Our First Step in Realizing a Grand Dream
On April 30, 2020, we left our home in Ontario and embarked on a journey that has become an amazing adventure. Little did we know what new directions that would open up over the next couple of years.
The world was under pressure from this new pandemic; flying was halted and people were
sent home from the jobs, and no one had any idea of the immense changes that were just around the corner. In spite of all of this, or maybe because of it, Angela and I took to the highways.
Our house had recently sold and was in the process of closing as we drove away. All of our worldly goods were in storage, as we only had room for the necessities in our small Hyundai hatchback.
Four hours into our drive we got the call that it was all done. We both took one big sigh of relief and pointed the car westward. There was no going back.
Heading out into a world shut down by Covid, we had no idea if we would even be allowed to cross into Manitoba. We had no back up plan, so with good faith we continued on. Crossing over into the US was not an option, so we headed west through Ontario.
If you have ever traveled around the lakes, you will know that it is not for the faint of heart. It’s a long, sometimes tedious, two day plus journey around the great lakes.
In early spring, things were just thawing out from the winter cold. The days were sunny and the trees in some areas were beginning to show signs of life, even as the snow hung around in the forest. As you round the great lakes, you come to the province of Manitoba. There, we met the only border guards on our trip. Once they understood that we were only passing through on our way to BC, they quickly allowed us passage.
Eastern Manitoba is much like Ontario, but once we sailed past Winnipeg, the hills of the shield gave way to the prairies, long, flat and mesmerizing. Due to the Covid restrictions, only the gas stations, an occasional coffee shop and hotels were open, so there was not much chance to stop and rest.
As a young husband, I moved all the way to Barrie to raise my family. As I drove west, the 6 plus decades of my life; the 30-year career at Honda of Canada and 25 years in the same
house, played like a movie in my mind. I thought fondly of my late wife, my children and all the loving friends and family that I was leaving behind.
Angela, of course, was feeling exactly the same way. Although she had moved around a lot more, she had always been in Ontario, and her children
and friends were at the top of her thoughts.
We chatted about all of this and so much more, as we drove away. We had spent the entire year before purging and renovating our home in preparation for this journey and although we felt entirely ready and at peace with our choices, this was stilluncharted territory for both of us.
As we drove, we felt the energies shifting around us and we sensed that the universe was opening some doors, even while it was closing others.
We focused on the journey, trying to stay present and aware of all that was going on around us. We are both squirrels when driving, so we took our time and always checked out anything that caught our attention. We had the luxury of time. There was no one waiting to greet us and no schedule to adhere to.
We had packed an electric cooler full of food and drinks, which made meals very easy. This was especially helpful since there were no
restaurants open.
Most of our meals were picnics on the side of the road, with the ever-changing landscape of Canada as our backdrop. This was the beginning of an amazing adventure and little did we know how much this would expand into something more than we imagined.
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