BACK FROM THE TRIP TO HELL AND BACK
The trip started out like any other, there was excitement in the air, preparations to be made and packing to be done.
Finally the day arrived. Everything in place, we were ready to go. We left in plenty of time for the 2 hour drive to the Vancouver Airport, giving ourselves plenty of time for the check-in and to go through security. The drive down the Sea to Sky highway was busier than usual for a Sunday, with some unexpected construction delays. Good thing we had left early.
Nearing the Lions Bay area, we discovered that we had forgotten our tickets. We had been on the road for 45 minutes by then, what with the delays and all. Thinking we had plenty of time to spare, we made the decision to head back. Lucky we did, because sitting there with our tickets was the envelope with our passports and vaccination forms.
We set off again. The drive was smooth sailing this time with no delays. Things were falling into place, or so we thought. We made good time and got to the Lions Bay area in ½ hour. We drove past Horseshoe Bay, easily cruising along the Upper Narrows highway towards West and North Vancouver, still confident that we would make it to the airport in plenty of time. Just then we were pulled over at a roadside radar check. We had been clocked doing 117 in a 90 km/hr zone. 10 minutes ticked by while the policemen checked us out in his computer and wrote us out a speeding ticket.
Out on the road again, we continued on our way. We took the Lonsdale exit heading towards the Lions Gate bridge. The roads were congested and the going was slow for a Sunday. The reason was clear as we listened to the news on the radio. The streets were blocked off in downtown Vancouver for the annual Labor Day rally.
Needless to say our confidence was turning into anxiety as we crawled across the Lions Gate bridge and through downtown Vancouver. No time to stop for a bathroom break, we continued on down south Granville and over the Arthur Lang bridge, the airport now in sight. We hurriedly said our goodbyes as we got dropped off at the departures level. After a much needed bathroom break, we made our way to the check-in line, only to discover 10 minutes later that we were in the wrong terminal. We needed the International departures which was a 10 minute walk. We made it in 5 with the help of a ride on a golf cart.
The ticket agent informed us that we needed to go directly to our gate as quickly as we could. The line up for the security check was quite long, so we asked one of the workers if we could go ahead of others as we were in a hurry. We don’t know if that was what triggered them to do a more thorough search of our hand luggage, further detaining us. We finally arrived at the departure gate happy to see it still full. We had made it. We had a seat, grateful for a much needed rest.
And this is when the trip from Hell and back really began. A few minutes later we heard the announcement that the flight from Vancouver to Baltimore via Chicago had been delayed. It was 2 hours later that we were allowed to board, where we all sat for another hour waiting, no air conditioning, no food and no water. Then we were all herded off the plane again and had to go to another departure gate, where we sat for another ½ hour before boarding another plane. Finally with a loud cheer, we were in the air heading for Chicago. The rest of the flight was uneventful.
We had missed our connecting flight to Baltimore and had another 2 hours wait at the boarding gate for the next flight. No chance to leave the security area. Arriving at the Baltimore – Washington International airport, we retrieved our luggage and zipped through customs and immigrations.
We were excited to see the family members that were there to pick us up. After a much needed bathroom break, we started off on the hour drive to our nieces home.
Monday morning, I was feeling sick. Tuesday I was feeling worse, luckily no one noticed. Wednesday and Thursday, I was still feeling lousy but determined to have a good time with the family. Friday was much the same. Saturday and Sunday was hell. I just wanted to be home in my own bed.
Still feeling lousy, Monday was our flight back to Vancouver via Chicago. Our niece dropped us off at 8 a.m. for our 10:30 flight. Luggage checked in, successfully through security and sitting at the boarding gate, we heard the announcement that the flight had been cancelled. Nothing we could do but wait around. The next flight was 3:30 p.m. which ended up being cancelled also. We were told that the next flight wasn’t until the next morning at 8 a.m. After being told that we would have to wait overnight at the airport, we eventually got them to get us a hotel room. We were told that the hotel bus would pick us up and to wait by the door. 2 hours later the bus arrived and took us – no luggage, as the airline couldn’t find it, to the hotel. It was now 10 p.m.
We got the bus back to the Baltimore – Washington airport at 6a.m. to be told that the 8a.m. flight was an hour late. Finally got on the flight to Chicago and made the connection to Vancouver on time, a 6 hour flight.
After 31 hours from Monday morning to Tuesday night when we landed in Vancouver, it was now grossly obvious to everyone that I was really sick and I was put into quarantine for 48 hours where I was treated for a bladder infection and dehydration.
