Almost Famous.

Hey, check it out!

Jonna's uncle called the Windsor Star.

Too funny.

http://www.windsorstar.com/three+friends+Canadian+road/5321364/story.html

Photograph by: JASON KRYK, The Windsor Star

The story was on the front page of the "Bright Side" section of today's paper.

The bigger media outlets better hop on this quick before we become too important to speak with them! Hehehe. 

Stay tuned for pics and vids... coming soon!

Road Tunes

Here is a compilation of some of the songs that kept us company along the journey. There were many more, however these are the standouts. Some Canadian, some not, but all sung at a piercing pitch, loud volume and with the windows rolled down. 

• Tom Morello- The Road I Must Travel
• Willie Nelson- On the Road Again
• Rusted Roots- Send Me On My Way
• Flogging Molly- Drunken Lullabies
• Joel Plaskett Emergency- Work Out Fine
• Pink Mountaintops- Holiday
• Musical Youth- Pass the Dutchie
• Classified- O Canada
• City High- What Would You Do?
• Eminem- Without Me
• Ace of Base- Cruel Summer
• Sam Roberts- Streets of Heaven (Promises, Promises)
• Great Lake Swimmers Pulling on a Line
• Beck- E-Pro
• Train- Meet Virginia 
• The New Radicals- Someday We'll Know
• Pitbull- Give Me Everything
• One Republic- Good Life

Here's a link to a playlist in case you'd like to listen to it that way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrBfPLUm5so&feature=BFp&list=PLB0149C3ED7A2291E

Back Home!

3 girls, 2 months, 1 van & a whole lotta duck tape. 

We are back in our respective homes! This picture was taken in Danielle's driveway after a long haul from Riviere-du-Loup to Cookstown, Ontario. The van made it! 26 000 kilometers and our bumper did almost fall off in St. John's but it was nothing a little ingenuity and a whole lot of camouflage duck tape couldn't repair. Temporarily at least. Many thanks to those who helped us along the way!

I have traded in one sedentary lifestyle for another (car chair to house chair) and although I am having a hard time adjusting to my no longer nomadic lifestyle, I am having no problem adjusting to regular showers, a bed and a refrigerator. The pleasures of a settled existence.

More posts to follow with highlights of the trip, pictures of favourite places, pro/con lists of all the places we visited and the lingo we created while living in our Chevy Astro van.

We made it.

Well, here we are. We've made it to the eastern-most point of our journey-- Cape Spear in Newfoundland. Before we start the homeward leg, here's a summary of our time spent in St. John's.

During our stay in St. John's, the van was, quite literally, our home. Thanks to sparse internet and a fierce desire to avoid shelling out cash, we ended up spending most of our nights in the local Sobey's parking lot. How quaint.

On a recommendation from a friendly local we met in said Sobey's parking lot, we spent Thursday night hanging out at The Levee. The night was a lot of fun. So much fun, in fact, that the morning looked like this:

How could I complain about sleeping in my van when I had this to wake up to?

Let's just say that those Newfoundlanders sure know how to party, and, as a result, our next night was an early one.

On Saturday we hit up the local farmers' market. We'd been dreaming about the food there since the last time we were here (October 2010), and we weren't disappointed. We were also treated to some tunes from Michael Banks, a friend of our Sobey's parking lot comrade and a very talented musician.

Tasty treats at the farmers' market.

After filling up on some soul-satisfying grub, we hopped in the van for a mini road trip to Ferryland. What a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon!

Jono communing with nature in Ferryland.

That night we hit the town again and got the sweetest shout out at Michael's show. After the set was done, something really cool happened:

Girl and guy sitting next to us at the bar: "Are you girls travelling across the country, by any chance?"
Us: "Yes..."
Guy sitting next to us: "I think I'm your couch surfing host for tomorrow in Gander!"

Small world. His name is Chris and I'm surfing on his lovely red couch right now. He was in town for the weekend with his girlfriend, and just happened to be at the same bar as us, at the same table as us, the night before we were supposed to meet for the first time. Crazy!

Tomorrow we continue westward, ultimately en route back to Toronto. I'm going to miss Newfoundland and St. John's. I think I can safely say St. John's is my favourite place in this country, and I know I'll be back soon. Like my horoscope told me the last time I was here, I've found my "tribe."

See you later, St. John's.

From The Rock,
Danielle.

Halifood.

We`ve made it to Halifax where we`re staying with Tyler, a dear friend of mine from high school. So far our time in this beautiful city has consisted of dancing, puddle splashing, and eating. And eating. And eating.

The great butter binge of 2011, as I`ve decided to call it, started with a trip to Two if by Sea, a delightful little cafe across the bridge in Dartmouth. We had croissants. They were huge. And delicious.

Pre butter bomb.

Post.

After this arterial clog-fest, Tyler took us on a mini-tour of Dalhousie University, where he treated us to a free dance class in the school studio (that`s right, he`s a choreographer AND a croissant connaisseur!)

