Hello and Good-bye!

I've created this blog for several reasons, primarily as a way to stay in touch, without staying in touch. There are a lot of folks who've expressed interest in this solo adventure of mine and so I welcome the cyber company as I travel this great country.







Saturday, May 8, 2010

Overnight Fernie then on to Edmonton

I did take Antonio to Walt's garage and met a young fellow named Mike.  I asked if he might check under the hood.  He did and assured me I was good to go when I told him I would eventually visit my mechanic back in Calgary.  Well, he could have said no, or could have said come back later, or could have said "that'll be $50" but he didn't.  He just took a few minutes to assure me all was good.  So, a shout out to Mike at Walt's garage in Creston, B.C. 
I left Creston shortly after noon and headed for Cranbrook.  Lots of road work and some delays but hey, you gotta take whatever comes.  A grain of sand in the desert of life!
I did stop in Cranbrook to have lunch and Frank's Steak and Schnitzel Haus.  OMG!  One piece of advise, if you go there, share a meal, it's huge. 
I was soon on the road to Fernie to stay with my friend Philo and family.  Ah, Fernie, the place where I grew up in other ways - where words moved from my mind, through my fingers, out to the world.  It's where I experienced bliss for the first time in a job.  Philo is originally from Ireland. We met at the Fernie Bakery in the early 80s. All my dearest friends today are ones I met in Fernie around that time. I was gathering friends like flowers and those relationships continue to bloom today. But that's for another time.  I was here overnight only though will be returning before I head east.
I arrived with my doggie bag and we had supper before heading out for a walk.  We got back around 10:30 and it was off to bed.  I was tired.  These 5:30 a.m. wake-ups make for early bedtimes. 

I was up at 6am and out the door by 6:25.  I had to scrape the windsield.  Oh, so many are upset about the return of winter but it will be gone soon enough and we'll, NO I'll be complaining about the heat.  I prefer cool to hot.
I arrived in Calgary three hours later and stayed for an hour or so to take care of some things before heading north to Edmonton another three hours away.  Lots of driving these last few days but I dion't mind it.  It still beats sitting at a desk.  This was my new office, my new job, driving across the country and writing about whatever comes my way.  OK, the pay is lousy but I'm working on that.  One day I'll find work that brings me joy AND a decent paycheque.  Never had that combo. before.
So here I am at a reasonably priced, challenged fraught establishment in Edmonton.  I'm here for a wedding.  My niece (by heart, not blood) K. is getting married this evening.  She's starting on her own adventure, the biggest one of her life and trust me, she's had a few, for one so young.  I don't worry about her though.  She's was given a solid foundation and has a inner strength that will keep her grounded. I call her "my heart" because her life brought life back my heart.  Don't get me started!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Pushed on to Creston

Left Revelstoke around 10am, heading south to Nakusp then on to Nelson.  Driving through a corridor of trees, I realized there are so many different shakes of green, from yellow green to a dark green that`s almost black.  I took the ferry from Shelter Bay, all of 10 minutes before heading south to Nakusp.

Even in overcast conditions, it`s always beautiful in Beautiful British Columbia.  Can you tell I have a soft spot for the province.
Before I continue on this leg of the trip, I wanted mention something.  You remember in an earlier blog, I talked about watching some First Nations men load a totem onto a flatbed truck for transport to a site that, previously, was a residencial school.  Well I stopped in at the tiny village just before Port Alberni and asked a young fellow if he knew where the site was.  Didn`t he drive me right to the spot.  I stopped for several minutes to contemplate and be silent. 

There it is, at the bottom is the wolf, then the orca, the woman and the eagle.  A permanent testiment to the power of the human spirit through creativity.
Meantwhile, back at the cafe in Ucluelet, I mentioned I was playing with words. 

The power of words or the baffoonery of them.  You decide.
My next stop was Nakusp, a lovely little spot with a well kept waterfront.  This is a funky little town with an annual music festival that draws quite a crowd, so I`m told.  For a small town, it`s a happening place.

There is a walk about on the water front and this lovely beach to the left.  This tiny dwelling seems precarious at the edge of the water but I bet it rocks the occupant to sleep every night.



    
This sign was inside the Middle Earth cafe.  Couldn`t resist taking the shot.  This noisy little fellow entertained me until I tried to move closer then off he went.