The humane society investigated my owners to determine if I should be removed from their care. It was determined that the long waits without bathroom breaks caused the bladder infection and that the flight delays and circumstances were beyond my owner’s control. I was eventually reunited with my owners and finally got to sleep in my own bed again.
By Lynn Keeling April 8, 2009
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
ALIGHT / After 13 Years
One hidden assumption to the word “alight” is that there is a downward moving forward movement from above. There is also a sense that when you “alight” that you “alight” onto a more stable surface.
As in “the girl ‘alights’ from the bus”. We automatically have the picture of the girl stepping down the precarious steps of the bus, down onto the pavement of the stable surface of the road. When is it exactly that the “alighting” has taken place? Is it the entire process of stepping down each step or when she lands on the pavement?
The same is true for the bird that takes a rest on the swaying branch of the huge Oak tree. He is in the air flying forward as he gently “alights” on a branch from above, even if his journey starts from the ground below where he last “alit” for he has to be above the branch to “alight” on it.
“Alight” is a movie picture word. Our imagination sees the entire scene of the action of “alighting”. We feel the movement of the “alighting” as we settle into the relief of the safe arrival of going from point A to point B. “Alighting” also provides us with a moment of rest before our journey moves us on.
AFTER 13 YEARS
Jessie ‘alighted’ from the abusive relationship with nowhere to go. She had had enough, the last straw was broken. So when Rocky stopped in Keremeos for gas, grabbing her purse, she ‘alighted’ from the car and made her escape.
Standing in the pay phone booth ready to dial 911 if need be, she repeatedly told Rocky that she was not getting back into the car. After much screaming, threatening, pleading and hollow promises now so familiar, he finally drove off, leaving Jessie behind.
“Now what”? Jessie wondered. Rifling through the phone book, she found the address for the Greyhound Bus station. She hunted for the phone number of the local crisis line which turned out to be a long distance number – no help there.
Planning to catch the next bus no matter where it was going, Jessie walked back into town easily finding the bus station. The next bus wasn’t due until morning and it was heading to Vancouver.
After buying a toothbrush and toothpaste, Jessie checked into the downtown hotel for the night. After watching TV for awhile, tucked in, feeling safe and secure, she eventually drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Back at the bus station the next morning, she purchased a ticket to Langley, where Rocky and she lived. Once there she would decide what to do.
The bus pulled up to the Langley bus depot and Jessie “alighted” from the bus. She entered the bus station and entered the Ladies room. A few minutes later she “alighted” from the bus stations front door. It was then that she saw their car parked in the bus stations parking lot. Rocky was no where in sight. So she jumped into the car and drove away, watching in the rear view mirror, but Rocky was nowhere to be seen.
Calculating that she had a window of opportunity she drove to the basement suite that they rented to fill the car with as much of her belongings as she could in the few minutes she had.
As she walked in, she noticed that her suitcase was unpacked and everything was put away. There were notes all around telling her of phone messages. Everything was neat and tidy like nothing had happened. She wondered where Rocky was and why the car was parked at the bus station.
No time to lose, she threw things in garbage bags and filled the car. A few minutes later “alighting” from the house for what would be the last time, she drove off not knowing where to go, just wanting to get as far away as possible.
A light had finally come on, and she knew that this relationship was finally over.
By Lynn Keeling April 5/09
As in “the girl ‘alights’ from the bus”. We automatically have the picture of the girl stepping down the precarious steps of the bus, down onto the pavement of the stable surface of the road. When is it exactly that the “alighting” has taken place? Is it the entire process of stepping down each step or when she lands on the pavement?
The same is true for the bird that takes a rest on the swaying branch of the huge Oak tree. He is in the air flying forward as he gently “alights” on a branch from above, even if his journey starts from the ground below where he last “alit” for he has to be above the branch to “alight” on it.
“Alight” is a movie picture word. Our imagination sees the entire scene of the action of “alighting”. We feel the movement of the “alighting” as we settle into the relief of the safe arrival of going from point A to point B. “Alighting” also provides us with a moment of rest before our journey moves us on.
AFTER 13 YEARS
Jessie ‘alighted’ from the abusive relationship with nowhere to go. She had had enough, the last straw was broken. So when Rocky stopped in Keremeos for gas, grabbing her purse, she ‘alighted’ from the car and made her escape.
Standing in the pay phone booth ready to dial 911 if need be, she repeatedly told Rocky that she was not getting back into the car. After much screaming, threatening, pleading and hollow promises now so familiar, he finally drove off, leaving Jessie behind.
“Now what”? Jessie wondered. Rifling through the phone book, she found the address for the Greyhound Bus station. She hunted for the phone number of the local crisis line which turned out to be a long distance number – no help there.
