The Wagon Queen Family Truckster Goes Northwest - Update 10/3 pg 6 (Canada)

[FreezinRafiki]

Originally Posted by middlepat

I'm sute that Montana DOT had a project on the books or something, they just forgot to register it with AAA.

A problem with the DOT causing problems for taxpayers! I've never heard of such a thing!

Originally Posted by middlepat

Mosquitoes. Lots of them. And they were hungry. So I moved as quickly as I could and got everyone situated, but wouldn't you know a few of the vampire bugs decided to stay in the van. So for the next half hour or so all we heard from the back rows was "Mom, there's another one." SPLAT!

Sorry to hear about the bugs.
I'm even sorryier to find out that I read this entire entry about mosquitoes and didn't see one "man, that sucks" reference.

Originally Posted by middlepat

When we got to the hotel the front of the van had a mean 5 o'clock shadow.

Even worse is when you van is hungover. I don't even talk to my van on Saturday morning before he's had his 2nd cup of coffee.

Originally Posted by middlepat

If you look closely, you can see all (yes ALL) of the mail recipient's boxes that they serve (I think it was 20 total).

And I'll guarantee that you'll be the talk of the town for years to come.

"Hey, remember when that family from Chicago stopped and mailed some post cards?"
"Yup."
"That was cool."
"Yup."

Originally Posted by middlepat

Unfortunately our little 40 mile detour although scenic, landed us in the middle of rush hour traffic in Calgary on the Wednesday before Canada Day.

Rush hour in Calgary? What's that - a heard of cattle and few randomly roaming elk?

Originally Posted by middlepat

All in all, it wasn't too bad, we got through Calgary in about 45 minutes (South side to North side) and were once again on the open road.

Yeah, but what's the exchange rate? That's really like an hour and a half Canadian time, right?

Originally Posted by middlepat

As I said before it was 85 degrees, well by the time we pulled off the Highway, it was 55!!!!

Welcome to Canada, eh?

Originally Posted by middlepat

Fortunately the rain stopped for a while once we got to Grandma's and Grandad's house so that we could head inside and finally relax as the journey was done.

Always nice to get out of the van knowing you'll be staying for a few days!

[afwdwfan]

Originally Posted by middlepat

Furtunately we didn't quite make to plaid or I'd have a bit of explaining to do.

No explanation necessary. Well, maybe you'd have to explain how you got a non-Freezin Rafiki modified van to go that fast.

Originally Posted by middlepat

I'm sute that Montana DOT had a project on the books or something, they just forgot to register it with AAA.

Montana has a DOT?

Originally Posted by middlepat

Well, we finished up breakfast and headed on north. Today's destination was...

GRANDMA'S HOUSE!!!! (oh, and Granddad too)

Woohoo!

Originally Posted by middlepat

I always knew there would be a line to get in. Why wouldn't there be? Its Canada!

I thought the traffic jam was caused by mounties riding down the highway.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Wait.... D'oh!!!! Missed that turn back at Lethbridge for Hwy 2. So we pulled the U-turn and enjoyed the scenery for the last 40 miles for a second time. Just cause.

Do they have a DOT in Canada? Don't they put up highway signs?

Originally Posted by middlepat

So we crawled though the Stampede City and every few minutes would point out to the girls, look out the left side, you can see the Calgary Tower and the Rockies. See that girls.

So, how long did this last before the groaning and eye rolling started in the back of the van?

Originally Posted by middlepat

As I said before it was 85 degrees, well by the time we pulled off the Highway, it was 55!!!!

That actually probably felt pretty good!

Originally Posted by middlepat

Up Next. A Canada Day BBQ and "Are those Dinosaurs in the woods?"

Canadian BBQ and dinosaurs... so in other words, the next update is going to be fictional?

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by middlepat

So as we left Yellowstone we had a bit of a jaunt to get to our next hotel stop. (about 250 miles or so) So we were fortunate in the fact that we were in Montana, land of the "no posted speed limit durring daylight hours." Or something like that. So we engaged the hyperdrive and took it to Ludicrous Speed. Furtunately we didn't quite make to plaid or I'd have a bit of explaining to do.

