Part 5 and the last leg of the journey accross this big country
We woke up in Sue. Saint Marie to the happy thoughts that all we had to do is drive into Toronto
I started the drive as I usually do, since Nick is better at navigating into a city than I am. I think I am better at getting out. That could be debated now since we live in the city and I never drive.
By this time, the driving had completely lost its charm. Every kilometer seemed like it would just go on forever and ever. I had already been on the phone to my parents telling them what time we would arrive in the city. I was cranky and wished that the whole thing would just end. I didn't even take any pictures on this leg, because we really didn't stop anywhere good and ran out of time trying to get home.
It was halfway through the day and we were planning on getting lunch in Parry Sound. At this point we had switched somewhere before Sudbury. I had about 50 dollars in cash in my wallet. I just planned on using my card to pay for lunch.
We had decided to stop for gas in a small town since the prices were much cheaper it seemed than they would be closer to the city. We had half a tank, so we had to fill up. This was the day that all the Rogers towers went down and all over the province the machines had gone down for debit and credit. We had to pay for the gas in cash, not knowing that it would be our only way that we could pay anywhere else after this.
After an hour wait and many different fights in the car, we finally left the gas station and could get a quick lunch. We had no idea that our debit and credit cards wouldn't work anywhere and we would not be able to get anything to eat. After finding out that the last bit of cash that I had, could have paid for lunch instead of gas at a remote station that we waited an hour for, I had a meltdown in the parking lot of a Subway in Parry Sound.
I was supposed to take over the wheel, but I was too angry, tired and hungry. I couldn't think about focusing on driving through traffic and into Toronto the way I was feeling. It was my turn to give up and play the I'm not feeling well card. So I sat and I fumed in the passenger's seat while Nick drove home franticly.
There was a lot of tension in the car for many hours. Once both of us cooled off, we decided that we shouldn't go home angry. There was nothing we could do about anything that happened that day. It was over. Sometimes it's better to move on than hold a grudge and steam inside.
After driving for 5 or 6 days straight, all you can do is think about getting home. There was so much we had to do when we came back and the thoughts just kept piling up. After finally getting home and unpacking the vehicle we were living in for the past week, we were finally back in Toronto.
As I said when we started this whole thing, people say it is an adventure and our journey sure was that. I believe it would have been more fun if we had more time and were not on the clock, going from one job to another. It's very hard to soak in a city or travel to a new place and take it in when all you do is keep looking at the time.
My suggestion is, if you ever want or have to drive accross the country...take your time and don't rush it. Canada is a beautiful place and you should leave the proper time to take it all in. There are some places I would go back to and some places I would skip for the next time, but I am so grateful we had this experience. You really get to know more about a person when you are a foot away from them for hours in a day.
So that wraps up Katrina's journey accross the country. If you ever need recommendations on what to see and where to stop, just let me know. Hope you all enjoyed these stories. Overall it was a great experience. Would I do it again? Like I said, maybe if I had some extra time.
Well get out and see our country! It really is a beautiful place.
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