Saraphina's Cross Canada Journal...
- Thread starter Saraphina
- Start date
JJ there is only 1 way up there by land. I believe Chibougamou (or something like that, actually fairly certain the town start with Couga) that is the proper name Manic Cinq. The next town after that would be Gagnon, about 150 - 200k ish away and after that is Fermont which is also about 150 - 200 k ish (which right on the border of QB and Labrador) Labrador City is right on the other side. There is gas in Baie Comeau, Manic Trois, Manic Cinq, Gagnon (according to the sign), and I assume Fermont and Labrador city. I probably could have made the entire route on a single tank of gas. I had over 1/2 of a tank of gas at the 264 k mark with only 300 k to go. But as you will see I did not make it anyhow;
Day 15 (Trois Riviere Qb)
Wake up, go for breakfast at the cafeteria trailer. Get a chilly response from 1/5 the permenant population and a table of hens who are there probably because they have nothing else to do while their SO’s are trying to unthaw the turbines of the dams. I hit the road. About 5 mins in the dangerous paved road has turned into a dirt road, with holes, rocks, more creeks, some of the sides gone. Drive for a little over an hour and hit a top speed of 50 k/hr. Ok it’s time to recalculate this plan. Yes I can still do it. But who knows when and it means that I will be driving at night on the way back, which I don’t want to do. Also although the weather is gorgeous and sunny, who knows if it will stay that way. Oooooooooh Damn under 300 k to go!!! Time to turn around. Like an obsessed hockey card collector who realizes that if he achieves his goal of getting that treasured unattainable rookie card, that he will be bankrupt, homeless with only the pride of completing his collection. *shaking my fist at the sky* “Newfoundland you protected your virtue this time, but I am gonna get naughty with you some day, you just wait and see” . Ok take the long trek back. Starts to snow before I hit Quebec. LOL did you know that bridges really do ice up when it`s cold, and it`s not just an idol threat. No accident, just fun fact. Keep going gets dark, windy, snowy and cold. Gonna have to stop soon, wheather just is too nasty in my sleepy state. See a sign with some towns listed. Hey not too far to Trois- Riviere. That’s where I had my VERY FIRST kiss from a boy ever. Well if that isn’t the perfect reason to stop and stay, I don’t know what is.
Day 15 (Trois Riviere Qb)
Wake up, go for breakfast at the cafeteria trailer. Get a chilly response from 1/5 the permenant population and a table of hens who are there probably because they have nothing else to do while their SO’s are trying to unthaw the turbines of the dams. I hit the road. About 5 mins in the dangerous paved road has turned into a dirt road, with holes, rocks, more creeks, some of the sides gone. Drive for a little over an hour and hit a top speed of 50 k/hr. Ok it’s time to recalculate this plan. Yes I can still do it. But who knows when and it means that I will be driving at night on the way back, which I don’t want to do. Also although the weather is gorgeous and sunny, who knows if it will stay that way. Oooooooooh Damn under 300 k to go!!! Time to turn around. Like an obsessed hockey card collector who realizes that if he achieves his goal of getting that treasured unattainable rookie card, that he will be bankrupt, homeless with only the pride of completing his collection. *shaking my fist at the sky* “Newfoundland you protected your virtue this time, but I am gonna get naughty with you some day, you just wait and see” . Ok take the long trek back. Starts to snow before I hit Quebec. LOL did you know that bridges really do ice up when it`s cold, and it`s not just an idol threat. No accident, just fun fact. Keep going gets dark, windy, snowy and cold. Gonna have to stop soon, wheather just is too nasty in my sleepy state. See a sign with some towns listed. Hey not too far to Trois- Riviere. That’s where I had my VERY FIRST kiss from a boy ever. Well if that isn’t the perfect reason to stop and stay, I don’t know what is.
I tried to figure out what on earth you were talking about JJ. So I dug up a map online. Your trip, although in rural quebec, was not the route to Labrador. Although I bet the experience and majestic natural scenery was comparable. My route can be found in the centre of the map. The route you are talking about is more south and to the west.
