Survived getting through Chicago

Bobby and I managed to survive the entry into the big city of Chicago. Actually, some of you think I don't like cities at all. I really appreciate many big cities, including Chicago. I would just rather arrive at them by plane and use taxis and public transportation. I love them for their art, music and sometimes their architecture. None of this is possible when you're in a little RV with a dog who needs shade if you stop anywhere.  They are just two very different experiences. I like both. But driving strange freeways of big cities is not only hugely anxiety causing but also fraught with dubious outcomes. I think back about the hours I spent just trying to get out of Quebec  City on a wet, dark night. I think I probably described my horrible experience there having a huge RV coming down a steep, wet, curving hill street and swinging so wide because of his length that I had to stop in my  tracks going up or let him crash into me. Each time I tried to resume my driving up the hill I just spun tires and burned rubber. Some super Canadian teenagers came to my rescue. Handled down coming and up coming traffic until one of them called 911 resulting in four police cars appearing — two to handle the down traffic and two for those below. Then  the lovely policewoman insisted that the only solution to getting me "off the spot" was for me to follow her backwards down that steep, curved hill with a cliiff on my right side. I did it but I was shaking in the knees when we got to the bottom of the hill. So sorry to repeat myself if I have. I really think I told you about this already, but I'm writing this as a draft without wifi, then I'll walk over to McDonalds and use their wifi to send it off. So I can't review old posts to check on myself.

Back to getting out of Chicago. A lovely toll taker gave me all kinds of advice as I came out of the turnpike and onto the Chicago Skyway to cross town. Miraculously I  managed it.  But I felt exhausted when I finally hit agricultural lands again.

Now I am about an hour and a half from Saint Louis, Missouri. I'm on Route 66, Interstate Highway 55 at this point. Though I must say, I think official map makers, city engineers, anyone who has to do with signs would rather just not bother with telling anyone anything about Route 66. That will probably change when I get further out into the lower states, but the official Illinois map that they offer people at the rest stop does not have one mention of good old Route 66. By patching various maps together I'm beginning to get  the picture.

I think Art would say to just sing the song. Right? I have a good book by Rick Antonson who traveled the Route with a friend in a Mustang convertible. The book is titled: "Route 66 still kicks. — Driving America's Main Street." Their stories are very entertaining and I'm trying to race through it so I don't miss some really vital tidbit about what I shouldn't omit from my own trip. I know now that I should have bought several more or those books listed besides this one. So we'll see how it goes and where it goes.

When I arrived in this little community where there is a Subway, a McDonalds, a truck stop and a Super 8 Hotel. I thought I'd treat myself to a hotel room to get caught up with various things and have a really good night's sleep. "Do you have a reservation?" asked the sweet  young lady behind the counter. "No" said I.  As you might have guessed, they are all booked up. This is a little god forsaken place in the middle of agricultural fields. Seems various kinds of work crews fill up the motels. When we tried to track down a campground, it began to sound very uncertain for tonight. Then she asked if electricity was all I needed. I said that could work. I mainly needed to charge things. —  Camera, laptop, etc. Then she showed me some electrical outlets placed outside on light posts. Why were they there? Who knows? She said it would be fine for me to tap into one of those. Seems she works at the hotel and the Subway next door. Not to worry says she. So I found the adapter cord I keep in the trunk and used that to utilize this generous offer. I'm  fully curtained just outside the Subway which evidently is closing at 9:00 which is in 5 minutes. Then, maybe it won't seem quite so odd. But I'll be able to charge everything up and run next door to send this post off into the world. Could I have imagined doing such a thing 15 years ago? I don't think so. It's amazing what we can do with even the rudimentary equipment I have. If it's there, why not?

New York and PA take the prize for amazing reds

A view of the main entrance to the Dia Museum

This lawn provides an occasional glimpse of the Hudson River 

A lovely vista from the west end of the Dia Museum

Bobby and the Rialta patiently waiting

Bobby waiting for his chance to walk in the gardens of the Beacon Dia Museum

I didn't think it could get any better than the reds I saw in New Your mountains but then came PA. More crazy quilt contrast back and forth with the greens. That contrast is so powerful. Anyway, I again thought I should have a bad neck ache from trying to look in both directions and being sad at the same time that my camera conked out again just when the best was before me. I wonder how much of this my poor brain can store. Doesn't matter. I've had color thrills of a lifetime and I'm sure I won't forget a huge part of.

I seem not to have told you anything about my visit to the Dia Museum in Beacon, New York as I got my first glimpse of the Hudson River. Jenny had told me this museum was a must see and she was right. I was planning on going on down to West Point but because I was running late I opted to spend the afternoon at this remarkable museum. It has galleries on a monumental scale. One or them was devoted to Agnes Martin and one to Andy Warhol and another to Blinky Palermo. These are only a few in this gigantic site. I only had time to take a good look at the main floor, it is so vast. You could spend days there. All very thought provoking and some quite powerful. I couldn't help wonder what Joseph Albers would have had to say about this current collection. There was so much related to color juxtaposition. He was right. It often does mean everything. I'm so happy Jenny directed me there. No photos allowed inside but I took a few in the garden to bring back memories. Shortly after, my camera failed me again.