Planning to catch the next bus no matter where it was going, Jessie walked back into town easily finding the bus station. The next bus wasn’t due until morning and it was heading to Vancouver.
After buying a toothbrush and toothpaste, Jessie checked into the downtown hotel for the night. After watching TV for awhile, tucked in, feeling safe and secure, she eventually drifted into a peaceful sleep.
Back at the bus station the next morning, she purchased a ticket to Langley, where Rocky and she lived. Once there she would decide what to do.
The bus pulled up to the Langley bus depot and Jessie “alighted” from the bus. She entered the bus station and entered the Ladies room. A few minutes later she “alighted” from the bus stations front door. It was then that she saw their car parked in the bus stations parking lot. Rocky was no where in sight. So she jumped into the car and drove away, watching in the rear view mirror, but Rocky was nowhere to be seen.
Calculating that she had a window of opportunity she drove to the basement suite that they rented to fill the car with as much of her belongings as she could in the few minutes she had.
As she walked in, she noticed that her suitcase was unpacked and everything was put away. There were notes all around telling her of phone messages. Everything was neat and tidy like nothing had happened. She wondered where Rocky was and why the car was parked at the bus station.
No time to lose, she threw things in garbage bags and filled the car. A few minutes later “alighting” from the house for what would be the last time, she drove off not knowing where to go, just wanting to get as far away as possible.
A light had finally come on, and she knew that this relationship was finally over.
By Lynn Keeling April 5/09
Saturday, April 04, 2009
MEDORA, ND TRIP
We left Richmond where we lived and were leisurely driving in our camper van, to Ottawa, Ont., to attend the wedding of the daughter of a long time friend of Ralph’s. Along the way we stopped to visit my mom and relatives in Calgary, Alberta and dear friends of mine in Lumsden, Sask. From there, Donalee and Chuck suggested that we head north a few miles and take a more scenic route east. Anything would be better than driving the Trans Canada Hwy through Saskatchewan. This route turned out to be one of many highlights of the trip that shines brightly in our memories. Rounding the bend as we were driving along a huge lake, we saw a flock of pelicans swimming in the water. Next was an old Anglican granite stone church and native Indian residential school that was extremely impressive. It was time to stop for a coffee and ‘bio break’ and we found this little fishing village, a street with 3 or 4 buildings really, one of them a coffee shop. As we sat there we eavesdropped on the locals delightful conversations. It must have been memorable, because it is usually the food that I talk about. Eventually Hwy 22 joins up with the Trans Canada east of Regina. We highly recommend this detour, as it really did transform our image of the province of Sask.
Somewhere along the line we dipped down into the United States. We stopped at a road side fruit stand and feasted on the most mouth watering juicy strawberries we have ever found. Driving along the south side of the St. Lawrence River, we drove though a hail storm of giant mosquito’s. It was time to stop for the night, so at the next town we asked around for a place to eat. We were directed to a coffee shop on the main street, where Ralph ordered the fish special. It was a gourmet dish that would have been served at the finest of restaurants and I only wished that I had ordered the same.
The campsite we found that night was a scenic location on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The place was swarming with mosquito’s so we stayed put inside, grateful for the screens on our windows. In the morning we checked out and took pictures of the front of our van. It was covered with mosquito’s, dead of course.
Back into Canada, arriving at Art and Mary’s in Ottawa to help with the preparations for the upcoming wedding. This was the first time I was meeting this wonderful couple that made me feel so welcome as they put me right to work. Mary, a talented crafty person, soon learned that I had no talent in making bows even with a bow making gadget. The reception was held on the front lawn of their house. The garage was transformed into the buffet and bar area. It was a truly remarkable event with neighbors walking by to check it all out. Art and Mary have since moved back to Surrey, BC and remain great friends.
But my story is about the town of Medora, ND, which we magically discovered on our way back home from Ottawa. We were to stop in at my mom’s in Calgary again, to meet up with my Vancouver friends, Fred and Joan, to enjoy the Calgary Stampede. We had dropped down into the States traveling west on highway 28, then highway 2. Looking at the map one day, I got the idea that we should detour south to see Mt. Rushmore. Ralph was insisting that we needed to get to Calgary. Our next check in phone call to my mom, I ran the idea by her. She was all for it and even suggested that we go to see Old Faithful too! I handed the phone to Ralph and she talked him into it.
We took highway 83 south from Minot. ND, then west on interstate 94 at Bismark. The next turn would be highway 85 heading south. Being that it was 4:30 and time to find a place to camp overnight, we decided to go a few miles further than the turn off to the town of Medora. It was a quaint little place. We had supper at a burger joint. The owner asked us if we were going to the amphitheatre! We thought that would be fun, expecting a park ranger giving a talk around a campfire somewhere. So off we went, following his directions – over the railway tracks turning right and going up the hill.
