What a stampede

Well today was the first day on the road. The weather was great and aside from getting out a bit later than we planned things went relatively well. We did however hit ALL the RV's, fifth wheelers, Trucks and trailers and semi's that could be found in Western Canada. It was as if you compared it to a stampeded of vehicles heading out of BC and into the Rockies and Praries for their long weekend adventures. We arrived at our destination in Carseland, AB around 8pm (local time) just in time for a wonderful steak dinner.
We had a couple adventures pulling the truck and trailer. Like navigating the massive amount of vehicles all stopping in Revelstoke for lunch. (there was also 250 baseball teams in town for a tournament), traveling through miles of construction speed zones, and circling through Banff to get to the Petro Can (without backing up) and then ending up having to buy Premium gas when we finally got there. (oh yeah...did we mention that Alberta and Saskatchewan are having a major gas shortage??) Well let you know more on that front tomorrow after trying to fill up somewhere in the middle of the praries.
There hasn't really been any issues with the trailer..or at least we don't think so seeing as our car arrived in Carseland when we did. The truck has a strange problem... or we think it is a problem. The floor of the cab heats up so much that it's too hot to put your bare feet on. On the drivers side it actually gets uncomfortably hot around the pedals. Poor Bill's right foot. I think it is more than well done tonight. We are praying that this doesn't indicate that something is wrong and that tomorrow with less stress on the engine and a lower temperature that this won't be as big of a problem. If you are a praying person please add this one.
Other than that things have been smooth. The truck had lots of power up the hills, the trailer is attached(with the car) and the trip was only a bit long.

After a bit of catching up and wireless internet troubleshooting we are sitting in bed ready to buckle down for another night's sleep. We'll talk to you again tomorrow!

In the meantime enjoy these pics.

Signing off

B&N

855 cubic feet packed up and ready to go

so...today was the day...the one we've been preparing for so hard. It was moving day (well technically it was moving day number 1. We still have a least 6 days of actually traveling and at least one of unpacking the truck...) We'll call it moving day number 1.
The day started around 10:30 when we went to pick up the truck. I must say it was a major answer to prayer because our truck was available at the same location we made our reservation. When we saw it we though...man...that's 17 feet? That's small.... that shows you how much stuff we really had!

So we got the truck and trailer and headed to our apartment to get our furniture ready.
After several rolls of stretch wrap and 2 dozen moving blankets we were finally ready for our help to arrive. While waiting we had a nap on our couches that were wrapped in plastic...fun!

Eventually our help started arriving...in droves!! We had 16 people there!! Isn't that amazing... I was amazed. Needless to say it didn't take long to empty the apartment and then we yelled out encouragements to my dad who was painstakingly playing the game of tetris with our boxes. He won the game and our truck got packed... all 855 cubic feet of it. There was just enough room for the cleaning supplies and mop when we were done. The walk through with our landlord went relatively smoothly and by 7:30 we were at my parents for a BBQ. It was a great evening with lots of help, food and goodbyes.

Now we are off to get some sleep so we can be up just before 6 to say more goodbyes and hit the road... with a timmies in hand of course.

Signing off

B&N

If I ever see another unpacked box it will be too soon

Well I for one (and I know I speak for the both of us here) am tired of packing. It just never seems to end. Just when I think I have a room done I look around to double check and there in the back corner behind a blanket or a dresser is something else needing a cardboard home. It's frustrating. Thankfully with only about 3 days left before takeoff...the packing will soon be done. We will enjoy our trip and not think about boxes until we see Mona's house.
Today I was doing what I deemed "our last laundry". Now it's not actually our last laundry cause that would be well...gross... but it is our last laundry here in our apartment building. I looked high and low to make sure I got all the laundry so that we didn't need to haul dirty laundry around with us... hmm..there's a joke here somewhere....
So anyway, as I was just finishing up the last load, folded it and packed it in the correct suitcase I noticed something red poking out of a partially packed box... AHHH it was...DIRTY LAUNDRY. Then I also found a sock under a blanket... grrrr! Guess we will be taking along some dirty laundry (ha ha)

So the final days are here. Work is done, boxes are almost packed..most of the food is eaten (anyone want some frozen chicken breasts? :D) and we are awaiting go time. Cleaning is starting and thankfully we found a company who will pick up our blinds, clean them, and return them the same day and thus saving my mom and I an entire days work.

We have one last dinner/games night with family on Tuesday and then as of that evening we are living with our parents again. Funny how that works. The countdown has begun...;)

Well that's about all so far...
signing off

N

Last day of work

First off i want to apologize to my brother in law for all of my blog posts, it will be full of incorrect punctuation, spelling errors, incorrect tense, and just plain bad english. It isn't my fault you majored in English!

well here I go, blogging...

Today was my last day at work and yesterday was the last day for Nicole.
It was bitter sweet leaving my job today. Lots of well wishes and word of encouragement usually followed the question "why Ontario?" I have worked there for four years and it is a weird concept that I will not be going back on Monday. It was a great job and I had a lot of fun learning and meeting lots of solid people, I wish it could of lasted for ever.

Apparently I need to get back to packing now so I will cut this off here.

bye for now talk to you all on the trip

B

You want boxes...I'll give you boxes

45... 46...47... Yeah that's about where we are with boxes right now. We are making headway... but there is still a long way to go!

updates... I have passed my "N" test for my drivers license and I am an official driver now, Bill has received his official notice from his work. His last day is the 24th, and we have got rid of several pieces of furniture including a bunch of stuff to go to share (thanks to our friends Jared & Erika). We have about 3 weeks till we will be on the road and thankfully it looks like things are coming together.

9 days of work for me and 10 for Bill....then we are FREE!!!! I am excited for a bit of "vacation"... ha!

here are some pics of our apartment in it's state of disarray.

Signing off

N

Ahhh...!! boxes boxes everywhere!

There are boxes everywhere. On the floor, on the table, even on our bed (when we're not sleeping). We are stepping over them, stepping on them and thinking of hiding in them. That and the bubble wrap. There is nothing more scary than walking across your living room and then unknowingly walking on bubble wrap. The loud, snap, Snap, SNAP can take a few years off ones life.
So... as most of you are aware, Bill and I are packing up our apartment and crazily stepping off a cliff to a place called Ontario. We are moving there without jobs, an apartment or even all of our stuff. Everything we own will be in the back of a 17" U haul that is towing our Ford Focus. We are looking forward to this adventure, however, it is quickly also driving us a bit crazy.
Our house resembles a town after a WWII bombing spree. We are eating off of Tupperware plates and bowls and using strange devices for cups. We have downsized by getting rid of bookshelves, a futon, a motorcycle, a scooter, an aquarium and many others. By the way..if you want an Ikea computer desk, double lazy-boy recliner couch, a snowboard or other bookshelves ...look us up... we have some and they are free. Thankfully, our garage sale was successful in that we got rid of a lot of extra stuff and even made a bit of money.
Surprisingly, we are also looking forward to this crazy adventure of ours. It means starting a life of our own, making friends that the two of us make together instead of one joining previous friends of the other and finding new jobs that will allow us to eventually settle down with a family and house of our own.
We have 23 days till the big move and I have 14 till I'm done work. Bill is hoping for that or less of work himself.... and then we're off!
You'll definitely be hearing from us again as we'll try and keep you updated about our trip and life in Ontario. We hope to be hearing from you too!

Signing off.

N