The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 12           

The dogs are wondering if their life has in fact changed forever? They were fine to travel in the van to begin with but now the trip has turned into a marathon and I can see the worry in their eyes. What the hell happened to our leather couch and chair for lounging? You expect us to be content in these small chairs with only a dog cushion for days on end? That’s why we keep switching around so much. We are not getting nearly enough exercise. What about the sand pit and the chuck-it ball sessions? RockDog wonders where 40-West went?

And the food? What happened to the oatmeal, eggs and yogurt for breakfast, and the salmon dinners we love so much? We are really sick of this dry kibble and the spoonful of nasty canned dog food that you add for flavor. UGH!

DoDog: “I have decided to sleep for 4,000 miles getting up only to eat, pee and poop. No matter who sits on me and tries to push me out of my C position, I will persevere and continue to sleep. A few years ago I slept all the way to Mexico and back. When there is nothing else to do, I can sleep for hours. Not a problem. I know this is a temporary situation and we will eventually arrive at a warm destination.”

Luce Goose: “I am content to be inside a crate looking out and growling at any dog that passes in front of it. I need my quiet space and prefer it be away from the rest of you canines, thank you very much. I resent RockDog sniffing my butt every chance he gets, and his attempt to make light of it by getting in a play bow. And I too am used to traveling for days. I know we will get to a snow-free place soon.

WoodBoy: “I love the back bed and am so ashamed that I can’t control my bladder better. My leg and shoulder feel okay and I am content to do as DoDog, sleep most of the way. We are on yet another adventure and will soon have lots of new butts to sniff and a place to lie in the sun.”

AnnBanane: “I have been so good, better than anyone expected that is until tonight. I got into a dark chocolate bar and think I might get sick, or worse yet have diarrhea like Woody did a few days ago. Other than that I too like to sleep in the sun and have caused absolutely no problems on this journey. I am content to drive and drive without a clue as to where we might end up.”

Bunny: “Where are the bushes full of birds that I love to flush out? I entertain myself by running back and forth in the van when we pass a semi-truck. At least I get some exercise and can’t wait to check out the dog park in Hendersonville to see if they have any birds there.”

RockDog: “I’m always in trouble because I constantly vie for my position up front next to my mom, and I’m always looking for food. I do like to sleep on top of DoDog because she makes the best pillow pet ever. I would really like to stretch my legs and go on a hike. I am told we will do that as soon as we arrive at our new home.”

I’m a bit guilty keeping the dogs so cooped up and am projecting how I feel onto them, when really they are content to do whatever I want. I’m just so ready to be out of Dora for awhile – not that I don’t enjoy her, we are just ready to stretch our legs a bit and she is needs a rest. Tomorrow we will arrive in Columbus to see family and ride out the Perfect Storm. For now we are off to a good start – no problems with the Wells Fargo card and Woody had a great night, no more episodes! And AnnBanane does not have diarrhea or even an upset stomach from her chocolate bar episode. She’s like her Auntie DoDog, iron stomach of steal. We cruise toward Minneapolis and on to Madison WI without incident. It is now time to go around Chicago, and that is when things turn to shit. Little did I know that it would take at least 3 hours to do it! The toll roads are being worked on so the speed limit is 45 MPH, lovely - and traffic is heavy for the only two open lanes. Thanks goodness it is Sunday, imagine if it were a workday?

At the first toll both the attendant is in awe of the dogs and has to show me a picture on his phone of his black/white cocker spaniel. Of course all the dogs think we are at a drive-thru and wonder where the treats are. For the amount of money we spent driving these crappy roads, they should have gotten at least a scrap. The first toll was $1.90, the second $3 and the third $1.50. After that I lost count. I do know I missed one turnoff so had to double back. Of course there is a toll to get off and one to get back on, without attendants. I need 90 cents in change to throw in a basket – it will not take $1. Oh well, blew right through both of those without paying. There is no time for this nonsense. I assume the state police will stop me at some point or I will get a bill in the mail, as there are cameras everywhere.

There is absolutely no place to pull off as we cruise on and on. I know that Woody is up and that usually means he has to pee. I keep driving because of course I have no choice – this seems to be a common theme particularly in Midwest semi country. An hour later I look in the rear view mirror just in time to see him peeing on our bed. Grrrr! I know he can’t help it. And then, I see him trying to cover it up. Poor boy, he is mortified again. It’s okay Woody; we will get out of here soon. Finally I see an Oasis exit – essentially a concrete jungle with fast food restaurants and a gas station with exorbitant prices! I pull off and everyone has to go potty, including me but of course I am last.

