Crossin' Canada

[Brenticon]

Well, back in "07", I decided I was goin to cruise across Canada in my "79" automatic VW bus. Gawd, I so wanna do it again, and I can, cause thats what I jus purchased again!
I found these pics on my FB page, so I thought I'd share em with you guys. My Father had always wanted to drive across Canada, but figured he wanted to have friends fly out and bring his motorhome back. I dunno know how many times I heard that story, and after he passed, I kept remembering it. Finally one year, I decided I wanted to go, and thought to myself, better get it dun, instead of just talkin about it. My Dad never did get the chance as he passed very suddenly and unexpectantly. 
So, on my birthday, 2007, I ventured out on my travels, with no real time frame to adhere to.

...... .....

These pics are from my back yard bday party, and yes thats a condom on the clothes line, and of course, the only way off the rock

[Brenticon]

I toured up to Kelowna and spent a couple days with friends, before headin' to Ab to hang with my ex wife and kids. I had made some adsurb plans on trying to hit soem weird places, those of which I will leave  for further posts. I luv'd that van and am pretty happy to have it's identical twin today.

.......

I know I got pics of Ktown somewhere, just wasnt in this lot. What I did pull up was,
The Last Spike pullout, a pull out with an awesome view of the Rockies, and of course, good ole Alberts Welcome sign

[Brenticon]

Alberta was fun, visit was great, went to a rodeo, in Kurt Brownings home town. A big YeeHaa dance was held in the arena he grew up in and learned to skate.
Oh, for those of you who dont know, Kurt was a gold medal olympic figure skater. It was a great way to start off on my solo journey to spend time with me. 
Remember I mentioned my Dad passing. Well, he was creamated and when they burn the body, they place a metal tag, so they know whos ashes are whos. 
Well, Dad was makin the trip with me ... yaya, sentimental as shit, but dont tell anyone!!!
So thru Ab I went, spent a few days, and then off I went. I entered thru the Crows nest pass, headed north to Red Deer, where the ex lives, then north to head east on hwy16.


......


First crazy stop, Vegrevilles worlds largest Ukranine Easter Egg. It was pretty cool then off till I got lazy and hungry and found a nice lil spot on the Ab/Sask border

[Brenticon]

Sask was kinda neat. I remember hearing all the stories and jokes on how flat it was, and by golly, they were all true. I remember sittin' and thinkin' as I was driving. This is like drivin' on a Battleship game, game board. The clumps of trees every so often looked like battleships or cruiser. I know, I'm a lil crazy, but the mind starts to wonder when you spend a lot of time on your own, especially when your driving. I got as far as Regina, stoppin' in Moose Jaw, Biggar, because the have a great sign. Dam, lost that pic too. It went something like, "New York is Big, but this is Biggar." toured down to Dog River, stopped at Corner Gas, jesus, where'd that pic go too? I'll try diggin' them up later. A lot of pics are saved on cds. Saw the red paper clip house, a story a local told me as I stopped for a burger. Some guy traded up startin' with a red paper clip and ended up with a house. Saw some lake with an ancient Indian legend of spiritual powers, some cool stuff. Definately not enuff time to take it all in.

 ........

So it was probably May long weekend or after the first pic was taken, just outta Regina, entered Manitoba, where, I took my first hotel, in Winnipeg. 
Not much in Manitoba, lol, so a quick drive thru and into Ontario 

[Brenticon]

Holy Crap, Ontario is one big friggn' province. I arrived late into Tunder Beh, grabbed another hotel. I think hotels ares great after a week on teh road, big comfy bed, hot long showers, and at the time "INTERNET". Saw the Sleeping Giant, and was off to make my way around Lake Superior. Holy Mooses and Moose signs.I saw two, and no shittin' ya, they were the size of a small house. A 18 wheeler went by me, in the opposite direction, and all I heard was his jake brake come on. I looked in my rear view, and that monster of a moose was peering in his side window. HUGE I say!.
Any ways, I noticed that Lake Huron was home to the worlds largest island on a lake, AND, it had a ferry. Being a lil home sick, I thought a nice ferry ride would make me ok, so I took the side road.

 .... .... 

Good ole Wawa Ontario, guess its the official home of goose poop, the middle picture is where I slept at Tobermory, on Manitoulin Island. The ferry goes tot eh tip of the Bruce peninsula, home of Wiarton Willy, the albino ground hog that predicts spring

[Brenticon]

I hung out at a friends house in Brantford, who I met online. He toured me around southern Ontario, Niagra, Toronto, Woodstock. I really liked it down there. Hung out for about a week, exploring and sight seeing, then it was off to check out BusFusion. I toured up and around to see different things, tryin to stay off any freeways. way to fast for my liking, plus ya dont see shit. I did end up on the 401 headin east to Kingston for about 10 miles, and said, no way, Im outta here. The next exit was Milhaven. Omg, the Tragically Hip song, "Never kisssed a girl". Thats it, and then I was on Lake Ontario. It was ....... (hey Don, r u ready for this) ...... AWESOME!. they have some gorgeous sites in Onatrio


.... .... 

