have been tending toward Wyndham Hotels (like HJ and Super 8) to accumulate points for a free night.   The magic number is 6500 and we have probably accumulated that amount but the hotels are slow-to-not-submitting-at-all so we cannot use a free night on this trip.  (And the magic coupon we have been using this week nulifies the points (if you read the small print).

Julie last visited here - (Exspokane) when expo was happening some time in the 70's.   She drove down with friends from Vancouver.  The driver of the car was a nurse who had just come off night-shift.  They drove right through with only one driver.

Day 42 - Friday June 10 - to Bozeman MT

We stopped for a break at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in ND near the border of Montana.  The park is encouraging the return of buffalo herds in this area.  It was windy, cold and rainy again and I suspect that the buffalo were hunkered down somewhere to keep warm.  Some other people spotted a few in the distance but I didn't see any.  There is however some of the Lewis and Clark expedition information available to see  in the park building.  We are following part of their original route.

We are on the last side of our last map going home.   We were originally heading for Billings but were making good time so decided to push through to Bozeman.   We found a Super 8 but were unable to use a coupon as the weekend had begun.  In fact, we got the last room with two double beds. 

Our day count is off again.   We have been on the road 41 days. As it is so close to the end, I won't re-adjust it.

Day 41 - St Cloud to Bismarck ND

We are bee-lining it home.   This is easy driving now - no more large cities - all double lanes - good roads.

We stopped for lunch in Fargo, ND and found a very good inexpensive Chinese buffet.  

Between Fargo and Jamestown ND, we saw a sign for the height of land - all rivers flow west from that point  ??  It seemed a strange place as it was still prairie.  The highlands were still many miles away. 

Using a coupon again, we booked into an Americinn in Bismarck - first time using this hotel chain - I was very impressed.  There was an especially good continental breakfast in the morning.   At dinner, we found grilled chicken Oriental salad again at Applebees just across the street (2 for $20.00 including a shared appetizer).  As this is the capital of ND, we had lots of services available including easy access to banks we recognize once again.

Day 40 - Hoffman Estates, Il to St. Cloud Minnesota

When we left New Jersey, both Julie and I agreed that we had had enough 'vacationing' and were ready to go home.   We purposely skipped Chicago and stayed in a distant suburb on the west side.  

We got a fairly early start in the morning and motored right past Minneapolis, only stopping to shop at an Outlet Mall in Albertville, west of the city.   Julie found more shoes and I bought a light jacket.  We really were a little shopped out by this time. 

We stopped for the night in St. Cloud MN at a Best Western.  This place had two good things going for it.  We were out of the heat wave and we found an interesting restaurant called Michaels right next door.

Michael's was run by an Austrian and we really should have ordered the Schnitzel as it looked fantastic as it was served to the adjoining table.  Instead Julie opted for her (almost) usual 'liver and bacon' and I ordered spaghetti and meatballs.   Both of our meals were exceptionally good - fresh salad, well cooked main and very plentiful and inexpensive.

As we were dining late, the owner/waiter, Michael, spent some time talking with us and describing his visits to Quebec over the years.   In the course of the conversation, he mentioned that his chef had recently married a woman from the Philipennes whom he had met on a sewing materials site on the internet. In no time at all, he called out his chef who was introduced to Julie and I.  We compared Filipino food and talked about his new wife's origins and how she was adapting to a climate with a long cold and snowy winter.  All in all, it was a delightful way to end an evening.

Hotel Bargains

Julie's cousin, Andrea, told us about booklets we could pick up at tourist sites along the way that contained coupons for hotels along our route.   Up to this point, we had been for the most part following the advice in the AAA/BCAA books and using their discounts for hotels and restaurants. 

We used the coupon for the Quality Inn on the first night out of New Jersey and got a much better discount that AAA offered.  We still relied on the AAA books for quality, but if there was a coupon in the flyers we picked up and the hotel was recommended by AAA, we booked it with the coupon.  

The second night we also scored with a reasonably priced Red Roofs Hotel.  It even had a flat screen TV with movies available - We watched Knight and Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.  We had all this plus a lot of excitement.  As we were coming back from eating - a salad at the pub next door - several police cars were in the parking lot and surrounding a unit a few doors down from us.  They were looking for a mother who had abducted her child.  She was foreign and could possibly plan to take the child out of the country.  They even knocked at our door to ask if we were harbouring her. 

In all, we used these coupons four times and probably saved about $40.00.  Unfortunately, hotels do not honour them on the weekends. 

Day 39 - Clarion PA to Hoffman Estates, IL

Another hot day.  Luckily Julie's condition did not continue.   We had to have the air conditioner on most of the time.

This was probably the worst day of driving on this trip.  Along with a late start and surprisingly, sporadically heavy traffic, we arrived in the Chicago area at rush hour.  Karen took us right through the downtown freeway and up past O'hare airport.   Traffic was heavy and we had a fair amount of barging lane-changing to do.  We missed one toll altogether because we could just not move over in time.   It was very stressful.