Glad that’s over with but as I pull out I notice the transmission is slipping on Dora just a little. I feel tense and agitated at this point. I know it’s my attitude that has to change and not the situation at hand. I try to do some deep breathing but then my contacts get cloudy and now I can’t see very well, it’s getting dark and I’m still on this bloody toll road. OMG, will it ever end? If there is ever a next time driving across country, I will drive hundreds of miles out of my way to avoid the Chicago area. Finally I see 65-South and the sign for Indiana. Wheew! We are finally on the road out of this hellhole. We pull off at the first truck stop because of course I have to wash the bedding. No problem, I am comfortable inside waiting for the blankets to dry and checking email. We will go to bed, get some rest and tomorrow will be another day. In fact it will be a great day because I will be in Ohio visiting my son and family for a couple days. I had hopes of making it today but after the 45 MPH for three hours I am too exhausted to keep driving. We need to rest and be safe.

The blankets are dry so we find a large field out back of the truck stop where only a few tractor-trailers are parked. A trucker helped me add a bit of transmission fluid to the well, and Dora is once again happy and ready to hit the road tomorrow. We settle in and I decompress with a murder mystery when I hear a loud pop. Holy Crap, did someone just hit the side of Dora? Interesting, none of the dogs moved. I peek out into the night and find everything quiet - no one around. A few minutes later more loud pops, what the hell? Still the dogs are not responding. When I look out the back window I see fireworks lighting up the sky! Ahh, that’s what it is - one of the truckers is setting off fireworks. No worries, it’s actually cool in the ominous, dark sky of angry looking clouds with a full moon in the background. Lights out, we have a short drive tomorrow!

Dora sandwiched between the Big Dogs

Day 12 ends in a large field outside a truck stop in Indiana, where I am cuddled with six dogs under a clean down comforter with a display of colorful fireworks out the back window. Life is good in a van called Dora!

Semi Plaza

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 11

Last night right before bed, Woody had another bad episode. He was panting, pacing, howling, and distressed, obviously in pain. The muscles near his shoulder and down his leg were contracting when I touched them. I tried massaging him, but he would have none of it.  I finally took him outside on the grass away from the other dogs and he seemed to walk it off. I have no clue what’s going on, but today he is fine. Fingers crossed that me remains okay.

Saturday, Wow! I have no idea what day it is until I call a friend and wonder why she’s not at work. In fact I call lots of friends and spend hours on my cell while driving 75 MPH down the freeway - 52 East which is essentially a two-lane highway, to I94 East, eventually heading south tomorrow morning on I90. I practice some cat-cow moves to keep my spine and neck supple; it’s easy to do when I’m on the phone and driving. It feels like I have been out of touch for months!  A blizzard is peppering snow down causing limited visibility on 52E, but that’s the norm in North Dakota. I know because I lived here for 18 months a few decades ago.

Clear highway

The morning starts off with a decline on my Wells Fargo card. Grrrr! It happened yesterday in Canada, I called and supposedly the problem was fixed and it wouldn’t happen again. But it did the very next time I used the card. I call again and they connect me to the fraud department. Apparently, even though I had the travel plan in effect they ‘flagged’ the account because I made multiple gas purchases in one day. Well, I am driving across country so yes I will have more than one gas purchase in a day. They assure me it is for my own protection. Well, okay but let’s get it straightened out because not only is it embarrassing when someone tells me my card is declined, making a phone call and being put on hold is time wasted that I could be driving. They apologize and say the account is no longer flagged. Let’s hope not!

The gas prices are a welcoming relief; some places are near $3/gallon – beats the hell out of $4.75+ in Homer! As I continue across North Dakota it keeps snowing and snowing and blowing. The good news is nothing is sticking to the road. I am finally able to drive out of it near the Minnesota border. Seems like snow follows me no matter where I go – I have been accused of bringing bad weather to places more than once.

the road east

 I can tell I’m in the Midwest because multiple radio stations are broadcasting college football games and I am passing racecars on the freeway headed to the track for Saturday night races. J I now feel like I am making progress on this journey. I cross two states today and am near the Wisconsin border. On to Chicago, Indiana and Ohio tomorrow to visit family, hopefully arriving in the Carolinas on Thursday after the Perfect Storm has passed.

