Practicalities

Good morning!!

I know some of my readers have asked me to report on how I have managed to make this a budget trip, and how we shared the logistics of the day to day activities. We quite easily fell into a sort of routine/rhythm that works well. Here is a quick rundown:

David graciously made all reservations for the ferry at Lake Michigan and for our accomodations, before departure. We have had good rooms all along the way. They seem to get better the further west we get. All of them have wonderful comfy Queen size beds, and great showers. The first few nights we could have been in former smoking, now non-smoking rooms. Since then, they smell clean and fresh, too. Dave generously has paid for the ferry and accomodations. We planned our basic itinerary via email, during June, making a few modifications along the way.

Since the car is mine, I made sure that it was serviced and licensing updated, insurance all good, before we left. The car has purred along and served us well.I am very impressed with how easy all the steep inclines have been for the car. Sometimes Dave wishes he would have won the lottery (that he doesn't play) so he could have provided a larger car, but he's managing OK in my little Toyota Echo. I have paid for the gas, which will total a little over $200 by the time we get to Gibsons. I can report a more accurate amount then. Dave usually cleans the windows at gas stops while I handle the pump. We share the driving about equally. Dave drove the length of the Beartooth Highway. I have a bit of an issue with heights and am glad he drove that part!

Meals .. breakfast usually is provided at the hotels. Since I don't eat anything with cane sugar, sometimes the hotel breakfasts don't work for me as they are pastries, muffins etc. But I don't mind, as I have a supply of yogurt and meusli along and prefer that for breakfast any day! Lunches we usually eat at a picnic spot. I am the cook, and dishwasher. The first few days we ate leftovers from home, then sandwiches. Usually cheese. Along with some fresh veggies that we pick up. We've been to a grocery store twice, for bread (2 loaves altogether) fruit and fresh veggies. Last night I made us a wonderful salad with lettuce, chick peas, tomato slices, carrot slices, broccoli, and a creamy olive oil-garlic-tomato pesto-yogurt-Celtic sea salt dressing. It was yummy, even if I say so myself. The melted ice draining from the cooler chest washes hands, veggies, rinses dishes which I then wash in the hotel room sink. So far, we've gotten ice in the hotel, except for the first day we bought some in Kitchener. We have eaten a few meals at restaurants .. but very few, in fact. We are haphazardly sharing the cost of food.

Picture taking .. we're each taking pictures of things that interest us. At the end of the trip, we'll burn our photos on a CD to give to the other one. I take many many more pictures than David and so have 2.5 one gig chips filled already. I wish posting them wouldn't take so long, as I'd post many more.

Time to pack up, load, eat and get on the way. This was our last hotel night, and we get a wonderful, healthy breakfast, apparently! More later ........