Parked by Lake Ontario, a quick stop outside of the Pen in Kingston, then stopped in Gananoque to meet up with a freind, and teh bus broke down ... for the first time
There's always some ole guy wo works on VW's somewhere along the road. Found this guy thru Napa parts, and had it towed there. I believe his name was Hans

[Brenticon]

A couple days in Gan, and it was time to head north to Ottawa, and find BusFusion. a quick stop to see the Parliment buildings, and my freekin' bus wouldn't start .. AGAIN.
HANSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, like, WTF??? He said all he did was clean up some connections on my shifter.
Lucky I had someone with me and we got it started by tapping starters and wigglin wires

.... ....

BusFusion has well over 100 buses showing up every year to a nice lil town, about an hour out of Ottawa, in a nice spot, next to a river.
Check out those beautiful green buses, hehehe

[Brenticon]

So, it seemed my problems werent fixed. By the time I returned to Ottawa, and parked the van, it wouldnt start again. I was 3/4's the way across Canada, and was bound and determined to finish the journey. I just needed to make it thru Quebec. SO I  headed out, and drove. I got as far as Montreal, where I was suppose to hook up with a fella who was gonna show me around. Take me to the bestest Montreal smoked meat house in the city, show me what real poutine was, etc etc. I pulled in late and stopped at a Walmart to grab water and supplies. Went back to my bus, and the stupid thing wouldnt start. Completely dead, wouldnt even turn ouver. Well, I guess Im sleepin here tonight. A lil scared, sleepin in a Walmart parkin lot, in Montreal, Quebec, in a green VW bus, with BC plates, lol. And to top it all off, a strom rolls in so I cant pop the top, and it was blowin my bus around. Kinda spooky. Next mornng, it started right up ... wierd!!
 
.... .... 
 I broke down for a 3 hours in Quebec city, asked for help, and well, my french wasnt so good, so it was a bit before it arrived. I got it running, and said ... Thats it, I'm done. You can tell by the look on my face. I thought, hey, Busfusion guys can help. Ill head back there. Not too bright as it was a two day drive. But it did put me in the path of another bus guy, who saw my for sale signs. He pulled me over, and in his best english, asked how much. 
I explained the situation i was in and he said, follow me, Im headin to the VW guru on Trois Riveier. The last pic was where I ended up

[magikbus]

Great trip story Brent....I love your quote..."Holy Crap, Ontario is one big friggn' province."....We always say it takes 3 days to the East border of Manitoba and then another 3 days to cross Ontario. Been across in our old bus "Magikbus" twice, clear to St. Johns NFLD and back. Funny enough because we took different routes both times but the mileage both times was almost exactly the same, 10,500 miles round trip. Had to replace a fuel pump once and a CV joint another time but that's all that happened repair-wise. Nothing that didn't hold us up for more than a couple of hours each time. We took 2 months both times and had a good look see at the country. We'd love to go again so let's see how reliable Betsy is and we'll make the decision then.

We've also driven across to Ottawa numerous times when our daughter moved her family there a few years ago. Only went in Nissans and Corollas though so that doesn't count.

Stan

[Brenticon]

This is a funny part of the story. Breaking down, feeling frusterated, giving up, I call a friend here in Nanaimo, and let him know, I'm headin back to Ottawa, from Quebec city. He was like "Noooooooo, your almost there!" As I was talkin on my cell fone, thats when I took the wrong exit toward Trois  Rivierer, and crossed paths with buddy, in his bus. He was takin me to his friends place who "knew the volkswagen".

As we got close to the city, he turned, and started headin out to the boonies. I was gettin a wierd feeling, like, whats gonna happen, wheres he takin me? SO we got to this "T" in teh road, and I'm thinkin, I'll jus go the other way, cause man, we were kinda far out. As I Looked the other way, here came another bus. I was like no way, and followed.

Turned out he was "THE" VW mechanic of Trois Rivierer. I stopped and shut off my van, met all these vw people, and only two spoke broken english. BUddy checks it out and figures I need a new starter. Say he can fix me up Monday. Its Saturday. I told the english speakin guy, my van wont start now and Im stranded. So the VW guy headed to his shop and picked up a starter. We pushed my van into the driveways, and they said to unload my stuff outta the back. Before I could finish gettin the last piece out, there was three guys all over the bus.