Now that I don’t have to spend all my waking energy on road conditions, I’m able to brainstorm some ideas. A 6-bedroom, 4-bath house awaits me in the historical district of Hendersonville zoned commercial, essentially meaning the possibilities are endless. The house has an interesting history; built in the 20’s it was a naturopathic school in the 1940’s owned by Dr. Dahl, and is locally referred to as the Dahl House. I have lots of ideas for what to do with it, one being to continue the tradition and create a healing center. That might include a massage therapist, an acupuncturist, or maybe an energy healer. For me personally, I may convert the large living area into a yoga studio, and also offer art workshops. I will for sure have a guest room for anyone that wants to come for a visit. This reinvention/transformation is exciting. Who knows where this adventure may lead? Stay tuned for the Tales of the Dahl House blog.

Day 11 ends outside a Pilot’s Travel Plaza near Minneapolis where we are sandwiched between two semi-trucks in a parking lot full of tractor-trailers. We are grateful for a van named Dora that has kept us safe along this amazing journey Tomorrow we will cross 3, maybe even 4 states as we near the Perfect Storm. 

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 10, the longest day yet!

Sunglasses, at last!

Up at 5:00 AM because of course that’s the time the motel crowd starts heading out. That means I had about five hours sleep, give or take the times the dogs get me up to switch beds – I knew we should have slept in Dora. The walls are paper-thin so we hear everything. I work on my blog, pack the van, walk the dogs, feed the dogs, do a load of laundry and am out of there by 9:30. It’s been snowing but the roads are clear. The temperature is frigid with the wind chill. I cannot wait to feel the sun on my body. I manage to dump three of my sandbags here in Lloydmister - my trash is someone else’s find. The other two will be left in North Dakota for some lucky sucker that has to cope with winter this year. Where I’m going I will not need them.

Dry Road!

I called Woody OgDog at least six times today. No idea why other than the fact he looks so much like him now that he is older. And his leg/shoulder? Well duhhh. I realize he is not been getting much exercise, and I have been treating him like he is feeble and he has responded accordingly. So, it’s time for him to start taking walks off leash just like at home. He has done much better today. He had yogurt and a banana for breakfast and his digestive system is back to normal. No more blowouts in Dora, thank goodness. Anne was sweet to lie on the bed beside him all afternoon.

Co-pilot

Asleep on the job

I drive and I drive, not realizing just how far the border is plus I lost another hour – that makes two in two days. So instead of being 6:30 PM it is actually 8:30 PM, sigh. The night is pitch black and clear, and I am in the country on a two-lane road frantically looking for the US border. Traffic is minimal and there are no signs anywhere. I finally stop at a Husky Station in a small town to make sure I am on the right road – just 20 more miles the attendant said. I am not going to buy another gallon of gas in Canada and I want my US dollar to actually work at the next restaurant.  I am determined to enter North Dakota tonight, no matter how long it takes!

Talkin' to Bunny

Finally I see it, Yippee! We are excited. It is in fact 24 miles and not 20 like he said, but hey who’s counting? Obviously me, on the dark desolate road. Crossing the border turned out to be pretty funny. I sure wish I had a picture but it happened too fast. When we get in line I notice that the two cars in front of me are taking forever, and then they both have to pull over for a search. Great, this is a small border crossing and they are usually easy to get through. Border Patrol must be bored. My turn, I pull up all smiles and tell him how happy I am to be back. No comment. He asked all the normal questions:  how long I’ve been in Canada, where am I going, what do I do for a living, how many dogs are in the car? My answers are:  longer than expected (not even a smile), North Carolina, photographer, and six. He didn’t think any of it was funny.

UpDog

“If I have a look inside are the dogs going to attack me?” was his only question.

“Not at all, they are very super friendly,” I assure him.

He comes around to the passenger side of Dora with my passport in his hand, and opens the side door. As soon as the door opens, he is fair game and just the right height. DoDog flings herself at him, jumping up and landing her paws on his shoulders, proceeding to completely wash his face in no time flat. In the meantime he is reaching, reaching, finally stretching across her trying to hand me my passport all the while saying: “you’re okay to go.” He can’t seem to shut the door quick enough. I roll down my window and yell, “How many miles to a truck stop from here?”

“43, turn left at the four way stop up the road and get on 52 east. You’ll see it.” I think I actually saw a little smile on his lips.