Even my Bud Light at dinner did not do its usual job.

Day 38 - Show me the way to go home....

Breakfast on a last day in New Jersey was again a treat, the highlight being tender, marinated steak with a dipping sauce made with special vinegar from the Philippines as well as the rice rolls and sardines in a sauce and way more food than I could eat.....  Needless to say, we did not leave New Jersey hungry.

We did manage to get away about mid morning with firm directions on how to find the freeway to Chicago.  Needless to say,.... we did leave New Jersey lost.  One wrong turn and we found ourselves on Staten Island.  Once we got ourselves turned around and began to rely on Karen again, we were o.k. 

In the 'be careful in what you wish for category', this was probably the hottest day yet and I put the air conditioner on full blast for the first time.  Unfortunately, this caused Julie to cough a great deal - hard to do when you are trying to concentrate on driving.  We tried driving without air for awhile but it became unbearably hot.   Our original destination of Akron, OH, suddenly became Clarion, PA. 

We found a nice Quality Inn with a nearby Applebees.  Neither of us were very hungry after four days of feasting and a very hot car ride. 

Day 37 - Shopping, Shopping, Shopping & Eating too

Sunday, June 5th was the day set aside for shopping.  In the morning, with warm weather but overcast skies,   Sonny drove Julie, Lumming, Rebecca, Andrea and I to an extremely large flea market in New Jersey. We all managed to find at least one thing to buy.  Julie had the best find - a Coach hand bag and a very reasonable price.

Lunch, in a small New Jersey town called Marlborough, was dim sum.  The restaurant, a many time Zagat award winner was large airy, and elegant; the food, excellent.

In the afternoon, we found Outlet Stores in Jersey Shores and the shopping began in earnest.  Julie again the winner with several pair of shoes and sandals as well as gifts and other clothing.

That evening we had yet another amazing meal at Julie's cousin's place. 

Sightseeing - New Jersey and New York City

After hearing my reluctance to drive into New York City again, Julie's cousin, Lumming with her daughters, Maribique and Andrea took us sightseeing - first to a park on the NJ side of the Hudson and then into downtown New York.

We saw the New York skyline, the Hudson River, the Statue of Liberty, and Staten Island and well as the almost finished construction of the NJ Memorial to the victims of 9/11 in the park.




 New York Skyline with Julie, her cousin Lumming and two daughters, Maribique and Andrea

In New York City itself, we spent some time touring around Ground Zero, having dinner in China Town, and in Times Square at night as well as driving by many famous places.

Day 36 - Another Feast

Atlantic City was the furthest point on our trip - although I think Nova Scotia is more east than New Jersey.  We are on the return portion of our trip.  We have driven 11, 328 kilometers so far. 

We are heading north to Julie's cousin place again - this time for a true Filipino feast.  While waiting for the main meal, we were served, hot from the oven, Bibingko (which was baked in banana leaves).  This was light and delicious. 

I probably don't remember all the food at the table.  We had Molo soup with pork and seafood, rice both plain and fried, thin clear noodles with many vegetables in it, and fish, two kinds - the traditional steamed fish eaten in the Philippines and a barbequed fish which might have been fresh herring.  The vegetables consisted of fresh boiled corn, barbequed eggplant (delicious!), and steamed okra or bitter melon.  Everything was well prepared and yummy.  If anyone was still hungry, there was still Hopia for dessert!

After this, we headed out for some serious sight seeing.

Day 35 - Atlantic City

We are in the land of Monopoly - we are even staying on Boardwalk - at the Taj Mahal Hotel built by Donald Trump.   I wonder if Atlantic City was a gambling mecca when the game was created.   And, when did comps become a part of the culture.   In the Monopoly I remember, you can only rent or own. 

My philosophy of quitting while ahead forced me to stop playing the slots after about two hours but I like the beach more than I do gambling.

Boardwalk at Taj Mahal Hotel

The weather has warmed up and the boardwalk is nice.   The ocean is still a bit cold for my taste although others are swimming.   My legs were not quite numb just from walking in the waves.

The nicest part of Atlantic City was that they take care of their stray cats.   Many cats sit on the wood structure under the boardwalk and sleep or watch the world go by during the day.   The volunteer society that administers the cat program attempts to spay and neuter them and feeds them each day.

Day 34 - in New Jersey

We arrived in New Jersey (by driving through New York City as Karen directed) in the evening, to a feast - everything from delicious home-made soup to fish to rice to meat and a very warm welcome from Julie's cousins.

After a good night's rest, we woke up to another complete meal - delicious rolls of crispy fried rice made with coconut milk, eggs, toast, coffee, rice, fish.... I have discovered some new dipping sauces for meat.  Then, Julie and her cousin made Hopia which is a Filipino bean filled pastry filled with sweetened yellow mung bean paste.   This turned out to be a lovely, flaky light pastry with a just-sweet-enough filling....more eating.