What we saw at the top of the hill was a parking lot with what looked like about 50 tour busses, a 100 RV’s, and a thousand cars or more. There was a tall fence blocking the view of what was to come. We bought our tickets at one of many ticket booth’s and our adventure continued. Ralph was using a cane at the time and along came a golf cart to shuttle him inside. I meet up with him again at the elevator. Then we went on an escalator to get to our seats in this gigantic outdoor amphitheatre built on the hillside of the Black Hills. It was a clear warm night with the stars and the moon decorating the sky. In front of us was a huge stage with buildings on rails that were moved into place during the production. Imagine seeing 3 horses galloping full tilt from the back of the stage to the front, their riders carrying flags from ND, USA, and Canada. National anthems sung and the show begins. It was a musical production with 3 scenes. Between each scene there was entertainment – a comedian, a juggler and a comedy magic act. It was a magnificent evening and we often recommend Medora as a holiday destination point.
Our discoveries continued the next day as we took a horse drawn carriage ride around the town. The tree in the middle of the main street is said to be a ‘hanging tree’. And there were stories of Teddy Roosevelt and his cattle ranch.
We continued on to Mount Rushmore where there was a bus load of teens getting their picture taken by a boy sitting with a pile of camera’s on his left and one by one he would pick one up, take a picture and set it down to his right. It was hilariously funny to watch. We looked at Crazy Horse from afar. Found a wonderful park area with a waterfall and got involved with a missing boy drama. Just as the police arrived, the boy jumped out of a car that had picked him up on the road at the top of the hill that he had climbed up. Needless to say, we were all relieved to see him. The search and rescue group that was on their way were not needed after all.
We parked overnight in a town parking lot in Deadwood, SD, a small western town with casino’s. The next morning we had a ticket on our windshield saying “welcome to Deadwood City. Please use the RV campsite tonight” no fine involved. Then one morning as we were waking up in Sheridan, Wyoming, I heard something about a pancake breakfast and bed races on the local radio station. So off we went to check it out. There was also a parade down the main street. We were told to go to the world famous Kings Saddle and museum tack shop on main street There were pictures of Queen Elizabeth shopping there and many old carriages and stage coaches and more.
We got to see Old Faithful and Yellowstone National Park, then we headed north to Calgary on Highway 89. Again we detoured around to take the scenic route from west to east though the Glacier National Park. Eventually making our way north into Canada and arriving in Calgary to enjoy the Calgary Stampede with Fred and Joan who had already arrived and were staying at my mom’s.
I remember seeing a beautiful lightning storm off to the west as we drove between Lethbridge and Calgary. I also remember wondering why we were passing so many cars. It wasn’t until we were caravanning home with Fred and Joan and Fred came on the CB asking us why we were going so fast! Our speedometer was screwy. We had been speeding the entire trip and maybe ever since the transmission got repaired in Branson on a previous trip where a SAE gear was used instead of a metric gear. We were traveling in miles per hour instead of kilometers per hour. So for the next few miles we would check in with Fred to find out what speed we were going.
There were many other wonderful memorable ‘being in the right place at the right time’ adventures along the way. I am now sitting here wondering if we had been traveling the speed limit, would we have missed some of those wonderful experiences that we had.
We had many more wonderful side trips on this most magnificent holiday travel adventure as we headed back home with Fred and Joan.
By Lynn Keeling
April 4, 2009
Somewhere along the line we dipped down into the United States. We stopped at a road side fruit stand and feasted on the most mouth watering juicy strawberries we have ever found. Driving along the south side of the St. Lawrence River, we drove though a hail storm of giant mosquito’s. It was time to stop for the night, so at the next town we asked around for a place to eat. We were directed to a coffee shop on the main street, where Ralph ordered the fish special. It was a gourmet dish that would have been served at the finest of restaurants and I only wished that I had ordered the same.
The campsite we found that night was a scenic location on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The place was swarming with mosquito’s so we stayed put inside, grateful for the screens on our windows. In the morning we checked out and took pictures of the front of our van. It was covered with mosquito’s, dead of course.
Back into Canada, arriving at Art and Mary’s in Ottawa to help with the preparations for the upcoming wedding. This was the first time I was meeting this wonderful couple that made me feel so welcome as they put me right to work. Mary, a talented crafty person, soon learned that I had no talent in making bows even with a bow making gadget. The reception was held on the front lawn of their house. The garage was transformed into the buffet and bar area. It was a truly remarkable event with neighbors walking by to check it all out. Art and Mary have since moved back to Surrey, BC and remain great friends.