I pull off smiling and as soon as we were out of his sight I burst out laughing. Now isn’t that just like a DoDog? Good girl, Zip! Way to get us through the border. And to think, he didn’t even ask for the health certificates that cost me $268!

What have I eaten today anyhow I wonder? Well there was a pancake and a blueberry muffin at the motel, plus a small bag of Lay’s Dill Pickle Chips, a bag of M&M’s and a diet coke from the gas station. Yuck. Makes me sick just thinking of it. So, for dinner I make up for it with a greasy personal pizza from the truck stop. Pickins’ are slim, and there are no fruits or vegetables to be had. We are 45 miles on the US side of the border and not much else is around. Can’t wait until I start seeing the Flying J or Pilot Travel Plazas where there is a restaurant, gas, showers and a safe place to camp in Dora.

Goose Girl says GoodNight!

Day 10 finally ends in the back of Dora with six dogs and my murder mystery to read before nodding off after a long day on the road. We’re back in the USA and the odometer turned 3K. We only have 1400 more miles to go!  I knew there was light at the end of the snow tunnel I’ve been buried in. But now I’m headed for Hurricane Sandy, Whoopee!

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 9

Dry road!

Cruisin' at 70+

Today is going to be a good day of driving. Up early and on the road to Grand Prairie, on to Edmonton and beyond. The roads are not only clear, but they are also dry AND it’s a freeway. No more remote highway, we have returned to civilization. Homer is about as remote as it gets for this girl. We are cruising at 70+ MPH and yes the cruise control is working! I stopped at PetSmart to get the dogs more food since we only packed for the eight days it normally takes to reach the east coast. Somewhere in the process we lost our road caravan, but that’s okay. 

BunBun and RockDog threw up this morning, no more worrying about terrifying roads. Instead I’m back to cleaning up puke and poop. I also notice that Woody has diarrhea – could be the aspirins but it’s probably the Beneful chicken dinner that I gave them for a treat, no doubt made in China. Yikes. Driving down the road we are about halfway to Grand Prairie when Woody starts demand barking from the bed in the back of Dora. I cannot stop (again) because of course I’m on the freeway and there is nowhere to pull off. He eventually stops barking and then a dreadful stench rises up permeating the back of Dora, slowly moving forward. I look behind me and see Woody has assumed the position on the floor. Oh NOOOOO! Walk, squirt, walk, squirt, walk, walk, dump. Holy shit, and yes that is what it is. The five other dogs rush to the front seat as far away as possible from the mysterious blob in the middle of the floor. OMG, to find a pull-off. I finally do and at this point Woody is both mortified and distressed.  He never has accidents in the house. Plus he has leaped off the bed, thank goodness but he has once again hurt his leg and is howling.

Bunny likes sitting on Zip's head

I clean up the mess, give him a massage and an aspirin, and we are back on the road, but not before pulling up the soiled rug, dog bed and down comforter. I had already decided we were staying in a motel tonight, but now it must also have a laundry rood. We continue on our route, fly through Grand Prairie, reach Edmonton and I realize we have lost yet another hour. Instead of being 4:30 it is actually 5:30 PM now. Oh well, we will keep going.

We reach Lloydmister around 7 PM and find a motel with a washer/dryer. Woody is again very distressed. I’m not sure about his shoulder/leg theory. At times it seems fine, and then he becomes totally agitated and almost lame. As I write this he is resting comfortable after two more aspirins, but still has the diarrhea. I will give him a banana in the morning and keep him off food for the day to see if it helps. Luce’s growth on her foot has also come back. Sounds like we will be seeing a vet when we arrive in North Carolina.

One bed

Unloading dogs and all our things at the motel is indeed an ordeal. This is all new to RockDog, Bunny and Anne. However, the seasoned dogs assume their positions on the beds, we actually have two. So 3 dogs on one, and 3 on the other.  I fit wherever I can around them. The shower is hot, the room is cozy and we are finally settled at midnight. It’s been a long day of driving and we covered over 600 miles. I am happy to say there is barely any snow on the ground and we are still headed south.

and the other. . . 

Day 9 is ending in the comfort of a motel room. However, I am actually more comfortable in our cocoon in Dora, but it is nice to stretch our legs a bit. Hopefully tomorrow will not be another day of Diarrhea Mama Mia! Fingers crossed, or maybe I should say legs?