My directions worked and I made it to Oberlin, Ohio in time to have a great dinner with Leah and a look around. So good to see her. We had brunch this morning and then parted reluctantly. I crossed over into Indiana at about 5:30 this afternoon and hope to be in the area south of where Route 66 begins by late tomorrow. Because I lost so much time trying to deal with the broken latches, only time will tell how long I can stick with the plan, but I'll try. I marked up my new atlas that Leah and I found in Oberlin with a yellow highlighter and I'll work some more on it tomorrow. It's really difficult to find the 66s on the map in some areas. It may take some creativity. I'll also try to find a good visitors' center when I enter the next state. Those places are a great resource. They are usually so forthcoming and they are quite knowledgable. 

Did I tell you about Steve's link to the Google map with pins on it for all the stops on my trip. Kind of fun to see it that way Thanks, Steve.

 http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vps=2&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=213579863156476068408.0004e70653a0b8858928b  I have a hunch I've included more than is needed. Can you straighten us out, Steve?


OK. I wanted to let you know that Bobby and I are fine and we'll try to report in again tomorrow. I can't wait to share some more pictures with you but it just isn't happening quite yet. Patience.
Love to all,   Jackie

A real quicky!

I arrived at an expensive camp in the Adirondacks just after 8:00 last night. Before I even found my site Bobby started barking which he hardly ever does. Not a good sign. When I awoke this morning at 7 something, all I could hear was the roar of cars. As I recall from last night, this is just a country kind of highway but it already sounds too crowded. I can't wait to get back out on the road and beyond. The only reason I'm going to go further south is that I do want to drive down the Hudson River for a while and see where all those paintings were birthed, also try to visit a museum in Beacon (?) that Jenny says I should see. Then on to visit Leah in Oberlin.

Even the wifi is crowded here, I think. Very slow to react. Vermont spoiled me in every possible way. Their wifi was quick to respond. The people were so friendly, helpful, food good in a neat little restaurant call "Squares" in Virgennes (sp)where I had a wonderful baby arugula salad with chicken and a drink called "sipping chocolate." That was a meal in itself. Thick and peppery. What character. People across the street in a park were having some kind of farmers' market and cooked goodies. Just ate an almond croissant which I bought from a man who also sold me a wonderful multigrain baguette. When the veggie man next to him, from whom I had already bought cherry tomatoes and a late summer squash, heard me answer the baker about my trip, he insisted on giving me some Vermont apples and some lovely little gypsy peppers. When I returned from the restaurant they had recommended, a man was peering through the window of the Realta and marveling over its miniaturization compared to the giants that are traveling the highways these days. We had a nice conversation and off I went into my last taste of rural Vermont.

There are stretches where there will be one house in the middle of ten acres, sitting on a gentle knoll or overlooking a  perfect pond. Then there would be fields of the ubiquitous crop I have yet to identify. It looks like corn stalks but no corn, and only a five or six inch sprig of something at the very top. Help me someone. Can't you please tell me what it is? The big farms from Quebec to Vermont all have tall receptacles for some form of this product, which are not coned like the tin man ones you see for grains, but domed. What does that mean. Is it for some kind of oil? I know I should have taken the time to Google it long ago. I'm a bit too much on the run. Anyway the land is divided between this crop and then miles of green velvet rolling country with a few trees and looking like it's all just been mowed. Very soothing.

Yesterday I heard from Francisco and Art that someone has stolen all my pears. Who would do such a thing? Such a violation. It's time for me to get back home even though it sounds like my town is in an uproar over something going on at the Senior Center. Much heavily to do about it but absolutely no one coming out and stating what it's really all about. Maybe I should stay on the road.  The Japanese Braiding (Kumihimo) festival is the main reason I have to return. I host it the week of Oct. 21st. Must get home to clean house, clean studio, prepare for the workshop and begin to make soups. Better do my chores here, disconnect my hoses and be on my way.

It's all about color

I bought some maple syrup at their office store

I'm amazed at how rapidly the leaves turn once they have started their dance. Just yesterday wasn't anything like today. Today is like New Brunswick with its crazy quilt carpet coming up out from between the conifers. Only a hundred times more so. I drove today from Bangor, through New Hampshire and had my late afternoon main meal in Gorham NH and then drove through to where I am camped out now in Vermont. I'm not sure I could have made it to here if it weren't for the maps and directions from Chris at the Red Barn where I stayed near Bangor. He helped me tremendously by keying them in and printing them for me. A million thanks, Chris.

 This is a very nice mountainous campground with lots of amenities I won't have time to enjoy. I am in a far back area with only one set of tent campers somewhat nearby. So I let Bobby have short little jaunts out into the wilderness. Not this late, though. Who knows what's out there now. They say lots of Moose. But I haven't seen one yet. Anyway Bob stays in 'til morning. It don't think I am more than about an hour outside of Burlington. The closest town to here is Danville. Does that mean anything to you, Karen? It must have been hard to move away from this lovely mountainous terrain with its riotous colors in the Fall season. I think I could live here very nicely only I'd have to be closer to the coast. Everywhere I've traveled in the northeast has had rivers, lakes and wetlands in spades though, if not coast as well. So glad I finally made it here to see for myself what I've heard talked about seemingly forever.