Then we were off to Atlantic City with a stop at another cousin's house for lunch.  This time we had another soup with prawns and vegetables and probably the most delicious fried rice dish (very like paella) that I have ever eaten along with several other dishes.  

Day 25 May 25 Halifax

We have actually spent two nights in a Howard Johnson here.  I have been behind in my blogging so may have mixed some dates.




Highlights of Halifax were the Citidel, eating lots of seafood and fighting fog and rain.   On the second day we headed out to Peggy's Cove which was lovely but very foggy and windy and cold.   In the afternoon we checked out Lunenberg which was drier and less foggy but still cold. 

Peggy's Cove in the fog

I am so impressed by some of the museums I have encountered and regret that I did not plan more time for them.

Day 26 Annapolis Royale

We found sunshine albeit late in the day in Annapolis Royale.  It was actually warm and felt like summer.

Julie was most impressed with her first stay at a bed and breakfast.   We managed to stay at an old large Inn filled with antiques.  Kings and queens and lords and prime ministers have stayed here over the years, as well as a few celebrities.  Our room was large with two four poster single beds and Queen Ann chairs and a clawfooted bathtub.  In the morning we were served an elegant breakfast  in a large impressive dining room with double doors out to the wide porch and gardens.  All this and sunshine too!

I was most impressed with the history and the museum.   There are fascinating artifacts which go back to the 1600's when the French and English spent most of their time fighting each other, both here and in Europe.

I was surprised that there were not more apple orchards (although we did see a few in full bloom the next day  when we resumed our travels.

Day 27 from Annapolis Royale to Kentville to Pictou

With the weather improving we decided to try going north again.   The annual Apple Blossom Festival parade in Kentville was our major stop today.  The streets were lined with people coming from all over the province.  People were three and four deep over a very long parade route.


As usual with parades, it started late (posted for one p.m.), but in the end was worth the wait. 

Jason Priestly and family

Julie commented that she had never seen so many people in one place without one Asian.

Day 28 - Pictou Beachfront Resort

We are getting more and more adventurous with our choice of lodgings.   Tonight, we are staying at a very rustic but very upscale place on the shores of Northumberland Straight.   We are looking over at Prince Edward Island.

This resort has been around for over a hundred years and has boasted guesting many famous celebrities from Carol Lombard to Babe Ruth as well as several contemporary ones. 

It has an elegant dining room with a good chef.  Both the scallops and the crab cakes were superb.   I will miss the good sea food when we leave Nova Scotia.

Day 29 - May 29 - On the Cabot Trail

We have had a day of perfect sunshine on the Cabot Trail.  The scenery was absolutely stunning.   I will post some photos if any have turned out. 

Day 30 - from Cabot Trail through Goshen and back to Amherst

After a fairly unimpressive bed and breakfast which we found at the end of the Cabot Trail, we started out in cloudy, rainy weather again.

The highlight of this day was a visit with my father's cousin in Goshen.  At 88, she is still full of life and manages her own home on a very large lot.   She was complaining that the rainy weather was keeping her from pulling the weeds in her flower garden.   She has an amazing memory of both past events and current news.

Unfortunately, we left the gas cap off when fueling the car and drove for more than three hours before we realized this.   We stopped in Amherst to have the car checked out.   Fortunately, everything was o.k.

Day 31 - Over the Border to Bangor Maine

I am going backwards in the blogging for the next few posts as I have not had time to blog for awhile.

On day 31, we left Nova Scotia heading toward New Jersey and Julie's relatives with a stop in Boston.

We went through the boarder in less than three minutes.  I think this was the fastest ever for me.  The border guard hardly had time to check our passports.

The highlight in Bangor, besides a very decent Super 8, was a delicious meal at a trucker's diner which ended with what tasted like home-made raspberry pie and ice cream.

Day 32 - June 1st - Bangor to Bar Harbour to Boston - Stormy Weather

Today, we saw another fishing village in the rain.  Even amazing as Bar Harbour is, the rain and wind definitely put a damper on it.  At least there was not fog this time.

We also experienced two thunder storms along the way and a third, the most spectacular saved itself until we were dryly ensconced in our hotel room (a Comfort Inn this time).

Day 33 in Boston

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This day turned out to be sunny and cool, perfect for walking the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston.

After about two hours and less than half way through the trail, we decided to check out the Rose Kennedy gardens which were built over a freeway which was sunk underground through most of the downtown and head for a commuter ferry so that we could see the city from the harbour (and get off of our feet).

Boston is a beautiful city.

Then we were off to New Jersey and a, thankfully, uneventful drive over the George Washington Bridge and through New York City.  Karen, we have discovered takes us on what should be the fastest route rather than the easiest route.  But, I did not want to depend upon my map reading skills to drive through the maze of freeways in this part of the country. 

Karen also has no regard for the cost of tolls.