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 8

I woke up this morning thinking it’s now or never to hit the road. So that’s what we did. The crews have had plenty of time to do their job and it is still snowing. We are caravanning with a guy named Robbie – he’s 27 with a wife and baby boy, they are flying – he is driving. He said he wants to leave at 8:30 so I rush around and get it together with three minutes to spare, but of course being a guy and all, we didn’t actually get out of there until 9:30. It is still snowing but the road is definitely better than the last leg. The thing is I can be driving along thinking it’s not so bad and BAM, all of a sudden it’s a whiteout, slippery roads and no sand trail to follow. Talk about being in the moment. . ..I can’t be anywhere else. Usually my road trips allow me to solve the problems of the universe but this one has been about keeping Dora on the road. If your car leaves the road it is guaranteed to roll. We passed one area where five vehicles were over the hill on their sides and one actually was upside down, tires straight up to the sky. I slowed down even more after seeing this. It was 35-50 MPH most of the way. Anything over that was scary and unpredictable.

My shoulders are now attached to my ear lobes and my hands are shaped like I am permanently gripping the steering wheel. I have to constantly remind myself to relax, drop the shoulders and let up on the grip. And 15 minutes later I have to do it again as somehow the shoulders have crept back up and my hands ache from the amount of pressure I have on the wheel.  Breathe! I could certainly use one of those awesome deep-tissue massages that I enjoy in Homer.

We are so happy to finally make it to the other side – Dawson Creek is the beginning of the Alaska Highway. It’s still snowing but the roads are almost clear and we are out of the Canadian Rockies, or at least in the foothills. I can actually see pavement for the first time in days. I am craving a margarita to celebrate reaching the end of this wicked road, but what I got was extremely sweet, fluorescent green (that was the scary part), and tasted so bad that I sent it back and ordered a Canadian beer instead. They sure don’t make margaritas here like the Homestead Restaurant in Homer!

The dogs are the perfect travelers, knowing when to sleep and when to get up for a pee. They are into the routine already. Of course the three seasoned road trippers are teaching the young pups how it’s done. The odometer just reached 2,000 miles so we are almost halfway to Hendersonville, North Carolina. We’re hoping the next half is much quicker.

Anne sharing the seat with BunBun

Bunny on the icy roads

GooseGirl calm as ever

So happy to report that Day 8 has come to an end in Dawson Creek BC, Woody’s shoulder is much better and we’re settled down for the night before heading to Edmonton (400 miles) and beyond tomorrow morning. I am hoping to cross the US border on Friday. I had no idea I would be in Canada this long. Gas is around $6/gallon, YIKES! We’re in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn inside Dora. The dogs are snoozing and I’m getting ready to join them. It’s been a long, tense day but we are through it.

For the record it is snowing here, will I ever get away from it? My son sent me a text that read: “Mom, it’s snowing in North Carolina, they must know you’re coming.” I truly hope he is joking or else we might have to hop the first plane to Jamaica.

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 7

Up early with a mindset to get out of here but you know how that goes. It’s now 11 AM and I’m still here, obviously destined to stay in Fort Nelson for yet another night due to a chain of events that confirm I need to be patient. The first thing that happens is Woody leaps from the van as usual for his morning pee and immediately starts whining. I thought he has ice in his pads but after checking his foot and him trying to bite me, so unlike him, I ruled that out.

I then talk to two women headed for Alaska at the gas station. They have chains on their car and said the road from Fort St. John to here is terrible. So I decide to investigate the possibility of getting chains for Dora. Stopping at the auto store the guy told me that for a onetime thing costing around $200 he would just put sand bags in the back. Apparently chains come with a whole set of other problems that may not be good – like driving too fast and destroying a tire. Yikes! When I return to Dora I find Woody in excruciating pain, he is panting, whining and unable to get comfortable. I stop at IGA to get some baby aspirins, which incidentally they are not called that anymore because we are not suppose to give a baby an aspirin? Go figure, I always gave them to my boys and they turned out okay. They are now called low impact aspirins and IGA did not have them but told me to try the local pharmacy.

Again when I return to the van, Woody is even more distressed. Back in IGA to find out where the vet is located. Guess what? There isn’t one here. But the kind lady told me to go see Val, the local dog groomer. Apparently she works with the traveling vet when he comes to town, and she can probably help me. Off to find Val.