This little report is just to let you locate where I am and to tell you how beautiful today's ride has been. I'm oohing and awing every other moment when I see each new combination of colors. It's like pointillism  in extreme. Seurat would have gone nuts except that these colors and arrangements would probably have been a little too undisciplined for him. Seeing the layers of  a vibrant yellow or orange with a full chroma red or plum in front of it takes my breath away. Despite all my latch problems of late, I wouldn't have missed this trip for anything. I'll have images stored away in my head to last me forever. I should be able to post a few more pictures soon. Love to all,   Jackie

It's the next morning now and I'm just about to disconnect my hoses or I'll be charged for another day. This is a beautiful little golden leafed hollow. I hate to leave. Love to all.

Good attitudes don't come cheap!

I'd hoped I could write and tell that all was fixed or could be. The VW dealership in Bangor is pretty impressive. The biggest and slickest shop I've ever seen. But the head man there says they are booked a week ahead and that even then any parts might have to come from California, Vancouver BC or even Germany. He said for me to either stay here but it might be weeks or try to limp home.

Ok, I am staying here at this sweet campground park placed on 30 stunning acres and owned by really lovely people who just took possession of it in June. I am driving to Burlington, Vermont tomorrow and West Point NY the next day. I should arrive at Oberlin to visit with Leah sometime Saturday.

I've been working on my attitude all afternoon. Had a lovely afternoon main meal at a nearby restaurant. A mango tea made with fresh chunks of mango, a large crab cake and a wonderful salad bar. 

These are all things to happy me up. But I've just been trying to take care of some important email and all of a sudden MCN Squirrel mail is saying ERROR and won't accept my name or password. I've only been using these two for over twenty years. So, I have to admit the current state of my attitude is slightly down the tubes. They have good, fast wifi here and their server warns you that they will cut back on your speed if you seem to be hogging the broad band. Could that be it? Can they influence MCN to do that to me or are these just gremlins testing me for all I'm worth?

I hope I got the most important letters out to Steve. Nancy and Karen, Dora, Gin, but not to Art or anybody else. I'll try again later. but if that doesn't work I'll just keep writing to you all in the blog and hoping things will change.

Good news: Bobby got to have another wild romp in this camp toward the back end. It is really a beautiful piece of property and such helpful people, I hope if any of you ever find yourselves in Bangor you come to the "Red Barn Campground." They've just bought it in June but they are working miracles toward creating a gorgeous spot for people to come and have a vacation. Bobby definitely agrees. They are even talking about building a  dog park within. They have an old hydrant to build it around. Bobby can't wait.

What? Not bored yet?

I think I would be. This tale (trail)  has a few too many ups and downs to be believable if you ask me.

Well, where did I leave you? I was at Tim Horten's for coffee and wifi this morning after being told by the head mechanic at CT that my problem was a body shop or VW problem and that even if he would (which he wouldn't) he didn't have any of the right tools to work on my door latches.

So off I went into the short wild blue yonder to the US entry point just beyond St. Stephen. That went well and they let Bobby back in the states. Whew!  So I started driving toward Bangor where I was told there is a VW dealer and shop.

When I eventually saw the signs for Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, I thought — Yeh! I need a little something special in my life right about now. Let's go. So we turned left and before I knew it I was pulling into the lot for the National Park's visitor center. They were very helpful and told me of a place I could have lunch at a price I could afford in Bar Harbor. So I went outside and pulled on the "house" door and guess what? That which had never yet happened in all of this saga  ........... happened. It was also locked no matter what I did with that big fancy key. I had left the driver side window partially open (at the suggestion of the head mechanic) and I reached in and tried to open it from inside — which usually works — but no, not now. And there is Bobby inside, looking happy to see me and oh, so trusting...... So, I went back in and talked to the rangers whom I had already shared my earlier lock frolics with, and they said I could use their complimentary phone to call AAA. After (really) almost 20-25 minutes the very nice man who said he'd had VWs all his life and they ran great but this stuff happens all the time..........he finally figured out where I was. I should have asked, and usually do, but didn't ask, where he was. ( Just out of curiosity, right?) So he gives me the usual spiel about possibly waiting for 45 minutes and I go outside to see how Bobby is doing on the other side of the partially open glass window.

Then I started remembering one of the several good Samaritans who helped me finally get the passenger door closed after another man managed to get it open (but he left before he knew it now wouldn't actually close. All of this back in St. Stephen.  ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?  I doubt I would be. Anyway, I thought about the fact that one of them had accomplished his particular miracle by fiddling with the supplementary key and using it in the keyhole. What a concept! So I thought, well I'll just give that a try, and I did. Lo and behold, it caused the button on the driver and passenger side to go up, I reached in through my cleverly left  partially open window and opened the driver's door from the inside. That was MY miracle. So I went back inside, asked to use the phone again and called AAA. Wasn't the same man but, yes, he could see all about it on his screen. Such a private life we live these days. But I was happy for everything at that moment and suddenly remembered about Sachiyo giving me $10 to please buy myself a lifetime Sr. Park pass as a going away gift. ( In addition to the books and workshop notes she also gave me). They wouldn't let her do it. It has to be you and you have to be at a park to do it. So I did. And I said I was doing it there because they had been so nice and helpful, etc., etc., etc. Believe it or not, my clever new system worked again and Bobby and I drove off to Bar Harbor. Wowy! What a plush place that is. I drove  the park loop drive just for a change and discovered when I was back in town that there was actually no place to park (no busses RV etc. signs everywhere). So we managed to get out of there without destroying anything precious and headed back a ways. We found a "Charter Cafe" on the edge of a gorgeous little cove and I decided to have my lobster salad splurge there.  The nice waitress also gave me the name of the sweet RV camp just outside of Bangor where I'm staying tonight.