     
Someone in Nakusp has a quirky artistic flare.  This was a dinosaur made from a skull and wood.  There are a few lovely seating areas to sit for contemplation, reading or simply enjoying the spectacular view.
I walked along the waterfront and main street for over an hour, spoke with a few of the local population but mostly observed.  The town has a great feel to it.  I headed south again and stopped at one vantage point and grabbed a few shots.

     
I believe this is in the New Denver area but I could be wrong.  Specular vistas from this vantage point.  The 2nd picture is looking down, way below, at the tops of 30` high trees.  It was way up there.
I noticed I was seeing more animals along the road on this leg of the trip.  Hadn`t seen many at all.  Once I got close to Salmo, there were all kinds.  I was coming over a summit when I spotted something black in the distance.  And yes, indeedy I got my bear shot. 

It looks close because I am close.  A few hundred feet away but I felt confident because I scoped out to make sure he had no friends close by and I had a cement baracade AND I was within feet of my car. 

Saw lots of deer.  Unlike the ones in Alberta, this guys take to the woods instead of to the road when they see a vehicle coming.  I`ve had too many close calls with deer at night so I don`t the highways of Alberta anymore unless I can see what`s ahead of me.  I did see a moose on this side of the Salmo pass but unfortunately, he headed for the ditch by the time I pointed the camera and all I got was nothing.  Grrr.  Can`t get `em all.
So I thought I would have a day when I didn`t have a great encounter with a human as I have had so many since I began this adventure more than a month ago.  I was driving along and spotted some sheep in the meadow with young lambs.  Ah, so cute.  I turned my car around and headed back there.  I drove into the lane and was met by a rather large dog.  I stayed in my car and was going to pull out when I saw this fellow walk towards me.  `Don`t worry about him (or was it her)`` he says. `He`s just a puppy`.  I love dogs and that was all the assurance I needed.  I got out. He held his puppy back because he would have been all over me and I would have ended up on the ground.  Big puppy, sorry I didn`t get a picture or remember the breed.  Colin was the owner of the property, born and raised.  He was very welcoming and when I told him I was interested in getting some shots of the lamb (honest Colin, I really didn`t think they were goats.  The horns through me).  Well as soon as I approached, they all turned their backs and walked away.  Hmmm!  He fetched a bucket of chicken feed to entice them to return and still it took a few minutes before they all headed straight for us.  Well I got the pictures I wanted.

     
Momma with her twins.  Looks like hard work.  Another mother with her triplets.

This little fellow han`t been feeling well, according to Colin.  Not sure what the problem is.


Meet Colin, his daughter Calla (greek for beautiful) and son Ethan.  Like many people who live in these rural communities, they have to be good at a number of things to make a living.  Colin has a trade (electrical or mechanical, again can`t recall which), he`s a meat cutter and of course, he has his animals and land.  For fun, he competes in a sport known as Rock Crawling.  If you watch The Rick Mercer Report, you`ll remember when Rick and Newfoundland`s premier Danny Williams took a 4x4 with humungous tires and drove, very slowly over even more humungous boulders.  It`s a sport apparently.  Who knew.

And here`s the beast, cut back to the bone so Colin can rebuild it bigger faster and stronger.  Okay, not faster but definitely the other two.  Good luck and thanks Colin for the visit.  Nice meeting you too Calla. 
I did make it to Nelson, funkiest or funky towns but my has it grown.  There were lots of people there and I knew if I spent the night I would be even further behind so I took a quick tour around, found some interesting looking steets and left.  Decided to push on to Creston.  It was before Creston that I saw the moose.  I know it`s just a story without a picture.  Had to come over the Salmo pass before arriving and the road was clear and, for the most part, dry.   People gripe about the winter conditions still but my, it`s lovely up there.

The top of the Salmo pass

These mountain sheep look small and somewhat scraggily but its early spring and they`re shedding their winter coats.  The little ones were frisky jumping back and forth over the barrier, unlike the wiser adults who know to be cautious. 
Well, that`s it.  I gotta get going.  Got to bring Antonio (that`s my car, named it that because it reminds me of a giggalo, costs money but brings pleasure) to see Walt at a local garage.  Been smelling oil, so want to get it checked out before I hit the road.  Pat, Creston Valley motel manager assures me I won`t be ripped off.  Pat`s a wealth of info about technology and told me about an internet service he thinks will be useful to me while I`m on the road.  Thanks Pat, on both counts.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Leaving Tofino heading to Victoria?