Val has a look at Woody and determines he has probably twisted something and that he obviously doesn’t do pain well. Well of course not, he’s been babied all his life. Instead of his foot it appears to be more in the shoulder area, and hopefully not in the spine. The panting is a sure sign of pain. She explained if it were another medical issue it would not happen this quickly – my thoughts exactly. Her advice is to keep him as quiet as possible so that the injury can heal, and to give him Advil, Aspirin or Ibuprofen for pain – but definitely not Tylenol. She told me everything I was already thinking, but hearing someone else say it is always good.

Back to the pharmacy to pick up the low impact aspirin that look just like the flavored baby ones. I feed Woody and find there is nothing wrong with his appetite; he just can’t seem to get comfortable. I gave him pill #1 and did a Reiki session on his shoulder/leg area. He is settled for a bit, until I start feeding the other dogs and then he begins pacing again. Since I need to keep him quiet I give him yet another aspirin and more food to distract him. This is my sign to stay put for yet another day in Fort Nelson. Driving down a treacherous road with a distressed dog panting and pacing does not sound smart. Hey it could be worse, I could be stranded at a mere gas station along the way. That reminds me of another trip when I was in fact stranded in Kansas farm country for five days, parked at a garage waiting for a part to be delivered from Indianapolis. The garage closed at 5 PM every day and we were locked inside the yard for the night with huge bunny rabbits and vicious mosquitoes. The owner was kind enough to let us plug the RV into the electricity so the air conditioner could run. It was June and the heat and humidity were breathtaking. So yes, it could in fact be much worse than camping in the parking lot of a Super 8 Motel with ice cold Canadian beer at Boston’s Pizza next door.

I met a young man in the motel parking lot that is headed to Columbus, Ohio with his two dogs. He is driving a large truck pulling a trailer of household items. Hopefully we will caravan tomorrow and drive 35 MPH if we have to, which is fine. I talked to more truckers  that told me stories of pulling people out of ditches on the road to Fort St. John. And the Greyhound buses are not driving south today if that tells you anything about the road conditions here. The consensus is if you’re not in a hurry wait until the plow/sand trucks can catch up. It was hammering snow again this morning but now the sun is shining. The problem is the temperatures are too warm creating ice under the snow. Apparently it’s supposed to continue snowing through Sunday, SUNDAY!!! But the temperatures are predicted to reach -20 this weekend. My intuition tells me that tomorrow is the day to leave, even if it takes 9 hours to get to the end of the Alaska Highway, we will make it safely but for now, more reading, writing and doing nothing. People actually pay big money to do what I’m doing so I must remind myself to enjoy it. J

Day 7 ends inside our Dora cocoon in the Super 8 parking lot where WiFi is available. She now has five-50 lb. sandbags under the bed and five snuggling canines on top the bed. Woody is resting comfortably and DoDog is sitting at my feet barking because apparently I am occupying her designated seat and Luce won’t let her jump up  on the bed. Poor DoDog! They are  my assurance that everything is going to be okay.

Resting Comfortably on Dora Blanket

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 6

Today is the birthday of my first-born baby. Happy Birthday Brad! I wish I were there to eat the Roush traditional German Chocolate Cake with you, but save some because I’m on the way! How did you end up older than me, anyhow? J

After another much needed rested night, the dogs and I wake up to find the snow still peppering down. Obviously it has been doing it all night because the windows are covered and the drifts are high. We’re inside our cocoon in Dora. Out for a quick pee, RockDog and Bunny love the snow so much, running, rolling and having a blast. DoDog and the others are quick to do their business and be back inside. Wish I could share the enthusiasm but my mind is on the road. It’s extremely slippery just walking outside. I talk to the gas station attendant and he tells me it will be like this until Wednesday - blowing, freezing rain/snow in the forecast. I am so not ready for another day like yesterday. I stopped at A&W for the WiFi, but because of weather it is down. I talked to the cashier who confirmed exactly what the gas attendant said, no let up until Wednesday. What to do? A trucker spoke up and said he had just come from Fort St. John and the roads were horrific because they were not sanded or plowed, and it is hard to tell where the road is. Ditto, I know that feeling and it’s not a good one. He said since the wind has picked up it will be even worse and he wouldn’t drive it right now, it would be better to wait it out. Okay so that’s it, enough said - decision made. When a trucker tells you it is bad, then it is definitely bad. We are staying put for a day of doing nothing but reading, writing and rolling in fresh snow – and lots of naps J 

BunBun

DoDog

LucGoose

RockDog

WoodBoy & Anne with Dora

I remind myself that everything is as it should be at this moment, and I’m okay with it. It is a time to slow down. We will get there when we get there, and be safe in the process. At least we are in a city and not a place where everything is closed for the season. There are groceries to buy, videos to rent and wine to drink. I’m on vacation and it’s time to start enjoying it! Dora is a van full of sleeping dogs and I think I will join them.  I love my life and tomorrow is just another day.