One in the back, one in the engine, and one underneath. They had that thing out in record time. As we waited for the guy to get back, it was time to check out their rides. A type III squareback, a thing, a early bay sc, and four buses. I was like in heaven. trying to speak and learn from one another, was fun, they were all smokin their hash and drinkin corona, havin a fun time, and here was this poor broken down english speakin vw dude, stuck in their driveway, lol. 

Buddy finally shows up and BAM, they all jump back into action, and I was just standin there amazed. This cute lil french honey comes walkin up to me and says, "You know what they call that guy?' .... and I reply "No?" .... and she replies, "They call him the Jesus of trois rivierer," ... " He use to have the long hair and wear the sandle" ... "and he fix all the volkswagen."

I had a chuckle, and never thought much of it. The starter was in, the van started right up, and wala, I was back on the rad. I asked how much and he said, $60. I got him to come for a test drive to the back, tossed him $100 and thanked him so much for helping me out in my dire situation. I was back on the road and headin east, wooohooo.
Well, as I was drivin I jus reviewed my experience and thought of all the things that came into play. I would never of met this guy if I never turned around, nor would I of if I wasnt on the fone and took the wrong exit, and here I was, being taken to the VW guy of the town, who happened to be nicknamed Jesus.

Holy Crap, I was just saved by JESUS ......... I had a good chuckle and a great story to tell



This sticker was on one of the buses

[magikbus]

Amen! You've joined an elite group Brent.
Stan

[Brenticon]

So, back on the road, made it to a Best Western in Quebec City. Havin had too many break down, I didnt venture into the big city. I will make it back , one day! I changed my plans, as I was gonna head up the eastern side of the St Lawerance River, but realized it wass still in Quebec, and thougth I'd have better uck if I went straight into New Brunswick. So I did.

Got as far as Moncton, and spent the night in a Canadian tire parking lot. I figured it was time for an oil change. Haha



Got up the next day, and was headed to PEI, to spend a few days campin. OMG, what a beautiful place. I camped out where Anne of Green Gables was filmed, and the story comes from.I walked and got lost and had a terrific time. By the way, I had for sale signs on my van and wasnt gettin much luck, and didnt want to drive home. SO while I was in Fredricton, I posted an ad on TheSamba. Mentioned I was traveling across Canada and could deliver.



The second day I was on PEI, I got a response. It was a guy on the island. I said come on over, and he said he couldnt, he'd come tomorrow. I was like, I'm headin out tomorrow. He asked if I was taking the bridge or the ferry. I had come over on the bridge, and was takin the ferry, and he said perfect, I live right by there, Ill meet ya. He took a quick test drive, came back, and said, I'll take it. I said there was one catch. I needed to finish my trip. We agreed.



Trip On!!!


.... .... 

[Brenticon]

So, before I left Nanaimo, I figured since I was starting at the furthest south west point of Canada, I'd end at the furthest north eastern point of Cape Breton. The thought of a ferry ride to Newfoundland was there, but after a month and a half on the road, it was no longer on the agenda. The ferry dropped me off in Nova Scotia, , no pic, and I drove north to Glace Bay, Cape Breton. Before I had left, someone had tossed in a white ball cap with Nanaimo embroidered on it. I thought to end my journey, I'd toss it in to the Atlantic ocean, kinda as a ceremonious achievement of sorts. Gawd I love the east coast. Lobster, Chowder, good people, and scenery comin out your ying yang


.... .... 

I hope no fishermen find that hat and think some stupid west coaster, fell over board, lol

[Brenticon]

It was pretty moving throwing that hat in the ocean, my Dad there in spirit, and accomplishing such a huge wonderful task, alone. Now it was off to Halifax. I had to meet the new owners son there in a couple days. I grabbed a hotel, rummaged thru my bus to see what I could bring back with me. Cant carry a lotta campin gear on a plane, lol. The kid showed up, and told me he was just finish schoolin ion Halifax, and since we had time to kill, he would give me a tour. He did the normal, Sentinal hill, some grave that had Titanic victims, the harbour, had lunch, omg the chowder there is to die for.
I said, where teh Trailer Park Boys. He said, lets go, I'll show ya ....... One last rip in my bus, a pocket full of money, a quick check of the TPB's set, and I was off, flyin home to Nanaimo. 
I so wanna do it all again, and I will ..... I got the same bus now, just need to plan ahead and set another goal ..... 


........ 

[magikbus]

We love the East coast as well Brent, the people, the landscape etc, but only in July and August. We had a taste of spring and fall in Nfld, where we encountered temps in the single digits Celcius, in heavy soaking fog travelling 40 mph sideways. It was not fun. The locals laughed at us and told us that was nothing, we should see the same sideways fog in the winter months only then it's ice, coating everything, for days. Not for us.
Stan