Authentic tasting, inexpensive taco try this bus, found at the back of the parking lot.  The name eludes me but it's just before the Tofino Botanical gardens on the outskirts of town.  If you're young, or young at heart, this is for you!
Further down the road, I stopped at Radar Hill.  Apprently there used to be a "Cold War" radar installation there.  It has a boardwalk, not strenous at all and the view is lovely.
















I was that you can't visit Vancouver Island and not stop at Long Beach which starts at Schooner Cove and runs all the way down to Wickaninnish Beach.  They don't call it long for nothing!  So I headed south and since there were a number of entrances along the way, I decided to wait until a place called out to me to stop.  Further along, I saw a number of cars in a parking lot and decided this must be that place.  It was perfect.  There were people but only a few and some of them were surfers.  Hooray.  Good photo ops to be sure.  Well, words are wasted in trying to describe this place.  Okay I'll try.  Beautiful, spectacular, soul enhancing.  Ah never mind.  Take a look, come up with your own words.

Why do people insist on leaving Canada to see the world when our world is so specular?

It's not only what you see but it's what you hear, the sound of surf rushing the sand.  Ah, this must be Zen!

Children being children.  How nice to see.

Surfers are a persistent bunch.  I didn't see one manage to get up and ride a wave. 
But that didn't stop them from trying.  I guess the trying is the journey, the wave is the destination.
And you know, they say it's about the journey!

This is the high point above Long Beach.  A young couple insisted I should have my pic. taken.  Ah, it's for prosterity, why not?  I'm so much more comfortable behind the lens.
I walked the beach for a bit but after an hour, I hopped in the car and headed south.  I thought I'd give Ucluelet a second look.  I did get some great harbour shots when I was there for those few minutes, before Tofino.  I checked into a motel on the way into town and met Brenda.  When I told her what I was up to she said she had someone working for her that was a writer of "bodice rippers", that's the term for romance novels, the Harlequin type.  I knew I had to meet her.  I settled in and headed out to pick up some milk for tea but decided I was more in the mood for a decaf with Irish Cream.  The gent in the liquor store thought it a little pecular that I came in for a just a shot but since you can buy that stuff by the shot, I thought why not.  Heading back I decided to take a look around and found myself at the end of main street which ends at the harbour.  I parked in the lot to my right, got out and made my way to the wharf where a fishing vessel was moored.  I heard a noise, turned, looked up in the tree directly behind me to see a bald eagle land right next to its fledgling.  I didn't have my camera, me who takes my camera everywhere, except the bathroom, didn't have a camera afterall I was just going out for a moment.  I sighed deep and said to myself, "never mind, just stand here and enjoy it" which I did.  Then I heard another eagle screech.  I stepped to my left and looked up the street to see two other eagles soaring overhead.  What luck!  I eyed them until they were over the harbour and joined by yet another eagle.  Honest, I'm not making this up.  I know, without a picture it's just another story but it gets better.  Two of the eagles flew towards one another, from either side of the harbour, locked claws, did three spirals downward toward the water, released then flew off in opposite directions.  I swear, I'm not making this up.  Though I could .  They were gone as fast as they appeared.  The mother and her fledging however were not.  I decided to take a chance and head back to the hotel for my camera.  I returned but the momma had gone. 
Waiting for mom to return.  The little fella or gal looked so forlorn up there.  Where could she be?
I stuck around and hoped I'd see her return instead I was treated to another opportunity when some time around 7:30, two men walked passed me, one unlocked the door to the small building to my left and they walked in.  Brenda, back at the motel, had told me about people collecting species from the harbour for an acquarium down in this area.  By George, wasn't this the place she was talking about!  The fellow invited me in and I accepted.  Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather (I love that expression if for no other reason then the shear nonsense of it).  I was delighted to accept the invitation and after the 2nd gent left, Phillip talked to me about the collection and said I should come back 2moro and speak with Bob, "he's the real enthusiast".  I couldn't imagine anyone more enthusiastic as he talked. The reason for the collection was twofold: ecology and education.  The thought being if people knew about the creatures around them, they would be more conscious of their impact on the earth and step up to the cause of saving the environment which, in the end, is our environment.  So in essence were saving ourselves.

