🎶 Oh Country roads, take me home….it is so good to be where’s sunshine, warm breezes, but honey, I had to work for it!
As previously blogged, we left on a cool wet late morning headed for Nanaimo. The weather forecast: Snow. Ok, I deserved to hit some shite weather. Looking back when Mac and I journeyed to the Island, it too was in February. And yes, the weather was not on our side! “But,” I convinced myself, “this time it will be different.” And yes my friends, it was. Rainy to Nanaimo, we stayed at the pet friendly The Spot, all renovated, very comfy, and Miss Murder Mittens was delighted to be released from her kennel.
Ah the kennel. How else does one transport an 18 lb ball of fur. And claws. (Which thankfully I’d just had trimmed) I’d bought a large hamster type waterer for her, made a small but efficient litter box, a bowl of nibbles, and her fave blankie. She should have adored it. And well she may have except for one tiny hitch: getting her in the kennel was a major struggle! I’m sure my neighbors in the motel thought I was skinning her, judging by her loud protests. First morning: I was pouring sweat, ready to weep and leave behind. After 4 attempts, I was victorious. And off to the ferry we went! We arrived in Vancouver at the tail end of rush hour. And fuelled up on the island, I joined the throngs, and slowly made it thru the city in the rain. The cat by now was asleep, or silently planning her revenge. Didn't matter, I was hoping to get to Creston.
Hope is not just a city on the way to Hwy 3, The Crowsnest Highway. It was what I felt as we made tracks east, in snow and rain. The car was running great, I was confident, I’d had winter tires put on early Oct, and traffic was light. Now the road to Princeton, the next town on our route, is definitely mountainy. The whole or majority of BC was windy, travelling beside a river, and over a few passes. When I got to Princeton, spying an A& W it was time to pull in for a bathroom break and some lunch. Checked on the cat - yup still grouchy. But, the weather! It was dusty, warm, windy complete with tumble weeds! Not what I expected. So onward to Creston! And over the hump, into a bit of rain and snow. Then more snow. A brief delay as a wrecker was trying to pull a semi out of the ditch, ok, now we’re into winter conditions.
I went over Allison Pass at one point, it was snow packed and slick. Not a lot of traffic. Then over Bonanza Pass…. Yeesh! Also known as Blueberry-Paulson pass, it had a lot of snow coming down. No traffic. No tracks, and whats this? Little rocks which had come down off the Big Rocks…. Keeeep going Marlean, no time to freak out, just stay calm, stay steady, we’ll be fine. I admit, it was tense, no time for any errors, but I could hear in my mind Mac telling me “you’re doing great honey, you’re doing great” so onwards. Eventually we came to Osoyoos, a few hours short of my planned stop in Creston. It was again warm, windy, dry, no signs of winter. Ok we stop here! I pulled into Windmere Motel, a pet friendly place. So nice! Super clean, comfiest bed and pillows, perfect! And reasonable, under $110. Released the cat, ordered some food, cracked a cold one, yay!
The next morning: struggle with the cat (just be quick before she realizes whats happening) grab a McBreakfast and skeedaddle. Over Anarchist Pass we came down again with, you guessed it, snow and rain. By now I was in my groove, with Cranbrook as the destination only 5 and 1/2 hrs away. Sure.
We continued on the Crowsnest, till gassing up at Salmo. The trip had some truly emotional memories, Salmo in particular. So many roads, restaurants, and motels we’d stopped at, spent a night, yup there were a few sniffles. And some smiles and laughs. We’d had amazing rides through this area! But, after fuelling up, I couldn’t figure out whether to turn or continue straight. Consulting Gargle Maps, it said go left. Who was I to argue? Just a minute! What the h-e- double hockey sticks! I was in Nelson. Capital of hillbilly hippies. Jeez, the Gargle Map led me to WTF a ferry terminal? Suddenly I was parked, twixt a van (of course) and a 4x4 full of skiers. This wasn't Creston!!! After politely asking the BCFerries lady why I had been steered to one end of Kootenay Lake, she said “Oh the highway is closed, there was an avalanche in the Kootenay Pass, likely wont be clear till tomorrow. The ferry takes you to Creston.” And it did.
So after a 90 minute wait, a half hour boat ride, it was onwards! We got to Cranbrook by 6 and checked into The Flamingo Motel. Unassuming, clean inexpensive and ordered the worse chinese takeout ever. 4 bites and in the bin. Next time, its KFC. However, that Friday morning, I discovered if I tuck Cranky Cat’s right leg against her body, she cant grab the kennel, and in she went. Victory was mine! A few hours later the famous Crowsnest Pass: and I see sunshine, a dry highway, blue skies for miles! Setting the cruise control for Onwards, tunes cranked, made it to the Hat, found my apartment, got a key, off loaded my gear and the cat and to on to our wonderful friends The Campbells. For a great visit, a chat and some beers, and a wonderful sleep! Sandy fried up his homemade square sausage and after a few coffees and some more visiting, I made it to my new home! Blew up the air bed, set up my camping table and folding chair, I am home!
My furniture arrived a few days later, he too had a “fun drive” since the day I left, a few hours later the skies opened and 5 inches of snow fell, causing my driver to eventually be storm stayed in Parksville.
Now I’m almost unpacked, living room, bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, are for all intensive purposes set up. The spare bedroom: work in progress but looking more organized every day. Ive met some incredibly friendly people already, thanks to Sandy and Marion inviting me to join their lunch and Friday night crew. And very nice folks who live in the apartment. Along with 264 dogs, lolol
The sun and big skies are healing. I thank God every day for getting me here safely and for steering me to this place to live.
So now three days to spring, officially. And in the “way of the MacArthur” we’re supposed to get snow 🤣😱 Hey, its Alberta!
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