Canada....eh?!

Location(s): Canada.

"Look. I think I can see Canada!"

Canada. The big hurdle before our final destination.  Piece of cake. We've got this. Others have traveled this road countless times before us.

And there I was, feet from the border, bawling uncontrollably. "Oh my God. Are you crying? Why the hell are you crying?" were the kind words being shouted whispered to me by my loving husband. I LOST it. I was a mess. (thankfully we have no photo evidence of my misery)

"I can't believe you're crying."

I had been so involved in planning the trip down to the last details and making sure all the essentials (passports, insurance, medical records, etc) were where they needed to be, I never stopped to grasp the idea of traveling through Canada.  We were about to travel roads in a foreign country (I know...its only Canada, but still!) and in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!!!! It hit me....HARD. What the hell were we about to do? What if something goes wrong..who is going to find us?  We can do this...right?!?

Pulling up to the border we handed over our passports.  I don't know what I was expecting.  Maybe a giant rubber stamp with "CANADA" in big bold letters being used to brand my passport. That didn't happen.  What did happen were lots of questions being directed toward us.  I now wonder if the nice border patrol man saw my red puffy eyes and felt something was up. Maybe I was being held captive in....I'm sure the giant slanket on my lap with "Annie Bannie" sewn onto it looked pretty threatening. (don't ask about the Bannie)

I'm pretty sure I wasn't suppose to take any of these photos. 

When it says "Stop" they mean it....I'll explain on our reentry into the US

After what seemed to be minutes we were allowed to continue on. I had finally calmed down.

I don't know what else to say about Canada. I guess I'll just list what I learned about it. 

1. They spray some weird looking brown water on their crops. I'll let you decide what it is. (I know what I think it is!)

2. Canada has some "creative" names for their roads. ;)

3. A lot of the "towns" were drove through were the SMALLEST towns. One had a population of 8! I wonder if they are related?

4. They love their animal crossing signs!

5. They love the use of a Pilot Car! We were stopped at least 5 times...in the middle of nowhere...to wait to be escorted on. 

6. The fashion sense and cleanliness of the "hotels" (we'll use that term loosely) just got better and better as we climbed North. 

7. When stopped at a wonderful Pilot Car waiting spot, if you step out into the middle of NOWHERE to let your dog out....be careful. Your husband will be too busy playing a game on his phone to notice if a bear is about to attack. Thanks Rich. (no worries...there were no bears within viewing distance...but still!)

8. Roads suck. One minute your driving on pavement, then it turns into giant potholes and then gravel.  

9. Canucks will place a battery operated stoplight in the middle of the wilderness....for no apparent reason.  

10. The posted speed limit is 100km...but you're free to go as fast as you'd like.  However watch out for bears and buffalo in the road. I think I still have a bruise on my arm from "someone" slamming on the brakes as we almost killed a deer. 

Canada was an experience for us.  From the metric system to "hotels" that I'm pretty sure had police tape around them at one point or another....we conquered it!

Don't get me wrong. Canada can be a beautiful place but I am thankful to live in the US.