Canada Road Trip: a prologue
A solo roadtrip dream:
I’ve been really craving a change of scenery, the road to burnout has been a little too well traveled the last few years. Plus a real visit to my mom is in order, (who lives on Vancouver Island). Why not drive? Could I?
A roadtrip, a sabbatical of sorts, is born. (many many thanks to all the good people who are making this possible). I haven’t been away from my business or my family for longer than a week in the last 8 years. It feels a little weird, and A LOT exciting.
I’ll be driving my little Bronco, which coincidentally fits a twin memory foam mattress straight in the back, so I’ll be camping in comfort, stealthing it where I can and staying in the occasional cheap hotel.
When I was a kid, I learned to read a map very early on, there’s satisfaction in analog paper maps and highlighters. I’ll be driving those fluorescent yellow and orange lines into the sunset.
I’ll head out on May 10th, returning by June 22nd. 44 hours or so of driving each way, I’m allowing 10 days each direction, 5 hours a day. My days will exist of 300 mile(ish) segments centered around natural beauty and small towns. I’ll stop to walk, take photos, make art often.
Once to my mom’s, we’ll go on another road trip together, visiting family and her favorite spots in the Canadian Rockies.
New Hampshire —> Vancouver Island, BC (10 days)
Vancouver Island —> Alberta (Jasper, Edmonton, St. Lina, Calgary) —> Back to Vancouver Island via Kamloops, Osoyoos (7 days)
Vancouver Island —> New Hampshire (10 days)
10,000 miles or so?
My goals:
One watercolor painting a day.
Take lots of photos
Track prices of everyday items: gas, food, a good latte. I don’t know what else. What do you want me to track?
Travel roads off the beaten path, stay north.
Discover a sense of place
FaceTime my husband each day (and my aging dog Reuben so his heart doesn’t break)
Update this blog every day.
A solo road trip, totally free to have my own agenda? Some time with my mom to just hang? Hell yes.
Now to get organized.
My next post will be about outfitting my Bronco for my upcoming adventures, I truly love a well-packed journey. Everything I need and nothing I don’t.
~Deb