"I got wood" LOL plauing. I got em, and the\y are hot. Sorry that the shower curtains weren't your thing. But when I squirt I ruin linens. I loved the backwards squirting. DAMMMMN!!! that kicked ass. Ok here is some updates. not complete. but tooo tipsy to finish. will try to complete soon.
OMG I made the SP hall 'o' fame. hahahhahaI have received numerous phone calls and emails from many of you have been wondering where I am, and if I am still alive. Well I am alive and well, just been too busy, had limited internet access, or doing an insane amount of driving the last while.
Day 16 (Toronto)
Schedule has been shuffled and I am ahead on my miles so I offer another day in Toronto. Gets booked up the second I manage to get reception on my phone. Driving is nightmare. Miss my exit in Trois-Riviere, and the exit I need to get off at to fix the situation is closed because of snow. Eventually staighten myself out. Get lost again in Montreal. Lock my keys in the car in some small town. The wind gusts are unlike anything I have ever seen. They are knocking vehicles into the ditch. Feels like my car us going to flip over. It`s like a going a round with Mohamed Ali, 1-2-3-4 to the right ribs till you block and then a hammering upper cut from the left to the chin, using you own defensive actions against you. Passing semis is pure unadulterated fear. Car being pushed or sucked about 1 ½ feet from the turbulence and the wind. Have to make sure the shoulders are wide enough at every pass. End up seriously late in TO. Thankfully had some patient gents, I also made it up to them. Completely tuckered out and fall asleep pretty quick.
Day 17 ( Toronto)
Manage to meet up with some friends that I thought I would not be able to meet up with. Do a little shopping. Have some wild action in the evening. Have a great dinner. Later connect with a crazy TO celeb we drink, and shoot the breeze. This city is fast and intense as a triple vodka orange in a short glass.
Day 18 ( Between TO and Winnipeg)
Splendid day. Sunny and warm. Stop in Barrie to drop something in the mail (but cant find the mailing address so it doesn’t get mailed). Stop at Tim Hortons and get into a conversation with a couple fellas (2 brothers). Turns out they are from Newfoundland and on their way up to Fort MacMurray. They are hitchhiking all the way up, and just stopped over for a rest. These guys seem pretty decent so I offer them a ride. I explain that I can take them as far as Edmonton but they will have to deal with their own accommodations along the way. They agree and are very happy to get a ride such a significant chunk of their journey. We get chatting and one asks what I do for a living. I tell them that I am an SP. He looks at me a says “Dat’s where I know ya frum”. He explains that he has another brother, back in NFL, who was contemplating a visit and had shown him one of my ads. I drive for 12 hours and the brothers split the remainder of the driving between them. Slept while they drove. Not the best sleep but at least got some and managed to get lions share of my long haul to Saskatoon dealt with.
Day 19 ( Saskatoon)
One of the hitchhikers wives has called him and freaked. Begs him to come back home. So me and my hitchhikers part ways. I take a nap in Winnipeg at a family members house and then hit the road. Take a back highway leaving the city. Not sure why I cant get it through my head that dirt highways are not fun. The highway is more align to where I am in the city. So to take the normal route means I have to do a horse shoe. So I look at my map and think “it’s the prairies how bad can a dirt road be, at least I’m not gonna fall off a cliff face or anything”. Well washboard roads are still no fun even if there is no cliffs. Aside from that not much to report about the drive. It was long. It was straight. Oh yeah lots of deer on the road. Spring fever. Wanted to stop and get a room between Winnipeg and Saskatoon. But it appears that most towns on that route close at 7pm. Get into Saskatoon and hit the hay immediately.