Phillip holding the many specimens on site for public viewing.

All creatures, great and small and colourfull
Fish, like people, can appear to have a bad attitude.

 Imagine a world without these beautiful creatures!   

There's a website to visit and once I find it, I'll put it on my blog for you to check out. 
I returned to the motel after that, knowing it couldn't get much better.  I poured the shot of irish cream into the decaf instant coffee I carry with me.  Ah, lovely!  I switched off the lights around 10:30 and just like that, it was 5:30 a.m. My internal clock is right on time.
After a shower, I dressed and drove back to the same spot I visited the night before.  Of course, the fledging wasn't there and, though it was overcast, it was still beautiful and quiet.  I love early morning, so peaceful and ripe with possibilities.  Well, if the gods of fortune weren't smiling down on me again today!  I look towards the dock and there, on top of a ship's rigging was an eagle.  It was like it was saying, "I felt bad I didn't stick around last night so I thought I come back today to see if you'd show up".  OMG.  She just sat there.  She knew I was there but it's an eagle afterall.  She didn't fear me, why would she.  I managed two shots before she took off.  "Thanks", I called after her.  She turned around and tilted her body first to the left, then the right, just like they do with airplanes when they want to wave at the folks below.  Okay, I made that last part up but I swear that's the only part.  Proof, you say!  Here it is.


