Aug 31st, Day 3......Calgary bound....

Okay, up and at 'em........I think I can make it to Calgary today.....I was originally going to be there for the 1st as everything is closed for Labour Day....no training but what I have come to realize when I'm driving is that......what else is there to do?? I mean if I only drive 8 hrs, stop in an unknown place.....to do what? So I figured, keep driving till it gets dark instead of putting a time line on it......it has worked out so far.

I miss my girls though.......I have been texting my wife once I get to certain towns and different States so that way, she and my little daughter can track me on my journey........kinda like them being with me.

Montana, what a beautiful vast landscape..........flat at times and rolling hills other times. Its like I am the only one on the road........this is why people don't use the T-Can highway.

The speed limit here is also 70mph which is about 115kms.........I have been on cruise control at 120kms pretty much the whole trip.......nice and relaxed........sometimes too relaxed. Actually, with no one to talk to, I have discovered that I am a pretty good singer so I am thinking of Canadian Idol once all this is done. In the pic I am not singing but you do strange things when you drive a long time by yourself.....

Remember the double dashboard footrests, well I started getting confident again and only ventured one foot up but lo and behold.......after passing a family in a van towing a trailer, I rise up on a crest and there he is.......a big ass Clydesdale horse starting to cross the road on my left.......now this is a one way each side highway so his snout was mere inches from my face as I flew by and down the other side.........my main concern was the family I just passed.....they were coming and didn't know what was waiting for them and I had no way of warning them......the only hope I had was that the horse, who was walking along like a veteran, he has done this before and was not spooked when I went by so I was hoping he didn't stop walking.....then I saw the van coming in my rear view mirror so I knew they made it through.. It is amazing that in the Universal plan that maps out our lives......mere seconds and timing dictate if we stay or go.......simply amazing!!

Needless to say, feet were back in place and hands were at 10 and 2.....heh heh.

The funniest part in Montana was the tumbleweed, yes it exists, just like in the western movies, cause one went right by me........there are some serious cross winds when its flat.......I had to laugh.

Okay, 4 States, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Montana, and 5 animals, black bears, deer, raccoon, horse, I didn't tell you about the dogs, and of course, 1 tumbleweed,...........good drive, all is good........until I get to the CDN border.

Those clowns........Labour day weekend and they have one lane open so only about 70 cars ahead of me but it takes 1 1/2 hrs to get to the dude that tells me that 1 1/2hrs is great time and that 7hrs wait will be the time tomorrow.......and he seemed proud of it.
Needless to say, with my luck, does he not tell me to pull up to bay 2 for a vehicle check......great, there goes my time.......it was 3:30pm when I got there, and I was anticipating being in Calgary for supper......NOT!!

I pull into bay 2 where there are 3 young lads strapping on their latex gloves......yes I was a bit worried but I knew I could take them.....heh heh. Once they realized what I did for a living......they spent some quick time on the car and I was free to go......sheesh!!........5:30pm.....

It was raining the rest of the way so I knew I wouldn't have to wash the car that was full of all kinds of bugs, actually, while in line at the border, birds were flying onto my bumper picking off the bugs for some chow and just feasting on the hood.......good thing my wife wasn't with me cause she really doesn't like birds, but its amazing though.....evolution.....one crunched up bug is a meal for another......

Anyways, finally made it to the house where I'll be staying and I was on my own so, I cleaned out my room, vacuumed, made my bed, unpacked, and finally had a late pasta supper and hit the sack.......now, I am getting so old, and after 3 days on the road, I forget why I came here in the first place?!.........yea right, I will welcome the whole day off tomorrow to find my legs before the reality of my trip hits me on Tuesday.

Peace