Splendid day. Sunny and warm. Stop in Barrie to drop something in the mail (but cant find the mailing address so it doesn’t get mailed). Stop at Tim Hortons and get into a conversation with a couple fellas (2 brothers). Turns out they are from Newfoundland and on their way up to Fort MacMurray. They are hitchhiking all the way up, and just stopped over for a rest. These guys seem pretty decent so I offer them a ride. I explain that I can take them as far as Edmonton but they will have to deal with their own accommodations along the way. They agree and are very happy to get a ride such a significant chunk of their journey. We get chatting and one asks what I do for a living. I tell them that I am an SP. He looks at me a says “Dat’s where I know ya frum”. He explains that he has another brother, back in NFL, who was contemplating a visit and had shown him one of my ads. I drive for 12 hours and the brothers split the remainder of the driving between them. Slept while they drove. Not the best sleep but at least got some and managed to get lions share of my long haul to Saskatoon dealt with.
Day 19 ( Saskatoon)
One of the hitchhikers wives has called him and freaked. Begs him to come back home. So me and my hitchhikers part ways. I take a nap in Winnipeg at a family members house and then hit the road. Take a back highway leaving the city. Not sure why I cant get it through my head that dirt highways are not fun. The highway is more align to where I am in the city. So to take the normal route means I have to do a horse shoe. So I look at my map and think “it’s the prairies how bad can a dirt road be, at least I’m not gonna fall off a cliff face or anything”. Well washboard roads are still no fun even if there is no cliffs. Aside from that not much to report about the drive. It was long. It was straight. Oh yeah lots of deer on the road. Spring fever. Wanted to stop and get a room between Winnipeg and Saskatoon. But it appears that most towns on that route close at 7pm. Get into Saskatoon and hit the hay immediately.
Ya I remember what I got wrong now, I was pretty tired, LOL.
When you said Manic 5, I was thinking of the La Grande stuff, totally different huge set of dams.
Way back when I was young, like 19 or something, I decided I wanted to see those dams so I put about 5 big 10 gallon gas cans in my trunk and spend a whole 4 day weekend driving up there and back. There was a checkpoint at chibougamou (or however you spell it) where an RCMP guy would check that you had enough gas to make it the 1200 kms to the next gas station and that you were properly equiped (based on road conditions etc) and had some food etc with you just in case. There was a convoy going back and forth for all the workers and big trucks that had to go and they brought a big gasoline/diesel tanker with them to refuel along the way.
I made it up there and back (it was summer) and I got to see some REALLY big dams.
When you said Manic 5, I was thinking of the La Grande stuff, totally different huge set of dams.
Way back when I was young, like 19 or something, I decided I wanted to see those dams so I put about 5 big 10 gallon gas cans in my trunk and spend a whole 4 day weekend driving up there and back. There was a checkpoint at chibougamou (or however you spell it) where an RCMP guy would check that you had enough gas to make it the 1200 kms to the next gas station and that you were properly equiped (based on road conditions etc) and had some food etc with you just in case. There was a convoy going back and forth for all the workers and big trucks that had to go and they brought a big gasoline/diesel tanker with them to refuel along the way.
I made it up there and back (it was summer) and I got to see some REALLY big dams.
Day 20 (Saskatoon)
Beautiful warm day in sask. I drive around and find a cute little restaurant to go for breakfast. Just kind of wonder around. Sip coffee. Go back to my room. Gawd this room has got a stellar view!!! Break up the tranquility with some high action shower curtain abuse. Later on connect with a friend who moved to s'toon. Decide to take a nap and catch up with him and his friends later. But fall asleep right on through the evening. Guess I was too tuckered out from earlier fun.
Day 21 (Edmonton)
Drive on up to Edmonton. The drive is fine. It sure is raining. Glad I am from Vancouver, am used to driving in the rain. The farm fields look like vast lakes. Rain stops before I am in Edmonton. Haven't seen some people up here in ages. Too long. Am totally spoiled with gifts. Beautiful hand rolled chocolates and a red and black underbust PVC corsette (Thank You Santa Clause can't wait for x-mas). Lots of good cheer in the earlier evening. I invent a new drink called "The froathing Trophy Wife". It's made with Asti Spumanti champagne and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. Later on I am on a mission to help Annalise celebrate her birthday. Oh thems was crazy times.
