STUCK IN CANADA

How’s this for something to think about. Saturday we left Pharr with the temperature being 73 degrees. We arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Wednesday afternoon, and the overnight temperature was 27 below. In the course of 5 days, we had a change in temperature of 100 degrees. Just one of the things you get to experience with a lifestyle in over the road trucking.

We started off very early Wednesday morning, from a little place called Eddie’s Corner, in Northern Montana. We had arrived the night before and after taking a shower, we stopped by their café for a bite to eat. How about my grilled cheese sandwich, which only cost $1.75, or a burger, made the good old fashion way for $2.75. I didn’t think I would ever see those prices again!

We drove through the morning darkness towards the border, I had my paperwork and passports ready. With the red stamp on our paperwork and a “Have a good day” from the Customs Officer we were on our way. As I mentioned earlier, we arrived in Edmonton, and stayed the night, but not before Craig had to do yet some more mechanical work on the truck. I felt useless as he had to crawl under the truck, and lie on the frozen ground in -27 and try and fix a leaking radiator hose which needed a new clamp. This truck will need some major going over while we are on home time.

We awoke in the predawn darkness and made our way to Prince George. The roads were covered in compacted snow and ice. Slow but steady we drove on through Jasper National Park, and in the illumination of the headlights, we saw a large moose think about crossing the highway. The engine noise of the truck must have gotten his attention, as he chose to make an about face and head back into the trees. Later, when the daylight finally arrived, we saw another moose, buried leg deep in snow, along side the roadway, watching as we drove by.

We arrived in Prince George and quickly went about unloading the boats as the snow was falling. Thankfully, it wasn’t as cold as Edmonton, but I was ready for the warm comfort of the Service Department at the dealership, to get all the paperwork signed. With only an hour left in driving time, we managed to get to a small truck stop on the other side of town to stay for the night.

Back out onto the snow and ice covered roads, we saw the sign no truck driver would like to see in those conditions, an 8% grade down the hill. Again, slow and steady we went, with some silent prayers and Craig's driving ability we made it safely to flatter ground. We wanted to be able to make it into the States Friday, but with the routing we received, the snow and ice covered roads, and the limited amount of driving hours left, we had to shut down in Chilliwack, B.C., a mere 20 miles from the USA border. The only bright spot in having to stay here 36 hrs to reset our driving hours (in the U.S. it is only 34 hrs) , is that right across in the parking lot is a Tim Horton’s. What more could you ask for? Good coffee, fresh donuts, and chili to die for.