Did anything happen when you hit 88 mph? I know I'm mixing my movie references here, but work with me.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Anyways, our drive was fairly uneventful during the daylight hours, however, about twilight (with 150 miles to go) we hit a snag. The road we were routed to travel on was, well, no longer paved. I'm sute that Montana DOT had a project on the books or something, they just forgot to register it with AAA.

Geez, you had a perfectly good road. Who says it has to be paved? All of these high-quality roads around the rest of the country (such as in Delaware) must have turned you into a road snob.

I bet in other countries, they don't even put signs up to tell you where you're going.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Mosquitoes. Lots of them. And they were hungry. So I moved as quickly as I could and got everyone situated, but wouldn't you know a few of the vampire bugs decided to stay in the van. So for the next half hour or so all we heard from the back rows was "Mom, there's another one." SPLAT!

Yuck. I know you're in Montana, but oddly enough, this reminds me of a vacation my family took to the Everglades.

Originally Posted by middlepat

I turned to Erika and said (fully knowing the answer) "Is it raining outside dear?" Um, no. Not rain. Bugs. Lots and lots of bugs meeting a van going somewhere around 65 MPH (that 65 was for Fed's sake, it was really closer to 90) When we got to the hotel the front of the van had a mean 5 o'clock shadow.

Were they locusts? Did you find any lamb's blood to paint over your door that night?

Originally Posted by middlepat

Given that this was one of the cheapest rates we had, very happy! Solid B+ rating for Hampton Inn.

Decent room, cheap rate, and free breakfast always makes for a winner.

Originally Posted by middlepat

GRANDMA'S HOUSE!!!! (oh, and Granddad too)

So even when you're older, Dad is still the low man on the totem pole? Now I have nothing to look forward to.

Originally Posted by middlepat

If you look closely, you can see all (yes ALL) of the mail recipient's boxes that they serve (I think it was 20 total).

Exhibit A for why the Postal Service is losing money.

Originally Posted by middlepat

I always knew there would be a line to get in. Why wouldn't there be? Its Canada!

I heard Canada Day is also known as Free Beer Day. Did that have something to do with it?

Originally Posted by middlepat

We continued on toward Lethbridge and followed the signs for Hwy 2. I thought we were making really good time, until I saw a sign that said Fernie, 60 km. Um, Fernie is in BC, why would it only be 60 km away? Wait.... D'oh!!!! Missed that turn back at Lethbridge for Hwy 2. So we pulled the U-turn and enjoyed the scenery for the last 40 miles for a second time. Just cause.

See? I tried to warn you.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Big, nasty, thunderstorm. This is not atypical during the summer to have these big rainstorms in the middle of the afternoon. They typically blast for 30 minutes or so, then clear out. Well this one was a little different. It hung. And it was brutal. As we inched along the highway we watched the temperature plummet. As I said before it was 85 degrees, well by the time we pulled off the Highway, it was 55!!!!

Lamb's blood, I'm tellin' ya.

Originally Posted by middlepat

Up Next. A Canada Day BBQ and "Are those Dinosaurs in the woods?"

No, it's just that giant beaver balloon from the Olympics.

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

A problem with the DOT causing problems for taxpayers! I've never heard of such a thing!

It was a road. They drove on it. They got where they wanted to go. Where's the problem?

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

Yeah, but what's the exchange rate? That's really like an hour and a half Canadian time, right?

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Do they have a DOT in Canada? Don't they put up highway signs?

See, you learn to appreciate us when we're not there.

[middlepat]

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

A problem with the DOT causing problems for taxpayers! I've never heard of such a thing!

You understand my surprise then.

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

Sorry to hear about the bugs.
I'm even sorryier to find out that I read this entire entry about mosquitoes and didn't see one "man, that sucks" reference.

Barry, I knew I could count on you.

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

Even worse is when you van is hungover. I don't even talk to my van on Saturday morning before he's had his 2nd cup of coffee.

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

And I'll guarantee that you'll be the talk of the town for years to come.

"Hey, remember when that family from Chicago stopped and mailed some post cards?"
"Yup."
"That was cool."
"Yup."

Sounds like the dialogue from a DisDad Meetup.

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

Rush hour in Calgary? What's that - a heard of cattle and few randomly roaming elk?

No, in Calgary they have horse trailers, cattle cars and oil rigs. It can cause quite a mess if there ever is a pile up.