So, my dears, after that longwinded bit of news you can tell I am still OK. Or pretty much so. You know, I'm finding it's actually quite cathartic to spill the beans like this to my beloveds, kin and who knows who else. It does me good, as they say.

At long last I read the Rialta manual again the other night in St. Stephen and discovered where the clean water tank is filled from. Can you believe it's taken me this long? So tomorrow morning I'm going to put a few gallons of potable water in it through this little opening and that will give me the luxury of having a little water on the run. Isn't that exciting? Just thought you'd like to know. Sleep well my darlings.

Bored Yet?

This has to be really fast. The Mac is down to 22% and no place to charge.  I went to the shop this morning and was told by the HEAD MECHANIC that the junior mechanic on Saturday should not have made an appointment for me for this morning! "He can't touch door latches"  he says. That's for a body shop and probably a VW body shop. OK.  Decision made. I practiced the "crawl over" and I'm back at Tim Horten's for coffee and wifi. In a few minutes I'll be off for the border. Then I'll drive to Bangor where I am told there are VW people.

I'm safe, well, more or less philosophical and what more can you ask? Bobby is a trouper no matter what happens — or doesn't. Love to all,   Jackie at 20%

Nobody ever said it would be necessarily easy!

The amazing sculptures created by the tides in the Bay of Fundy

I rode back from the rocks in this neat little shuttle bus

Bobby awaiting my return from seeing the rocks in the Bay of Fundy

There was nothing shy about these guys at Port Elgin Interpretive site (Gulls, Art)?

Bobby's free to run field in Port Elgin at the Indian Point B&B

View from our Port Hood campsite on the Cape

You haven't heard from me for a few days because of lack of wifi. I'm going to tell you the essentials and then I'll copy in the post I wrote the night before last but the system wouldn't work.

I left the lovely Clipper Ship Motel on the Bay of Fundy with the intention of driving the short way to St. Stephen and crossing over to Maine there. I'm not there yet. As I was driving into St. Stephen I thought about how tough and sticky the passenger side door latch was acting as I came and went from the Motel room. So, just to be sure I decided to turn off into town and go to a "Canadian Tire" which is a great all purpose parts and repair operation all over Canada. My idea was to get a small can of WD40 to shoot on that lock before I went any further. I came back out and when I tried to open the door, no can do.  Well, at least my hunch was right on. That door wouldn't open. So at least I'm just across from the right business. A helpful man came out and fooled with the keys and managed to get it to open. But, similar to the experience with the other door at Salmon Arms in Alberta (I think), it also wouldn't close all the way. That man left and another came and he, amazingly managed to get it to close but not open again. So to the mechanic at CT. He said they couldn't take it until Monday (tomorrow) because he was so tightly booked up. So instead of making it across the border, I slept in their parking lot as I will also tonight. It seems quite safe and they all know I'm there.

I'm already running almost a week late on my schedule so I'm a bit taxed for a decision as to drive on if they can't fix it tomorrow. That would entail climbing over the bed and crawling down into the driver's seat. I can open that door from the inside. So, in close up situations I leave it open a crack and am able to reenter from the front. But  that doesn't become possible too often. Any ideas?

I'm sitting at a Tim Horten coffee house where there is free wifi and I'll stay here another half hour before driving back to the lot I call home. If anyone is getting this as I write it, I'd love it if you'd weigh in.

Much as I consider it a lousy headache to have to crawl over and into the seat, as long as I can exit quickly and safely from that side, I'm inclined to  drive on and cross the border tomorrow. I really can't afford much more delay. I know there is a VW outfit up the road an hour at St. John. They would probably have to send to them for the part. Another question is: If they have the part coming should I engage them to fix the other side while they're at it?  I really have loved driving this vehicle, it's a dream. But this door business seems to be it's Achilles heel. I'm going to post this now in case someone has an opinion.

OK, it's posted, so I'll blather on. Or better yet, I forgot about that post I couldn't get to go from the Motel. That was a lovely site. And to answer my earlier question in the unposted section, I definitely was on the shores of the Bay of Fundy still. The whole way in to St. Stephen was called the Fundy Parkway on some signs. Here's that post, and the next time I'm on I'll give you some of those pictures I took at the "Rocks."

Here 'tis:  I spent most of yesterday exploring the coast of the Bay of Fundy. I'm so grateful that Art urged me to do that. What an amazing place. It is a region of spectacular rises and falls of the tides and the shoreline geology shows all the results of that phenomenon. Many of you know to what degree I am seriously acrophobic. But all my life I have made an effort to overcome that problem. I force myself to go places that make me a bit dizzy. That's if there is something to seriously hold onto. Such was the case when walking down a steep path and seemingly endless metal staircase to see the famous Hopewell rocks that have been formed by the tidal action at that location. I was so proud of myself that I made it to the sandy bottom shore with water lapping and signs everywhere saying that we must be gone from there by 5:00. I will soon be taking the time to study a little book I bought that explains the basics to the layman. I'm so glad that Art suggested I take the time to go there.