Am I not a lucky so and so?  Apprently not, bald eagles are not an uncommon sight in Ucluelet, especially this time of year.  Still I feel lucky to have been there at that moment.   
Not sure what the black bird is but when I looked at it I thought cormorant.  The portion with the gulls look like a painting to me.  One day I'll have a place where many of the pictures I've taken over the years will be displayed.  I'm learning to put things out there.  They seem to manifest when you do that.  We'll see!
I went back to my room to blog the endo of my stay in Tofino and quickly ran out of time.  As I was leaving, it was pouring again.  It rained a lot but I don't mention it because it doesn't affect my experience.  I love the rain.  The way, this time of year at least, it wakes everything up.  Plus rain keeps lots of people indoors and I'm ok with that.  As I was packing up I saw a woman outside and asked if she was the writer.  Yes, she said and introduced herself.  Naomi Horton writes bodice rippers, that's romance novels for the uninformed.  I learned that only after joining a writer's group.  So far, she's had 20 books published and for now, is taking a break from it.  I hope one day to have written so much I need a break.  What a great place that must be.  She said there's money to be made with writing, though it's diminished over the years what with the Canadian dollar doing as well as it has.  Apprently she was paid in U.S. dollars.  We talked for several minutes but her need to get back to work and mine to get on the move necessitated the end of the conversation.  I felt much inspired after our encounter.
I found a local restaurant and had breakfast then went for a walk in the rain. I came across the Wild Heather cafe and, seeing it was open (Ucluelet, unlike Tofino, is not open 24/7 and most places are closed on Sunday), I walked in.  I was the only one there, except for the gal behind the counter.  I ordered a chai tea latte (yeah, it's my favourite cafe beverage) and looked around a little. I spotted a board behind the cappuccino machine and spent the next 2.5 hours moving magnectic words around.  I was litterally playing with words and what fun I had.  Over the next few hours, other people strolled in but not for long so I had a long session of almost uninterupted play.  It was great.  I learned that the gal behind the counter, Ashley, had recently finished her novel so I was intrigued.  She too was intrigued by my story.  She had a publisher but couldn't find an agent.  Now she had to deal with the contract negotiations herself - a challenge but she was learning a lot.  She's an intelligent young woman and I'm confident she'll get it published, sooner than later.  Good luck Ashley.  Again, I'm running into people who are on a similar journey.  I never cease to be amazed.  I was told if I see nothing else before I leave, I should check out the Black Rock resort.  I was given some good directions but as I've learned on this trip, I'm lousy at following directions.  I barped the horn (that's what we do in Nfld. although it's been a while since I heard someone say that).  Anyway I barped the horn and this guy driving by in a truck stopped and I told him I was looking for the Black Rock resort.  He told me to follow him and when he stopped, he said just keep going right, you can't miss it.  That's what he thinks.  Well, my mouth dropped when I saw it for the first time.  What a work of art.  I walked in at 3:30 and was told the restaurant was closed and setting up for dinner but I was welcome to go to the lounge and order an appetizer.  I looked around at the black stone wall, the architecture and the artwork and fell in love. The cost is $200/night and that's the low end of things but I thought when I win the lottery, I'm gonig to throw a party here, fly everyone in and book the place for a week.  Again, the landscape is so much like Nfld.  The woman behind the desk said she knew Newfoundlanders who lived here for that exact reason.  The architect is Ron Lea or Via Architect in Vancouver.  He's been out only once since it was built.  He wanted to see the sun rise (or sunset) from the fourth floor.  I imagined he wanted to see if it met his imagination when it was merely a thought in his mind.  So google the Black Rock resort in Ucluelet and see for yourself.
I was headed to Victoria when, on the spur of the moment, I found myself in Nanaimo at Departure Bay.  I think I was starting to feel the financial pang of overspending and thought it was time to leave the island before I put out another few hundred dollars.  It was 7:30 when I arrived and the next ferry was slated to leave at 9.  It was a cold and stormy night, to use a cliche, wet, wet and wet.  The wind had picked up as well.  I found myself sitting there thinking about wicked weather trips across Conception Bay when I ferried from Bell Island to Portgul Cove before I left Newfoundland all those years ago.  I remember one particular trip so scary that I insisted on someone, I think my brother, telling me every gorry detail of the Chain Saw Masachre so I could take my mind off the extreme sway of the ship.  It didn't help, not when fast food containers were flying off the tables and everything that wasn't bolted down flew from one side of the lounge to the other.  So with these images in my head I thought, perhaps I'll just pull out of the line up and come back 2moro.  They'll have to honour my ticket.  I fought with myself to stay in line and eventually, 40 minutes late, we boarded the vessel.  That it was 40 minutes past due did nothing but enhance my apprehension.  When I walked up one floor to the seating area, I said to a crew member, looking all relaxed, "I suppose it's going to be a rock and roll show out there tonight".  I hoped he didn't hear the nervousness in my voice or see the mild panic welling in my eyes.
"Nah, should be a good crossing,"  he said matter of factly.  "Liar," I thought to myself and found a seat.  Perhaps if I got lost in the latest book I'm reading "The Bishop's Man" by Linden MacIntyre, I would not notice the motion.  I started to read and it must be 20 minutes later I noticed we were on the move.  I waited but nothing.  How could it look and sound so stormy on shore, yet I barely deteched movement on the ocean?  I looked out the window, down the side of the ship and saw water against the ship but that was the only indication we were sailing.  I returned to my book and before you knew it, we were there.  When I drove off the ship, the wind was whipped up and the rain was coming down, heavy.  At first I was comforted by the knowledge I wasn't alone, but soon I wished I was as many cars hockeyed for 1st place.  I got through Vancouver without incident then lost my way and found myself heading to the U.S. border.  I didn't get scared, I got angry and then in front of me was the new toll bridge I had taken coming and going from Fort Langley.  I could find my way.  I got to Maple Ridge but without a place to stay as I hadn't phoned Amy to let her know I'd be there.  So I did something I've wanted to do and probably should have done on the island, I slept in the car.  It was 1a.m., the rain, heavy and pounding down was like a lullaby and I was soon asleep.  I had intended on going back into Vancouver but when I woke at 5:30 (again that internal clock), the next thing I knew I was heading east for Revelstoke.  I had run out of time and knew another days' delay on the coast meant I would miss appointments I had back east in Alberta, so off I went.  I showed up in Revelstoke and was greeted by Jean with a hug that suggested she hadn't seen me in years. So here I am updating my blog after finishing up two servings of home made soup.  Yummy. 

Allison Lake Summit, shot through the windshield.  Too snowiy to step outside for a pic..  I drove over two summits, both of which were in the throes of winter and made it here safe and sound.



Sunday, May 2, 2010

Time change in Tofino!

I was convinced it would take me forever to get out of the 9 to 5, Monday to Friday thing then two days ago when I thought it was Monday, someone pointed out it was Friday.  The transformation is complete.  I'm on another time zone, mentally, though I'm not sure what to call it.  I find whether I go to bed at 10pm or much later, I still wake at 5:30 am (ish).
I loved Tofino and imagined I could easily live here.  The people are friendly, the landscape is breathtaking and I felt so relaxed.  Of course, I feel relaxed everywhere I go!
I had more great encounters, not the least of which was with a fellow by the name of Richard George. 