When we left the studio, it was raining. Hard. We decided to make the most of it by splashing through the streets and encouraging drivers to zoom through puddles so we could be showered with oil-soaked gutter runoff. It was fun!

The best part about the rain was that it disguised how horribly sweaty we were after a small amount of physical exertion in the dance studio. 

After drying off, we gorged ourselves on pizza and martinis and ended the night with a gleeful ride on the local teeter-totter.

Today Jono, Staz and I hit up Peggy`s cove, where we marveled at the ability of swarms of tourists to detract from nature`s natural beauty. We also saw some cute dogs, one of which appeared to be driving a Honda golf cart.

Beware the rogue waves!

Tour guide.

A little further down the road we met up with Courtenay, a friend we made in the Yukon who lives in St. Margaret`s bay. She took us to a beautiful beach and showed us her wicked rooftop deck. We made sure to have Courtenay and her sister, Charlotte, sign the van before we left, since they didn`t get a chance to sign it in the Yukon.

When we got back to Tyler`s place, we were greeted by a tantalizing aroma. Tyler-- that beautiful, beautiful man-- made Boeuf Bourguignon. Drool. Tyler`s muse for the evening? BUTTER.

Appetizers. Where's the butter? (Come on, Tyler).

Chocolate. With butter.

Mushrooms. With butter.

Butter. With butter.

Butter-crazed.

Needless to say, the dinner was IN-FREAKIN-CREDIBLE. My arteries are still screaming bloody murder.

Tomorrow we board the 14-hour "vomit comet" to Argentian, Newfoundland. I hope I wake up from my butter-induced food coma in time to catch it.

See you on the rock,
Smelly.

"Pee in this Place"

Danielle and Staz take control of the S.S Shediac and sets off on new and wet adventures throughout the maritime provinces. First up, New Brunswick. And then a swim on the back of the giant lobster to P.E.I. This mode of transport saves you the $43.75 bridge toll. Now, that's travelling smart.  

They have one of the most exclusive speciality spa treatments in New Brunswick. All you have to do is not wear shoes across the Bay of Fundy at low tide, and not only will you have all calouses removed, the mud will have rejuvenated your tired bi-peds as well as covered any odour that might be on your smelly feet.

Cape Enrage. We went there because of the name, of course and were enraged when we saw you had to pay to park at the cliff overlooking the cape. So we drove to the bottom instead.

Some might think this is in bad taste, however I think those buried here must have led quite the life of comedy to be buried in a cemetary where the laughs continued on even in death.

I am happiest when frolicking in the overgrown gardens of a brokendown palace.

Staz is happiest when parking around the corner and walking to a vista, rather than giving any government money.



P.E.I had quite the stench going on at the marina park at the base of the bridge. Its as if nature sensed our displeasure at the expensive toll to see this province, and gave us a scent that matched our disgust.



The red rock of Prince Edward Island.



A quote from Danielle: "Whoever thought of those things was a genius. A genius, I tell you!"

I think I would have fit in quite well with the Fathers of Confederation.

Two of three Maritime Provinces down, and two Atlantic provinces left to go. New Brunswick is beautiful, and I agree that there could be a better licence plate slogan than "Be in this Place". A story was relayed to us by a friend of those who own the house we are stayed at in Shediac, and she said a french comedian suggested "Pee in this Place" which fit along perfectly with Staz's suggestion that this is the pit-stop province.  N.B has definitely been more than a pit-stop for us. Looking forward to Nova Scotia and returning to Newfoundland.

                                                          -J

La Belle Provence.

Montreal, PQ.

Staz & skyline.

Perfect Montreal meal: fresh St. Viateur bagel, salmon, cream cheese & the view from the top of Mont Royal.

Beiber pride in the village.

Bixi-ing along the waterfront.

At our Lac St. Rose estate.

Rapids by Lac St. Rose. "It's like an Irish Spring commercial."

Cottage time (not "camp" or "cabin") on Lac Megantic.

Compliments fat-free marshmellows are really not worth it.

Feeding frenzy.

After a painful stretch of road-tripping, penny pinching dining (read: peanut butter for every meal) across central Canada, we were thrilled to arrive in Quebec where friends and relatives were quick to load us up with tasty treats. Here are a few of our favourites:

Steak and eggs to use up some leftovers from the 6 tonne roast Jonna's family prepared.

Breaded scallops.

A lobster feast in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

We had to try the McLobster. Did our stomachs thank us? No. Was it hilarious? Yes.

Now that we've used up the cooler-full of leftovers from Quebec, it's back to the old No Frills bargain safari. Raman, anyone?

Potato Passion.

Danielle here.

Thought I'd pay tribute to my hometown of Alliston, ON-- otherwise known as the potato capital of Ontario-- by posting a potato pic.

This weekend is the annual Alliston Potato Festival, and I'll be missing it for the first time in years.

Here I am eating a french fry in the potato capital of Canada in salute to my hometown potato heroes.

The place was called "Taters" in Charlottetown. Delicious fries (and pretty awesome lemonade too)!

Peace out potato passionistas.