Day 22 (HOME)
Being that I have no bookings in Prince George and I am brutaly homesick. I opt to just cruise home. Rough hangover. Have coffee before I venture off. Seems that the hangover has ceased. Get on the road. Ouuuuuucccchhh!!! My hangover decides it's gonna have a second wind. Stop at a tavern in a small town. Eat lunch and drink lots of water in hopes of it aleviate some of the hangover. Make friends with all the folks in the tavern over my lunch. They try to convince me to stay. But I decline. As I leave, I get a lot warm fuzzy send offs "be safe" " be careful on the roads" "watch your speed here' 'watch for wildlife" "If your ever back this way, make sure to stop by". I was there for 45 mins total. It was so sweet to have such a warm reception. Get driving. There is tons and tons of wildlife. Getting dozy by kamloops, so stop and get an energy drink. Perks me up enough for the rest of the trip. Serious accident in Abbotsford. Saw the emergency lights from far far away. Looked like a seriously overdone house at christmas with all the flashing. Couldn't see everything. It appeared to have a semi in the ditch, had to be much much more. There was 3-4 firetrucks, about 10 police cars, 2 ambulances, an emergency helicopter, some kind of huge emergency tow truck, and some other emergency vehicles not sure what they were. Not gonna try and get a better look. My presence wouldn't be helpful, and with my level of fatigue, I would be more dangerous on the road. Get home. MMmmmmm Home. Crawl into my bed and slip away into the BEST sleep I have had in weeks.
This experience has been a totally mindblowing experience. Although the success of the tour was stellar, there was so much more that outshined the business element. Connecting with so many beautiful and wonderful men. All my clients were the paramount of kindness, gentlemanliness, and hospitality (not to mention great fun). Connecting with a few ladies, you gals are the best. (wish I could have connected with a few more). Meeting new and old friends. Seeing my family. Being exposed to, although brief and just the tip of the iceberg, the vast depth of canadian culture. The strengthening of friendships back home, all you people who kept in touch with me and checked in truly shined in my heart with the love and care you expressed. The personal strength and discipline which I mustered to make this tour happen in spite of how nearly impossible it was. I can't believe I adjusted to the time zones, woke up so early, and drove so long. I am still glad I did this trip by car, there was so much incredible natural beauty in this country. There was so many magical landscapse and so much wildlife. In total this trip saw 50+elk, 50+ deer, 5 foxes, about a dozen mountain sheep, 2 porcupines, 3 skunks, 4 moose, hundreds of eagles (at least 2 species although I am no expert), about a dozen snowbunnies and 1 wolf. It's funny, I am sitting here plotting how to do this tour again, but I know that it won't likely happen. I knew going in, that upon my return that I would be having to reorganize my life to accomodate other vocational callings. Meaning that I will not having the luxury of more SP time, but in fact I will have much less. There are cities that I will definately consider touring to again, time permiting, once I figure out my schedule. But I think that I will pass down the torch on the notion of another cross Canada tour to whatever SP has the balls to take it on. If they do, I will be happy to help them organize, give them tips, and give the some guidance on fine tuning their plan, so that their experience exceeds that of my own.
I LOVE YOU CANADA!!!
Beautiful warm day in sask. I drive around and find a cute little restaurant to go for breakfast. Just kind of wonder around. Sip coffee. Go back to my room. Gawd this room has got a stellar view!!! Break up the tranquility with some high action shower curtain abuse. Later on connect with a friend who moved to s'toon. Decide to take a nap and catch up with him and his friends later. But fall asleep right on through the evening. Guess I was too tuckered out from earlier fun.
Day 21 (Edmonton)
Drive on up to Edmonton. The drive is fine. It sure is raining. Glad I am from Vancouver, am used to driving in the rain. The farm fields look like vast lakes. Rain stops before I am in Edmonton. Haven't seen some people up here in ages. Too long. Am totally spoiled with gifts. Beautiful hand rolled chocolates and a red and black underbust PVC corsette (Thank You Santa Clause can't wait for x-mas). Lots of good cheer in the earlier evening. I invent a new drink called "The froathing Trophy Wife". It's made with Asti Spumanti champagne and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream. Later on I am on a mission to help Annalise celebrate her birthday. Oh thems was crazy times.
