Stella: Crossing Canada

*Hack!* *Cough!* *Ah-Hem!*

Excuse me while I expell a few thousand insects from my grill! Crossing Canada has proven to be a very buggy experience. My front end was splattered with bug guts. My windshield needed to be washed almost constantly. Everytime my tank got filled I needed another good scrub at the gas station. It got so bad sometimes that Jess and Jenn had trouble taking photos through the windshield. It was intense!

I am now writing to you from the drizzly rain of Vancouver. Yesterday I got a break from any long driving and I certainly needed it. It gave me time to pick all of the bugs out of my grill! 

The past week has been a series of very long days on the road to get to Vancouver from Winnipeg. 

Fact: the plains of Canada are very very flat. I thought Nebraska was flat, but Winnipeg to Regina took the cake! 

From Regina to the Alberta border was lovely, rolling hills with small ponds to add interest. 

Then more flat. Then a drastic shift to intense mountains. Then driving was fun and interesting again. Wide, mountainous curves and hills. Waterfalls, cliffs, and glaciers. Elk, Grizzly Bear, and Big Horned Sheep. 

first glimpse of banff on the horizon

It really was a fabulous drive despite my weary tires wanting to rest at times. 

Stella: The First Thousand Miles

Stella the Mobile Creativity Unit here to report out on our trip's progress! 

A couple days ago my odometer for the road trip hit 1,000 miles. If it wasn't for Jenn then Jess would have missed it altogether. (Between you and me I think Jess needs more sleep!) But regardless of whose brain is more functional at this point, it was an exciting moment. I've gone 1,000 miles out of 10,000+! 

I am sure you all want to know how I am doing with so many miles already taxing me. I am happy to report that I feel fine. Jess' friend Eric noticed that one of my tires was low the other day and Jess filled it. But otherwise I am doing great. 

It has been hard work. I won't lie. It has been hot, which means I need to work extra hard so Jess and Jenn can be cool. But I have also been spoiled by the flat roads. The land out here is more flat than I can accurately describe. I never knew just how big the sky was! I know I have some mountains coming up so I do hope that it is also cooler up in Canada so that I don't have to work quite so hard. But hot, cold, flat or hilly I am up for anything! We will make it work. 

 

More soon!

Send Off!

Yesterday, Saturday, Jenn and I set off on this grand adventure. There was a flurry of packing and stuffing the car. There were hugs and kisses goodbye. There was that moment of thinking through the important question: "Did we forget anything?" Then there was the first hill on the first highway that made me realize just how much weight is stuffed in Stella, the Mobile Creativity Unit. She has risen to the occasion and is doing well. 

Here is the send off:

(Having fun making videos on my iPhone, btw!)

Introducing: Stella

Hi! My name is Stella. I am a 2004 Subaru Outback from the Boston area. I have just accepted the role of Mobile Creativity Unit for this tour and couldn't be more excited. 

I have lived a fairly quiet life up until now. I have always dreamed of the open road and often spent my parked days thinking about wild and far-off places. So I am beyond thrilled that I now get a new lease on life with Jess.

I am still pinching myself at how this all worked out. A month ago when I was sent to a little used car dealer in the middle of nowhere I thought for sure that my dreams of travel were gone forever. I was sure I'd be roaming the same few back roads until the end of my life. Then Jess came out to the dealer and destiny reved up my engine!

And check out my flair! I feel super special and important sporting these images and slogans! And Jess is getting me a new stereo on Tuesday. I couldn't feel better about myself right now. Makeovers do improve a girl's life!

My story is proof that it is never too late for your dreams to come true. The open road is calling and I am answering. 

Hopefully I will have some time to occationally post here as we are traveling. I think I offer a unique perspective on the tour and hope you will read my posts. 

Honk if you like to make art!