Me and Richard or is it Richard and I.  No matter!  His face says it all, doesn't it?  Friendly, approachable. A  man with a lot of stories.
His parents, Lewis and Cathy, own the House of Himwitsa in Tofino on Main Street.  We had a long chat and he told me about his grandfather, Earl George.  Earl was raised in the residential school system and unlike so many other first nations people, he had a positive experience in the system.  His mother died when he was 3.  His father worked away from the area and the nuns who raised him were, according to Richard, "like surrogate mothers".  His grandfather credited that experience with the success he had later in life.  He left school after Grade 8, "that was the equivalent of high school" back then, became a fisherman, a logger then captained a coast guard vessel for a number of years before retirement.  After that, bored, he set a new challenge for himself, he returned to school and received a degree (in anthopology, I beleive).  He was a great inspiration to his people and led by example, believing you were never too old to accomplish your dreams.  There is so much more to write but I'll finish by saying I believe people come into our life for a reason.  I imagine Earl George's spirit is soaring like an eagle, a powerful symbol for First Nations people, and he is still here, looking over them and pointing to a better future.  I believe I met his grandson so I could hear his message and be inspired.  I did and I am.  Thank you Chief George!  By the way, the current chief is Richard's father Lewis and, if memory serves, when Richard takes on the role after his father (it's passed on from father to son), he will represent the 18th generation of chiefs from his own family.  Imagine that!
As I was walking along the main street, a fellow whizzed by on this odd looking mode of transport and, like ya would, I called out to him and he u-turned and  pulled up along side of me.
Andy on his bike?
So, I says to the guy, 'sup with that?  Turns out it's a recumbent bike.  Instead of sitting high up, it's like you're sitting in a chair.  He looked very comfortable and said it took a little getting used to but now, when he's riding on the road with his buddies, they're huffing and puffing and he's exerting a lot less energy.  It's a challenge going up hill but he wouldn't trade it for anything.

The view the next morning after my first night in Tofino.  Ah, she's sighs heavily wishing she could have stayed forever.
At least that's how I felt until the weekend came.  Throngs of people showed up and the bustle made me feel a feel a little overwhelmed.  I'm glad I had arrived earlier otherwise my impressions might have been skewed by the crowds.  I spent 3 days in Tofino and did manage, on the last day, to take in a whale tour. 

Grey whale, up for one breath before returning to the feeding grounds below.
We were out three hours altogether and though we did see grey whales, they stayed on the surface briefly.  Catching images was tricky because one never knew where and when they would appear.  I did manage a few but no flukes.  In the end I decided to take a short movie as a record.  Later along there were all kinds of seals who sat on the rocks and posed. 

On the way back, the waves were around 3 metres and we 'caught air' a number of times.  The first time, not expecting it, the impact jarred my spine because I was sitting quite straight.  Ouch!  Another lesson learned, bend slightly at the waiste so the spine doesn't absorb all the shock. 
I was about to leave town when I remembered someone telling me that Tofino is Mile Zero of the Trans Canada Highway, so back I went and invited a couple with their young son to join me in the shot.

Little Silas with his mom and dad who live on Meares Island just across the water.
Apparently there's a bit of a controversy about whether it's Tofino or Victoria.  I figure since Tofino is the furthest, it must be the true start of the highway, but what do I know.  I'll see if I can locate the one in Victoria and get a shot of it as well, just in case.
One note before I sign off.  I've met so many people who are sooooo enthusiastic about my advetnre but the strange thing is I'm meeting a few who are doing something similar.  As Sidney from the states said "maybe we're becoming a cliche".  She left her job about the same time I did and has been travelling and writing as well.  I gave her my blog site, as I do so many and invited her to stay in touch.  Later on, outside of Tofino at the botanical gardens I met a young woman who was raised by missionary parents and has travelled extensively.  "I've got the travel bug" she says and is pretty sure she'll get to Nfld. soon.  "That's what I heard she said," when I told her it's similar to here.  "but the people are even friendly".  I couldn't deny it!  So a shout out to all the wonderful people I've met on my travels so far.  You're what's making this trip, a trip :)  I gotta go before I'm kicked out.  Check out time was 10 minutes ago.  Bye!