Being  back in New Brunswick, the fall colors began to emerge again. Not quite as intensely as in the northern part of the province where I had been earlier in the week and marveled over the carpets of reds, rusts and golds rising up out from between and above the conifers, forming a kind of kaleidoscope of the season's finest. Coming down the steep grades as I was leaving the Fundy National Park the colors played a kind of game along the border of the highway. It was almost as if it had been planned that every other tree was a deep green conifer and then the alternates were like an autumn splash. I'm surprised I don't have a serious neck ache from turning my head from side to side so often in order not to miss something. Even as I drove through mixed B&B/small town/agricultural lands with their neat farm houses and outbuildings, I found myself wishing I could stop and photogaph every other minute's vista. Not possible though. For one reason, they don't seem to believe in wide highway shoulders here. A serious accident could result from all the stops I'd like to indulge in. So making an effort to store all these images in my head with its questionable memory is a challenge I'll have to aim for.

After another consultation at the Nova Scotia visitor's center I had decided to drive through the Fundy park and enter the US. just after reaching the Canadian border town of St. Stevens. As I drove past St. Johns toward that border the five o'clock low sun became absolutely blinding. I grew so tired of trying to hold one of my hands up to block it's piercing rays that I finally took an exit and pulled into an "Irving" gas station, They had a little restaurant there and I decided to have a chowder and salad before moving on or finding a place to stay the night. The waitress told me there was a campground about "ten" minutes up the road and I took off (in the dark now) to find it. After  something like twenty five minutes I still had not come upon the phantom campground and figured I missed the sign along the way. Then I came upon this neat motel perched above the shoreline of a "river?" The campground was supposed to be called "New River Campground." But this body of water looks suspiciously like  a tidal nook or cranny of the bay. I'll find out eventually. I asked the attendant about the campground and she said that it was just a little further down the road but she thought it was closed for the season. I guess the waitress's ten minute drive was my half hour drive. I crawl along, desperately trying to see what the signs along the edge of the road are meant to be telling me in semi-darkness. But my headlights seem to refuse to reveal half of what I should be discovering. It's like "straight ahead or not at all." A good metaphor for something, eh?

This is turnaround day!

My incredibly delicious Haddock burger at the Celtic Interpretive Center

This piper was "banished" from the Interpretive Center Luncheon concert — I don't know why

B&B next to my lunch restaurant on Cabot Trail

A distant look at the soft crazy quilt carpet of color emerging in New Brunswick

Exterior landscaping at the Visitors' Center — Reminds me of Kathy's Berkeley  Rose Garden photograph

Views from my restaurant window on day of Cabot Trail drive

There's that  amazing red rock in use

The only other Rialta I've seen on the trip (At far end)

"Frank" working at the Visitors' Center for Nova Skotia

This must be very quick. I did the Cabot Trail yesterday. Beautiful and full of artisans. Lunch at the  Interpretive Center in Judique to hear some Celtic music and then on to Maine. Just want you to know that I'm happy, healthy and eager to begin the new part of the journey which includes going to Oberlin to visit Leah. Looking forward to that.

Must disconnect. Love to all.    Jackie

Much Later in the day:

On the way out  I stopped at the Interpretive Center for Celtic Music where they have a restaurant and groups play every day for lunch. I sat with a lovely young German woman and enjoyed her company very much. We each had the haddock burger which had been recommended to me at the Red Shoe the night before. I had it with Greek salad on the side and they were both delicious. A bit more substantive than my salads at the Senior Center. I'll have to be careful not to do that too often.

I stopped at the visitors' center on the way off the Cape and was so impressed with their knowledge and friendly service. Just like the one I had gone to in Amherst just as I was arriving in Nova Scotia.  I can't say enough nice things about them. It seems I hadn't looked at the map that carefully and realized that I would have to drive back to Amherst, then down through New Brunswick before crossing the line into Maine tomorrow. The man at the desk here says that will probably only take about three hours. We'll see.

They  (the visitors' center) had even checked with the Amherst center to see if it would be alright to stay overnight in their back parking lot and they said yes. How about that. Well, when I arrived in Amherst I saw a campground sign and decided to take that route so that I could catch up on my blog and email. I asked the man in the office if they had wifi and he said yes. Wouldn't you know that when I tried to hook up, the computer can't find the network even though the name of the park comes up clearly. I'll never understand the quirks and weird things that happen at these times. Just when you really, really want it. I had great, fast service on Cape Breton and I haven't changed a thing. Sooo? What goes? I may just have to walk Bobby, go to bed and sleep on the whole thing and see if I can  post this entry in the morning. It doesn't exactly please me when this happens. I was all set to really get my ducks in a row and pouf! No can do. Better let go, Jackie. These are someone else's gods who control this realm. Just let go. I've been putting off taking Bobby for a walk because the mosquitoes are thick as thieves out there. Can't put if off much longer if we want to sleep tonight. Isn't this fascinating though?  Well, it could be you if you were crazy enough to take off on a trip like this. These little rituals become important out of scale. Anyway, it definitely beats huge storms, sink holds and the like. I'll just keep talking either way just so you know I'm still here. Goodnight dear ones. I went away for a few minutes and, voila! Oh, those gods. Probably too many people using at the same time?  —  This actually posted about a half hour later and this morning (Friday) the whole system is up and running smoothly and it's FAST. So I can stop blaming my poor little computer and my questionable skills at using it for a while at least. Come back here soon. I'll post some pictures that I unloaded from my camera last night.