The Adventure South in Dora the Explorer

Day 5

The road up

Dear Snow: You are beautiful, pristine and magical, but I am so over you.  I no longer want to pay to have you moved, shovel your ass, or be stuck in you. I’m done, ok? It’s over, and I’m out of here. You cannot make us the next Donner Party because we are fighting to get through your ass to warmer country, and we will persevere.

The Herd

After the drive today I feel like throwing up. But instead I am having a beer and then wine. It started out at the gas station this morning when I asked how the roads were and how far it was to Fort Nelson. The cashier proceeds to tell me it’s a good six hours, but of course there are lots of animals on the road and there was a winter storm with lots of ice and snow, and she hasn’t seen any traffic coming from the west yet today. The roads are twisted, steep and raw. 600 miles from hell was her parting comment. Great. Now what to do? I thought about the options: I could stay put for another day or move forward. If I stay in Watson Lake, what if it gets worse instead of better? It’s a 50-50 chance, right? We decide to go for it. As we head out of town there is a neon flashing sign that says: Heavy snow, icy roads, proceed with caution. Great! Maybe I should reconsider? Three hundred + miles to Fort Nelson, I make a pact with Dora. We will go the first 100 miles and if I’m not scared out of my wits by then we will continue forward. Otherwise we will turn around.

First 100 Miles

The first 100 miles are okay, a little icy but still very doable. We move on to Muncho Lake essentially the halfway point. I talk to the gas attendant and he said there is more snow closer to Ft. Nelson and it will take another three hours at least to go the last 150 miles. No problem, we are ready. Or at least I thought we were.

We continue on to what become unbelievable whiteout conditions where it is impossible to see where the road ends and the tundra begins. There are times when I have no clue whether I am in the middle of the road or on the edge. I want to stop but cannot. It is completely a blanket of white. Where is left, where is right, where is up, where as down? The only redeeming grace is the sand – if there is sand on the road then it looks brown, so I can see the path. Up, down, around. Huge semi trucks flying by, blinding us for a few seconds each time. I cannot begin to explain how it is. Just when it gets really bad it clears a bit and we see sand tracks leading the way. In the meantime the snow continues to hammer us causing drifts along the sides that empty into deep ravines where the bottom is invisible.

Over the edge

Love the sand trail

I talk to Dora, tell her how grateful I am that she was in charge and that I trust her to show us the way. I thank my spirit guides and the universe for keeping us safe. The dogs sleep, until the end when they too can feel my panic. About 30 miles before Ft. Nelson, Woody starts his demand barking that in retrospect, is a welcome distraction. He cannot see or hear very well so he communicates with his bark. He is scratching the door. After living with this guy for 14 years I know he wants a drink, communicating loud and clear. There is no way to stop Dora, no place to pull off.  He continues to bark as the semis fly by and the other dogs are on alert. Ten miles out, I start counting them down outloud. He’s still barking. I feel bad, he needs water. The water bowl has been empty for a couple hours but I still cannot stop. I find my coffee cup and pour bottled water into it and offer it to Woody and Luce on the floor behind me. It works,the barking subsides.

Whiteout

As I write this I have found Boston Pizza in Fort Nelson and am having a beer followed by wine. When I decompress enough I may have a pizza, but right now I still feel like throwing up. There is no Internet, but who cares? I am so happy to arrive safely. I have no idea what tomorrow holds – it is still snowing. Look out Alaska, this is highly unusual and it’s coming your way. In fact I spent my 50^th birthday in Ft. Nelson (just last year, J) and there was no snow. But now, it looks like Homer did last winter. We have no worries in a van called Dora who will take us where we need to go. I have my six canine companions to comfort and keep me warm. I know there is light at the end of this snow tunnel somewhere down the road, and the road is SOUTH. I am so happy to report:

Anne is happy to share the frontseat

Day 5 is behind us, and only sunshine for the future. Well, assuming we make it to Dawson Creek without yet another blizzard! And if that happens, Dora will again show us the way. Namasté