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The Canada border came with rumors of drag-out searches of American’s cars in retaliation for Trump’s insults of their Prime Minister. But the crossing was easy, with only a few simple questions.
In Cache Creek, 200 miles north of the border, it was just me and one other traveler at the motel. Winter is not a favorite vacation time for some reason. With the air above freezing, the use of my engine heater seemed unnecessary. But the other tenant had his plugged in, so I did the same, just as a first all-night test. See the electric wire running from his car to an outlet on a post.
About the same number of big rigs as cars and pickups accompanied me on the road form Cache Creek to Prince George, and not many of either. Cars increase near towns, but on the long stretches between towns the road is pretty vacant.
Idyllic villages sometimes dot the shores of frozen lakes, now partly melted from warm weather. Seeing them while driving on pavement, not covered in ice or snow, seems undeserved.
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again." And when they wake up in the summer, they dress themselves all in green, and dance about.” —Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll
Michael Angerman is keeping a map showing all the places where I spend the night on this long drive. Please view his map at: Michael's Map You can pan and zoom to see more detail or more area as you choose.
Hi Sharon
ReplyDeleteI almost forgot to tell you that last fall I met an Old Timer from Sulphur Creek, and naturally I thought of you and the trip you were planning to make up there.
He seemed agitated suddenly and nsisted on talking about the merits of the "Buddy System", that is of not traveling alone on foot there when its seventy five below. When I mentioned you and your planned trip to him all the wrinkles around his eyes seemed to disappear as his eyes widened and he stared at me as if he'd seen a ghost, and his pipe almost dropped to the floor from his gaping mouth, revealing the missing teeth on one side where the pipe stem usually rested on his tongue. He quickly urged me to recommend that you stock up on pouches of dry tinder and boxes of dry lucifers, and take care to locate your fires away from snow laden tree branches. Then he added you should be sure to take with you a husky that's easily fooled. I've been wondering why he said all that, what he meant by it. I reckon you'll be able to figure it all out.
"The cold of space smote the unprotected tip of the planet, and he, being on that unprotected tip, received the full force of the blow. The blood of his body recoiled before it."
Paul, Either you are a great poet or writer, or you read this somewhere. The image is perfectly visible.
DeleteThere she is, the lonely customer of a deserted restaurant, eating lasagna in the far north and enjoying it, wondering about how gentle is the kiss of snow (I'd be careful—and careful about the surface of the half-melted lakes where pretty villages mirror themselves). Thank you for sharing the beautiful wilderness, Dear Sharon.
ReplyDeleteWith you.
Toti, the poet, here beside me in the far north, with observations and helpful insights. thank you.
DeleteThis is so much fun coming along with you. (I am a stowaway in your glove box!)
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought it was icicles falling from the fenders. Welcome stowaway,
DeleteNo way is this one a stowaway, glove boxes and icicles elude me ... a protection from my personal concern for over-chill
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll hang out in the glove box, since it's just a poetic gesture, after all, here I am, riding along with you and the rest of your ready stowaways. Brrrrrracing my way for the next step in the journey. Sharing the Sharon Shenanigans ... whether they're actually shenanigans or not, I was leaning into the 'Sh' alliteration, just for the frolicking, fantastical, frivolous fun of it ... okay GiddyShine is getting ready for beddie-bye ~ be warm, but I know you're always a cool chick ... okay, done ... g'nite
Thanks again for visiting me from the glove box, GiddyShine. You keep me from getting too serious about this brrrracing journey. I need to frolic more, and maybe after I get the hang of survival I will.
Deletewhence thou returneth to California, FROLICKING will be the order of the day .... for the perfect little ten year old!
Delete... in the meantime, should there be a possibility glimpse, a peek, a sliver of opportunity .... P*R*A*C*T*I*C*E
Yes, let's frolic.
Delete