I'm finally on Cape Breton

View from Point Hood campground

Our campsite at Cape Breton toward the back

I crossed over the causeway to Cape Breton yesterday at 5:00. What a heavenly feeling. It's a magical place, partly I'm sure, because I've longed to see it for so long now, and partly because it's everything I relate to totally. I'm camped at a park right on the edge of the water in Port Hood. I bought gas in Judique where the center for Celtic music is located. Today I'm going to drive the Cabot Trail.  Just suffice it to say "I love it here."

Yesterday I left Port (not Fort) Elgin after a very comfortable night at the "Indian Point Motel" and a wonderful encounter with the owner of the local all purpose gas station and convenience store.  We clicked instantly and will enjoy a long distance friendship I'm sure. Thank you Kathy, for all your special help during that brief visit. And good luck with everything. As I drove along highway 19 after only a few minutes in Cape Breton, I saw a huge billboard on the headlands side of the road that said, "Life is a lovely choice." That says it all. And it particularly makes me think of Kathy in Elgin and Martha in Washington. — Both great appreciators of life in all its forms. I celebrate you both.

Before reaching Cape Breton I drove to the Nova Scotia border and experienced the most amazing Visitor Center I've ever been to. I took some pictures but they're not available yet. Maybe tomorrow morning,. Kathy, remember the photo you did of the Berkeley Rose Gardens? Well this center has an arbor arcing around part of its grounds that brought you photo back so clearly to my mind. And inside: Well, I couldn't believe my eyes,. A gift store, of course. Restrooms, cases, labeled by area names in Nova Scotia. Full of brochures and maps. Perhaps eight different general areas represented. Then — Several people sitting at Computers, ready to look up anything for you. The young man I worked with had been in Fort Bragg and particularly loved Glass Beach. What a small world.

Today I'm driving the Cabot Trail and this evening I'm going to hear some Celtic Music. Thinking of you, Leah. Wish you could be here with me, but I'll see you soon. Bobby says hi. He's doing famously and such a good sport. The manager of this camp said he could run free. What a joy to see.

Quick hello to tell you how sad I am

It's almost checkout time so this must be quick.

I drove from the Gulf of St. Laurence in Quebec yesterday morning 'till late last night after which I crossed all of New Brunswick to Fort Elgin. Later today I cross over to Nova Scotia. So much beauty yesterday seeing the millions of ways the colors change and interact. Some hills are like soft carpets of gold and red and bronze poking up through the conifers. Unbelievably beautiful.

That's obviously not what I'm sad about.  Anyone know a good lawyer who'd take on my cause for the sake of justice alone? It was revealed to me by a friend that two, or maybe just one, or whew, maybe Google,,,,,,,are using my name to post blogs. They changed the case of some letters but the name is supposed to be mine and I want you to know that I have nothing to do with those blogs. How can someone be so mean spirited?  I hope I can get to the bottom of this and I'm wide open to opinions and advice.    Need to check out of this beautiful place, dear friends.   More about this later.

Somehow live through crossing Ottawa

Red rock outcrop in back of parking lot in Sudbury

I continued on my way after that nice mid-afternoon meal at the shiny varnished roadhouse. I didn't actually reach Ottawa until almost 7:00 to my surprise. Then the sudden choices began quickly presenting themselves. Before long I was in rapid fire freeway traffic and the good old 17 east signs just didn't appear any more. So each time I had a choice it had to be rapid fire. Ottawa is obviously the biggest city  in Canada that I've tried to make my way through or around. Usually their choice — not mine. I just hated those quick baseless decisions and decided to follow a high profile semi truck since I figured   most of them are taking the trans con…. but he was traveling so fast I finally lost him and had to make a few more decisions until it said Montreal — right, Quebec —left. Well, I went for left. 

It seemed as if I drove through one suburban center after another. Once I saw a sign for 417. Well, at least the 17 was in there somewhere I thought. Small encouragement because that soon also went by the wayside. I must have driven 30 km before I finally saw the little 17 with the maple leaf again. I screeched with joy. I was so sure I was on a wild, misjudged pathway and was only making my decisions and judging them mostly by whether they headed me in an easterly direction. Can't get the girl scout hiking counselor out of me. Then three times I saw  a glimmer of a sign for a campground but went by before I could see where or which direction. Non appeared. I finally had to stop and let Bobby pee and collect my wits. Soon after that I was going through a little village and saw a nice looking small motel and when I got closer I saw the magic words "truckers and RVs welcome. WELCOME!!!!!!  Oh, my guardian angel, thank you. 