But my story is about the town of Medora, ND, which we magically discovered on our way back home from Ottawa. We were to stop in at my mom’s in Calgary again, to meet up with my Vancouver friends, Fred and Joan, to enjoy the Calgary Stampede. We had dropped down into the States traveling west on highway 28, then highway 2. Looking at the map one day, I got the idea that we should detour south to see Mt. Rushmore. Ralph was insisting that we needed to get to Calgary. Our next check in phone call to my mom, I ran the idea by her. She was all for it and even suggested that we go to see Old Faithful too! I handed the phone to Ralph and she talked him into it.
We took highway 83 south from Minot. ND, then west on interstate 94 at Bismark. The next turn would be highway 85 heading south. Being that it was 4:30 and time to find a place to camp overnight, we decided to go a few miles further than the turn off to the town of Medora. It was a quaint little place. We had supper at a burger joint. The owner asked us if we were going to the amphitheatre! We thought that would be fun, expecting a park ranger giving a talk around a campfire somewhere. So off we went, following his directions – over the railway tracks turning right and going up the hill.
What we saw at the top of the hill was a parking lot with what looked like about 50 tour busses, a 100 RV’s, and a thousand cars or more. There was a tall fence blocking the view of what was to come. We bought our tickets at one of many ticket booth’s and our adventure continued. Ralph was using a cane at the time and along came a golf cart to shuttle him inside. I meet up with him again at the elevator. Then we went on an escalator to get to our seats in this gigantic outdoor amphitheatre built on the hillside of the Black Hills. It was a clear warm night with the stars and the moon decorating the sky. In front of us was a huge stage with buildings on rails that were moved into place during the production. Imagine seeing 3 horses galloping full tilt from the back of the stage to the front, their riders carrying flags from ND, USA, and Canada. National anthems sung and the show begins. It was a musical production with 3 scenes. Between each scene there was entertainment – a comedian, a juggler and a comedy magic act. It was a magnificent evening and we often recommend Medora as a holiday destination point.
Our discoveries continued the next day as we took a horse drawn carriage ride around the town. The tree in the middle of the main street is said to be a ‘hanging tree’. And there were stories of Teddy Roosevelt and his cattle ranch.
We continued on to Mount Rushmore where there was a bus load of teens getting their picture taken by a boy sitting with a pile of camera’s on his left and one by one he would pick one up, take a picture and set it down to his right. It was hilariously funny to watch. We looked at Crazy Horse from afar. Found a wonderful park area with a waterfall and got involved with a missing boy drama. Just as the police arrived, the boy jumped out of a car that had picked him up on the road at the top of the hill that he had climbed up. Needless to say, we were all relieved to see him. The search and rescue group that was on their way were not needed after all.
We parked overnight in a town parking lot in Deadwood, SD, a small western town with casino’s. The next morning we had a ticket on our windshield saying “welcome to Deadwood City. Please use the RV campsite tonight” no fine involved. Then one morning as we were waking up in Sheridan, Wyoming, I heard something about a pancake breakfast and bed races on the local radio station. So off we went to check it out. There was also a parade down the main street. We were told to go to the world famous Kings Saddle and museum tack shop on main street There were pictures of Queen Elizabeth shopping there and many old carriages and stage coaches and more.
We got to see Old Faithful and Yellowstone National Park, then we headed north to Calgary on Highway 89. Again we detoured around to take the scenic route from west to east though the Glacier National Park. Eventually making our way north into Canada and arriving in Calgary to enjoy the Calgary Stampede with Fred and Joan who had already arrived and were staying at my mom’s.
I remember seeing a beautiful lightning storm off to the west as we drove between Lethbridge and Calgary. I also remember wondering why we were passing so many cars. It wasn’t until we were caravanning home with Fred and Joan and Fred came on the CB asking us why we were going so fast! Our speedometer was screwy. We had been speeding the entire trip and maybe ever since the transmission got repaired in Branson on a previous trip where a SAE gear was used instead of a metric gear. We were traveling in miles per hour instead of kilometers per hour. So for the next few miles we would check in with Fred to find out what speed we were going.
There were many other wonderful memorable ‘being in the right place at the right time’ adventures along the way. I am now sitting here wondering if we had been traveling the speed limit, would we have missed some of those wonderful experiences that we had.
We had many more wonderful side trips on this most magnificent holiday travel adventure as we headed back home with Fred and Joan.
By Lynn Keeling
April 4, 2009
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