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

Yeah, but what's the exchange rate? That's really like an hour and a half Canadian time, right?

I think you double it and add 30. So that would be like 2 hours or something.

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

Welcome to Canada, eh?

Take off Eh!

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

Always nice to get out of the van knowing you'll be staying for a few days!

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

No explanation necessary. Well, maybe you'd have to explain how you got a non-Freezin Rafiki modified van to go that fast.

Remember, I've actually met the frozen monkey a couple of times. Maybe he modified something, maybe he didn't.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Montana has a DOT?

They do. Just not nearly as famous as those DeDOT guys. They get all the press.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

I thought the traffic jam was caused by mounties riding down the highway.

No way, the mounties are too polite. They always let the other guy go ahead.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Do they have a DOT in Canada? Don't they put up highway signs?

Signs, signs? We don't need no stinkin' signs.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

So, how long did this last before the groaning and eye rolling started in the back of the van?

I don't know what you're talking about Andy. They were begging for more, at least that what I remember.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

That actually probably felt pretty good!

It didn't bother me too much, but Erika was shall we say... put off by the temp.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Canadian BBQ and dinosaurs... so in other words, the next update is going to be fictional?

I did not say Canadian BBQ, that would be fictional. I said a BBQ in Canada.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Did anything happen when you hit 88 mph? I know I'm mixing my movie references here, but work with me.

We saw some serious splat. (Thanks for that setup there Capt!)

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Geez, you had a perfectly good road. Who says it has to be paved? All of these high-quality roads around the rest of the country (such as in Delaware) must have turned you into a road snob.

Actually even though it wasn't paved it still was better than 90% of the Chicago roads after the winter thaw and exposure of all the pot holes caused by our snow removal folks.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

I bet in other countries, they don't even put signs up to tell you where you're going.

Signs, signs? We don't need no stinkin' signs.
(is it wrong to quote yourself in the same multi-quote )

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Yuck. I know you're in Montana, but oddly enough, this reminds me of a vacation my family took to the Everglades.

Yeah it was.... memorable....

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Were they locusts? Did you find any lamb's blood to paint over your door that night?

Sorry, they were fresh out at the local 7-11. Maybe I should have tried the Circle K.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Decent room, cheap rate, and free breakfast always makes for a winner.

(2 thumbs up!)

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

So even when you're older, Dad is still the low man on the totem pole? Now I have nothing to look forward to.

Well, you have your looks to fall back on..... yeah you got nothing.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Exhibit A for why the Postal Service is losing money.

I also think that Elvis was the postmaster.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

I heard Canada Day is also known as Free Beer Day. Did that have something to do with it?

Free Beer in Canada? Now that is blasphemous. Canadian Beer should never be given away for free.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

See? I tried to warn you.

I didn't know you could predict the future. Got next week's lotto numbers handy too?

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Lamb's blood, I'm tellin' ya.

Yeah, I gotta put some of that in the emergency kit for next trip.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

No, it's just that giant beaver balloon from the Olympics.

The beaver is a proud and noble animal.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

It was a road. They drove on it. They got where they wanted to go. Where's the problem?

Now I understand the DOT logic base.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

See, you learn to appreciate us when we're not there.

You're right, when I need to rest on a shovel, I like knowing my local DOT is close by.

[KatMark]

Great update. Too bad about those nasty mosquitos and the van being covered with bugs--YUCK! But glad you reached your destination safely and were able to settle in.

[middlepat]

Originally Posted by KatMark

Great update. Too bad about those nasty mosquitos and the van being covered with bugs--YUCK! But glad you reached your destination safely and were able to settle in.

Thanks Kathy. Hope you are enjoying your trip.

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by middlepat

Thanks Kathy. Hope you are enjoying your trip.

We are, but sad that tomorrow is our last full day. I hope to start my TR on Thursday or Friday. We MIGHT have a new favorite resort.

[LisaKeys]

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this TR from another Disney TR! It's a nice, refreshing sidetrip away from WDW.

I read all of your pages, and since the NW is a part of our country that I have never been able to visit, I am thoroughly enjoying the virtual trip.

Looking forward to visiting the grandparents.

ps - only thing worse than massive amounts of bugs hitting your vehicle, is trying to get the glued carcasses off!