I drove in and rang the bell of the office. It was 8:30 by that time. A nice youngish man opened the door and he verified that "no we don't allow pets in the rooms." Well, do you really have sites for RVs I said. Yes. Do you need electricity and water? Yes, please, Well that will be twelve dollars. Then we talked about my problems tomorrow of getting around Montreal and he showed me a map and told me about a toll road that skirts around the city and saves a huge amount of trouble and time. I'm all for that. You know me and big cities. At least when I have to make sure Bobby can have shade if I stop. When I went to pay him I said, surely you don't mean $12?  Yes, unless you'd like to have some breakfast. That would be $5 more. He showed me where I could hook up practically in front of the motel — very convenient and safely tucked into a courtyard. Sometimes I really do feel that I have a guardian angel. I'm safely ensconced in my little house with the shades all down and every thing but the wifi. He gave me a password but after I had hooked up I couldn't find the little piece of paper and I didn't have the heart to go back and disturb him. So I'm writing this and will ask for it again tomorrow morning during the breakfast. I think this will be my first breakfast out except when I was with Martha and again when I was with Lolli and Lisa. Bit of a luxury  but, Yes!

All went well at Sudbury Walmart

The side view from Rialta at Huron camp

One of the renter created shelters at Lake Huron — Pretty funny jump from the rock to this

Red rock in back of Walmart

Imagine my surprise when I awoke and realized that there was a whole cliff of the rock I've learned to love right behind us in the Sudbury Walmart parking lot.. Then I got out and began clicking only to find out that my battery was uncharged. The gremlins definitely at work. I tried to do a phone photo but I'm not quite sure how to save those so we'll see.

This is a quickie at a roadhouse about an hour outside of Ottawa. I'll try to find a campground there so I can write again and charge all those thirsty cords. This restaurant is 100% knotty pine with at least 6 coats of varnish on walls and furniture. You might say, very well maintained. Really sweet people and good food.  And the semis are galloping by. This is a really busy transcontinental highway.

I just wanted all to know that I'm fine and so is Bobby.  But it's time I get back to the throng. Hopefully more later this evening.  xox  Jackie

I took the detour — A piece of cake

I gathered these at Lake Huron before leaving to brave the detour

If I had only known I'd have gone yesterday. It led me through forests turning all shades of red, bronze and gold next to still vibrant green. Joseph Albers had it right when he said everything in color was about juxtaposition. The reds are even more striking when mixed with those gorgeous, multi-shade greens.

I'm in a Thai restaurant in Sudbury and planning another Walmart experience at the suggestion of these nice people. Who knows? Maybe the third time will be totally uneventful. I could handle that.

Bobby awaits me after a fairly long time of my eating and writing because I couldn't get any wifi this morning at the campground.

I learned that a young man was killed by driving into the sinkhole I was detouring. He was on a motorcycle. So sad. It certainly gives me pause after my wild ride from Sault Ste Marie and the ride the night before into Wawa. Every conscious moment alive is a gift and a miracle. I am grateful.

Love to you all,   Jackie

The Best Laid Plans

One of the add on casitas at Lake Huron campground

Sites at Lake Huron Campground

Chippewa Falls including red rock

I've had such a rash of odd personal experiences that I haven't spent any time talking about the extraordinary beauty I'm being gifted with. 

I'm about thirty miles from Sault Ste Marie and having my main meal at the Chippewa River Restaurant and Store. I've become quite fond of these places. This one is really cozy.  Three different soft shades of peony imaged oil cloth on the tables. Flowers on the window sills. A Jackie type mix of chairs and tables. Really inviting.

There's more than one kind of way out there beauty on this leg of the trip. Lakes and rivers abound. Each day since I was near Thunder Bay I have been intrigued with the rock in the highway road cuts. At first I thought it couldn't be real hard granite because it was so segmented. But I now am thinking that it is. The amazing thing about this rock is its color. First some salmon color, then some orange and grey and brown. To begin with I didn't see any glitter so I thought no silica content. But then I started seeing big pieces used in parks along the way and some were full of glitter. The highlight of that was at a yacht harbor park I took Bobby to in Thunder Bay. They did everything with that rock and it is obvious that the prize it as well. They created a kind of low level Stone Henge at one location. For many miles I've been thinking  about asking  Kathy and Danny if they know anything about it.  Between Wawa and Sault Ste Marie there is a lake called Red Rock Lake so I'll try Googling it tonight. (No way as it turned out). I will briefly look around SSM and then drive to Sudbury which I've been told I can do before dark. Trees are showing some yellow and just today some bronze and rust colors are showing up close to the ground and even in some of the branches. There's a lot of optical mixing because these are some of the most dense woods I've ever been through. They are a wild mix of deciduous and conifers, particularly on the east side of the highway. On the south side you can see  vistas of the north eastern shore of Lake Superior. On the other side it's just one new lake or river after another. What a visual playground. I'm riding on endorphins.

Yesterday's trip from Thunder Bay to Wawa was hazardous because of rain and fog and endless road construction. Sometimes I couldn't see more than 75 feet before me. So glad to finally end up at a very nice campground but that was after being refused at two motels because of Bobby. The manager at the camp turned out to be a great gal.

