Today marked the exodus from Canada back to the United States. And for
those of you who cross the border without the comfort of air travel, let
me assure you, it's far easier to fly in than to drive in. Particularly
when you're a duck who is carrying documentation to get back into your
home country.
After I assisted by activating the showering device, I heard the
pleasant sound of water running off a back that wasn't mine. Excellent...!
6:16am
To my utter shock and surprise, we're in the car and actually in
motion. It's cold -- 43 degrees, or 6 degrees centigrade -- but no
matter. We wander over to the highway, and begin making our way up
to Dauphine.
7:43am
With a whole lot of driving without interruption, we arrived in
Dauphin, just as it began to rain.
Super.
8:27am
Despite the rain, it was a delightful city to wander around in.
But with all good things, the time came to move on in our journey.
8:32am
The rain gave the sunrise and the clouds a nifty
sort of look. So I slowed to 35 MPH to get a photo of it.
9:49am
We wandered through Ste. Rose
du Luc. But I didn't any get pictures, so nothing more will be
mentioned of this place.
10:46am
Visions of Portage la Prairie
fill our dreams... and the windshield. As we wandered around, though,
it didn't really grab me as fascinating or anything like that. Disappointed,
we headed forward to Winnipeg. The
sky is nice here, though.
11:42am
At long last, we rolled into Winnipeg,
the largest city and capitol of Manitoba. And within minutes, we found
ourselves within spitting distance of a Wal-Mart.
11:58am
We were assured the oil change of the Expedition would be done in
30 minutes or so. Not a bad offer, but knowing this could at least
be 30 minutes, we grabbed a cart and began wandering about.
12:46pm
Well, fine. So, the oil change has long since been done, but I remembered
I wanted to get a small tripod for the camera, so I had to return
back to Electronics. At any rate, we were all done and sent out and
on our way, with a cart full of Canadian goodies.
12:59pm
Parked at the local fuelorium, I managed to feed the car and get
that all done.
1:11pm
Conveniently enough, that Tim-something
donut place is across the way, and a Giant
Tiger (a variety store).
2:14pm
Bored, finally. After eating five donuts and drinking 24 ounces
of Pepsi each, Tubby and I are both stuffed. (Although in that regard,
each in our own particular sort of way.)
3:42pm
We arrive at the U.S.
Border, despite my expectation that we'd see Altona (a city just
north of the U.S.-Canadian border). Drat.
4:01pm
And, we're on our way. The inspection went far quicker than the
single guy in the next lane that wasn't traveling with an internationally
known duck. Alas.
4:04pm
A quick stop at the first gas station allowed us a bio-break and
loading up on more Pepsi. Mmmm, American Pepsi.
5:46pm
We perch down in Grand Forks
for the night. The original plan was a Travelodge, but they were booked
up (except for smoking rooms). After some soul and locale searching,
we found ourselves at a Holiday Inn Express... which was a brilliant
move! Heated indoor pool, two spas, and free internet. Heaven!
7:12pm
A quick dinner at the restaurant next door, served to us by Lindsey,
the wearer of a slightly made, silver-banded ring on her left hand
with those fishes that Christians tend to like sticking to the back
of their minivans. But the service was good, so the ring was of little
consequence.
8:00pm
Returning to the room, Tubby and I prepared for a spa outing. Nifty.
8:08pm
We got to the pool/spa area the same time as some other folks, so
we didn't have to talk to the counter clerk, Monica, about the missing
towels from the pool area. She promptly restocked the basket as we
were descending into the spa. (About this same time, a parent shooed
her kids away from us and the spa... I think it was all Tubby, though
-- in a recent survey, 4 out of 5 kids prefer me to the Bald One.)
8:54pm
Finished and dried up, we return to the room, where Tubby amuses
himself with a ball of lint. (I didn't ask where he got it.) With
the high-speed internet, the updates posted as I wrote them -- yea!
-- and I got to finally check email. I didn't, however, get completely
caught up, but I've promised myself to get that done tomorrow.
9:58pm
With everything wrapped up, I'm heading to bed. Tubby apparently
tuckered himself out with the lint, which is now scattered all around
the room like you'd expect to find tissue paper after a kitten had
gotten into it. Fortunately, I'm not the housekeeper. 'night.
