K-Fry's Follies: Do You Know A Mountie? Because I Do!!!

Day 1 Prince Edward Island

“On the road again, insert another lyric, on the road again”… are you humming the song yet? I am, though I confess I really don’t know any of the words except “On the Road Again” in the Willie Nelson drawl, so I am happily singing that and muttering to the tune!

So after a fantastic summer in Boston, working hard, visiting great friends and eating a ton of ice cream – damn the goodness of New England cream - I packed up this morning and headed out. I had the best of intentions to be up early and to have packed two days ago… but who am I kidding. Anyone who has ever traveled with me (ask Genesta how relaxed she was as we left for the airport for our trip to England in ’98 – sorry G no cozy suits this time!) can tell you I am a bit of a last minute packer. I was up early but it took longer than I thought and though I intended to leave at 9:00 it didn’t happen till a bit later. I won’t use times in this blog entry, as I most definitely do not want to give my mother – who is reading this, Hi Mom! – a heart attack! Packing went well except, and Niamh this is for you, when I had to kill a inch and half long silver fish hiding under my suitcase right by my shoes. (Niamh you were right, parts of them can still move after they are killed!!!)

I wish I could say I got to enjoy a nice lobsta in Bar Harbor, Maine, or the 27-mile scenic drive in Acadia National Park, or the gorgeous Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick. Alas due to bumper to bumper traffic on 95 from the Tobin Drive in Massachusetts to just past Augusta, Maine my stopping points included the lovely and scenic Save Mart in Brewer Maine. I stopped for water and paper towels and to eat my packed lunch/dinner. While I was eating in the sun in my car with the door open a couple drove up and the woman got out and asked me for directions to the casino. Lets keep in mind that I was sitting in a car with California plates, in a parking lot right in front of the store with lots of people FROM MAINE in the lot…and she decided to ask me! I don’t know what she thought of my comment “Oh I’m not from around here. In fact I’m from Cal-i-for-nia (I said it a bit slow for emphasis)”. But she persisted so thank the Lord for Google maps.

I also got to visit the nice town of Calais, point of entry point into Canada border station, where I answered “Yes” to the question “ Are you carrying any firearms, mace or pepper spray with you?” People I am traveling solo and I am pretty honest person. We agreed to destroy my pepper spray and in exchange they would let me in to their country! ☺

There was also my choice of stores that were labeled “Drug something or other”. I’m not kidding there were three Wal-Mart size stores offering prescriptions. I had to run into one to get some cash for the bane of my existence – the toll road! This is when I began to realize that my American Debit Card was going to be a problem. No keep in mind that I love this card and it is well used and has traveled extensively throughout Western Europe and it has never had a problem. Well not in Canada. In Canada everyone gives you a blank stare and informs you in a very polite way that they are very sorry but that isn’t a debit card. I insisted “Oh yes it was!” And then THE question…whispered quietly…”Is it an…American card?” Apparently they are difficult to use here and I can only get cash from a bank. AND interestingly enough it isn’t the rules of the Canadian government but rather Uncle Sam that limits the use of debit cards in Canada. Anyway a very nice lady with extreme facial hair – no seriously – gave me the fifty cents I needed for the toll. (BTW I am beginning to wonder about the patient tone Canadians use when talking to Americans)

I also saw the very long or at least I am told is long (I think in miles for God's sake!) Prince Edward Island Bridge. This bridge is some engineering marvel that allows the serious ice flows of the north Atlantic through without damaging the pylons of the bridge. Why did I see this bridge in really good detail? I was going 60 miles an hour in a 50 mile an hour zone. You can see where this is going, can’t you? The very nice Canadian Mountie Lady scared the crap out of me when she leaned into my car to smell my breath. Apparently I latter found out they take drunk driving very seriously in Canada. She let me stew for a very long time before coming back and letting me off with a warning...BUT I guess she wanted to make a point and she followed me onto the Island and for the next 20 miles to make sure I stayed under the speed limit!!! I went ten miles UNDER the speed limit just in case!

That is what I saw on my 600-mile drive today, and while I needed to be at my hotel by 9:00 I did not make it. I called the innkeeper and this being Canada, said not to worry she would just hang the key from the office door! I am so not kidding!!! Yay for gun control! And when I arrived at a time that was WAY past 9:00... hanging on the door was my key! Such honesty!

OH! I also need to share that I had to turn on the HEAT yes the HEAT as the temp dropped to 51 degrees. A day ago I was sitting in massive humidity and heat! And yes I realize I am a Californian as I think 51 degrees is cold!

Tomorrow I will be fulfilling girlhood dreams by exploring the country of Anne of Green Gables...

Miles Traveled: 593 miles

Best Sign: Maine...Worth a Visit, Worth a Lifetime - I wouldn't know all I saw was tail lights!

Movies: Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Because that is what it felt like sitting in traffic)