It is a "one foot in front of the other" operation like almost every challenge I try to meet in my life. I guess that's the way my life is supposed to be.

This was written at a roadside restaurant on Tuesday afternoon. It is now Wednesday noon and the little Verizon  gizmo put me in a wifi mode. Amazing. Nothing worked out as planned because when I left the restaurant across the highway from the impressive Chippewa River Falls, I soon realized that I was driving right into the eye of a storm. No look around Sault Ste Marie because it was coming down so hard I could barely stay in my lane or see highway signs. As I drove out of town it became just about the most formidable downpour I have ever witnessed. No place to pull over and when a semi (of which there were a gazillion) passed me and then came back to my lane I was nearly blinded by the backwash mixing with the downpour. I am not exaggerating. I was praying, holding my breath and using every bit of energy I had to center myself. As I crossed bridges I sometimes took a second to look at the water below and it seemed as if rivers were rising by the minute. It took me until about half an hour outside of Sault Ste Marie before I suddenly drove out of the brutal storm and into a beautiful, lighter, five o'clock sky with gorgeous clouds mixed with a completely different look on the ground. It was open with only small clusters of trees and huge vibrantly green fields that looked like a cross between  Arcata bottom lands and Fortuna or Petaluma dairy country. About twenty minutes later I arrived at the camp I'm now parked at. It is on the edge of Lake Huron with all the famous islands to be seen offshore. It looks like I'll have to stay here until Friday morning because the highway has been closed due to a huge sink hole that developed during yesterday's violent storm and they say that there is no rational alternative route. I can think of worse places to be stuck in but it sure blows my great plan to be in Cape Breton by Friday night or Saturday to hear Celtic music. Hope they play during the week. I'll have to cut off some time on the Route 66 trip back home. I'm not missing Nova Scotia for anything.

All's well after a "dark and stormy night"

All's well, to quote several people. Just want to let my precious friends and children know. But I can't go further because I only have 45 minutes to pay my bill and disconnect my cords. (water and electricity) Then I'm off to Sault Ste Marie. and maybe Quebec City, though I doubt it, I need to do an early encampment to catch up on various things, including sleep.  Love to all. You know who you are.

xoxox Jackie Mom

I'm back.

Now I know these are just little matters in the ultimate scheme of things; people's lives being so fraught with serious matters these days. But it seems that in my small little life I have to create excitement if it doesn't come visit me directly.  I went to the office to pay up but couldn't rouse anyone. Went next door, asked other campers ......... to no avail. So I went back to my precious Rialta and disconnected her. Yes, I've decided she's a her. Well, one woman has told me twice to just drive away. There's just one little thing. That part about me making my own excitement. In my exhausted stupor last night I wrote a note to the "office" and told them my wanderer's tale and that I'd be back in the morning to make amends. That part sounds OK. The just one little thing is a stupid thing which, of course I'll never do again (in a long list). I wrote the note on the only piece of paper I could find in my purse ....a check deposit slip.  Don't bother saying it.

So being the stubborn person I am, I'm not driving away until she comes back. One hopeful note is that the lady with the drive away advice said she saw the office lady cross over from the office to her house earlier in the morning. I keep saying to myself, maybe her child (toys, bike in evidence)  had a doctor's appointment. That's a must do thing so she's excused. But I hope she shows up soon because I'd like to get going, first to Tim Horton's ( the national coffee place) and the on to Sous St. Marie.  But I want my deposit slip back and I'm not leaving.

The advice lady looks like she and her father? are leaving but she just keeps doing one more thing. I know how that is for sure. I'm sitting in the mauve room that I like so much and I keep seeing things that I should be doing too. Trouble is, I'm parked in front of the manager's house and not hooked up any longer to the electricity. Whoopee, I hear a car behind me stopping. Bingo. Talk later.

The manager is Renee and she's lovely. We had a very cordial visit and I'm glad I waited. I got my deposit slip back and I won't do that one again.  Off to SSM

Photo Rescue Completed — Computer Disc Happy

Park in Thunder bay was adorned with big red rock boulders

Sky over Thunder Bay

Sky over Thunder Bay as I walked Bobby

Such good memories of a wonderful trip with Averil and Bruce and Linda in her finest

Rome was a trip, that's for sure

Roger holding forth in Rome

Dear Boule friends at the tournament

The rainbow for Dora's visit

The amazing sunset in Fort Townsend before visit with Dora

Guess who his new friend is

Bobby in his favorite spot—riding shotgun

Feral kitty at the harbor

Few more to come — Have to move

I'm in Dryden, Ontario at a slightly off beat park. It's quite beautiful but the owners are very skittish about everything including water. My God, I've never been in a place that has so much water in my life. So I'm feeling like moving on to a more comfortable zone. But first I'm going to post some of the photos from this last camera disc that I haven't been able to share due to the MacAir problems. They run the gamut in subject. Just thought you'd like to know why I was so worried about rescuing them. Today we will aim for Thunder Bay and then I'm going to have to face the Google Map thing. Thanks for your help Martha and Lisa. We'll see how I do.

Enjoy the missing photos. They go all the way back to just before I left FB. I went to Silver's and visited the feral cat territory after dinner. So happy they came through. No matter what we tell ourselves, sometimes it's hard to let go.