Day Eight and Nine: Back from Canada

So there we were in Alberta.

It was even more Midwest-like than the Midwest had been. Flat, straight, and filled to the brim with nothing.

We stopped for pizza in the town right across the border, but after that there was nothing but scattered farms. From our pizza encounter, we gained $18.85 Canadian, since they took American dollars but only gave change in Canadian currency. Jason proposed that we fill up with $18.85 in gas on the way out. A good move, except that the liters and Canadian dollars really screwed with our miles-per-gallon spreadsheet.

It had been Sacajawea’s idea to go to Canada (that is, Microsoft Streets and Trips’), but then just when we needed it most (out in the nothing), it ordered us down a gravel road toward a conspicuous “BRIDGE OUT” sign. We kept our wits about us, made our way around, and continued on to British Columbia.

Now there’s a province. This place certainly knows how to show you a good time, which it did with lots of mountainous terrain, a lovely winding road, and a splendid lightning storm. Unfortunately, lightning is not the easiest phenomenon to photograph from a moving car, so we resorted to playing Catchphrase.

We finally made our way back to the US border in Idaho at about 11:30. The questioning border patrol officer there tried to trip us up with such questions as “Pennsylvania, that’s abbreviated PE, right?” and “Joseph, which one of you is Joseph?” (Ferrett’s middle name). Others looked through several of our bags and in the glove compartment. We passed with flying colors, and were sent on our way down into Idaho.

Our destination for the night was a Motel 6 in the resort town of Coeur d’Alene, home of a famous golf course. We checked in and cast lots to determine who would get to sleep in the two double beds. Ferrett chose the wrong number, and proceeded to keep the floor company for the night