Count Down

T Minus seven days and counting. 

We are blasting off at an alarmingly early time on Tuesday July 4. 

"We" includes Hailey Star Graham, an eight-year-old-thinking-she's-still-a-pup yellow lab and me, a fifty-something woman who is heading for Vancouver Island to relocate to Courtenay-Comox.

Leaping Hailey

The general plan is to camp in various provincial and national parks across Canada, with occasional accommodations under actual roofs to visit friends and family.  

The mighty Subaru is almost packed and a few goodbyes remain. For months there have been lists upon lists to manage the items going west with movers, the items earmarked for auction and the camping and travel gear to keep me dressed, housed and fed until August 15. Sample items from final said list:

• Dog food, treats and toys packed? Check
• Enough food to ensure I don't have to leave Hailey in a hot car to restock? Check
• Ridiculously comfortable camp mattress, fave pillow, linen and duvet? Check
• Canine bed? Check 
• (Who am I kidding here? Of course I will share above-mentioned mattress etc. with Hailey, if she deigns to leave room for me)



Hailey on one of her many beds

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• Fancy new camp stove? Check
• Large swathe of life savings 'invested' in Mountain Equipment Coop? Check
• Park reservations made along the route? Check.
• Last available tent site in Lake Louse Campground? Check.
• Thank you cards and stamps for the many many many heartfelt thank you notes I owe to friends and family? Check.
• Are you wishing I would stop already with the "check" motif? Check.

First stop? Pancake Bay Provincial Park, just north of the Soo. Big first day, necessitating treats and tunes a'plenty.

Stay tuned.