Day 22 (HOME)
Being that I have no bookings in Prince George and I am brutaly homesick. I opt to just cruise home. Rough hangover. Have coffee before I venture off. Seems that the hangover has ceased. Get on the road. Ouuuuuucccchhh!!! My hangover decides it's gonna have a second wind. Stop at a tavern in a small town. Eat lunch and drink lots of water in hopes of it aleviate some of the hangover. Make friends with all the folks in the tavern over my lunch. They try to convince me to stay. But I decline. As I leave, I get a lot warm fuzzy send offs "be safe" " be careful on the roads" "watch your speed here' 'watch for wildlife" "If your ever back this way, make sure to stop by". I was there for 45 mins total. It was so sweet to have such a warm reception. Get driving. There is tons and tons of wildlife. Getting dozy by kamloops, so stop and get an energy drink. Perks me up enough for the rest of the trip. Serious accident in Abbotsford. Saw the emergency lights from far far away. Looked like a seriously overdone house at christmas with all the flashing. Couldn't see everything. It appeared to have a semi in the ditch, had to be much much more. There was 3-4 firetrucks, about 10 police cars, 2 ambulances, an emergency helicopter, some kind of huge emergency tow truck, and some other emergency vehicles not sure what they were. Not gonna try and get a better look. My presence wouldn't be helpful, and with my level of fatigue, I would be more dangerous on the road. Get home. MMmmmmm Home. Crawl into my bed and slip away into the BEST sleep I have had in weeks.
This experience has been a totally mindblowing experience. Although the success of the tour was stellar, there was so much more that outshined the business element. Connecting with so many beautiful and wonderful men. All my clients were the paramount of kindness, gentlemanliness, and hospitality (not to mention great fun). Connecting with a few ladies, you gals are the best. (wish I could have connected with a few more). Meeting new and old friends. Seeing my family. Being exposed to, although brief and just the tip of the iceberg, the vast depth of canadian culture. The strengthening of friendships back home, all you people who kept in touch with me and checked in truly shined in my heart with the love and care you expressed. The personal strength and discipline which I mustered to make this tour happen in spite of how nearly impossible it was. I can't believe I adjusted to the time zones, woke up so early, and drove so long. I am still glad I did this trip by car, there was so much incredible natural beauty in this country. There was so many magical landscapse and so much wildlife. In total this trip saw 50+elk, 50+ deer, 5 foxes, about a dozen mountain sheep, 2 porcupines, 3 skunks, 4 moose, hundreds of eagles (at least 2 species although I am no expert), about a dozen snowbunnies and 1 wolf. It's funny, I am sitting here plotting how to do this tour again, but I know that it won't likely happen. I knew going in, that upon my return that I would be having to reorganize my life to accomodate other vocational callings. Meaning that I will not having the luxury of more SP time, but in fact I will have much less. There are cities that I will definately consider touring to again, time permiting, once I figure out my schedule. But I think that I will pass down the torch on the notion of another cross Canada tour to whatever SP has the balls to take it on. If they do, I will be happy to help them organize, give them tips, and give the some guidance on fine tuning their plan, so that their experience exceeds that of my own.
I LOVE YOU CANADA!!!
Welcome Back!
Thank you for the most entertaining thread ever!
I'm glad you're back but sorry I don't get another installment of this adventure story.
Congratulations on completing your tour successfully!
Thank you for the most entertaining thread ever!
I'm glad you're back but sorry I don't get another installment of this adventure story.
Congratulations on completing your tour successfully!
We should get together and do a show depicting my journeys through interpetive sex acts!!!! I think we could do it with a strap-on, shower curtain, whips, a couple bottles of champagne and our imagination. What do you think???
Damn, wish I'd known you were coming... would've booked an appt. in Prince George with you... I gotta stay on top of these things
Apleasurer
Apleasurer
Regina...
Glad I could help out in you achieving height and distance... even if it was just a small part. That was one of the most intense experiences I have ever had. Thank you for the great time and good to see the tour for the most part went well.
