Susan's Perspective

Well, we will NEVER say we got bored on this trip!  Our little incident, if you will, with Fred the Cat was in Minnesota, before we crossed into Canada.  Both cats are behaving well, considering. 
   The Canadian border was a really life changing experience for me.  First of all, it is lovely---lots of flags, and easy to navigate.  You first pull up to a booth in your vehicle, where they query you about what your plans are.  I was behind Vernon, so after he was done, I got questioned.  It was obvious  that they wanted to make sure our stories matched.  The guy was nice, but thorough.  After that, you pull into separate parking slots, and go in to get you passport stamped.  There on the wall was a large portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11.  A few more questions, and a  $25 fee to take Vernon's rifle and shotgun thru the country, and we were done.  No searches, altho they were going over a smaller car next to us very carefully, while the two young male occupants waited with wallets and stuff on a table by their car.  I got the impression that these two characters were going to be there awhile.  I would not want to get on the bad side of the Canadian border patrol. These guys are BIG!  (AND cute, I might add!)
      The other thing that was uppermost for me was I was leaving  the Lower 48 forever.  It hit me as we pulled away, and the US flags were in my mirror on the other side of the highway.  I felt very excited and sad all at once.  And then a feeling of new discovery came over me.
        Since entering Canada, we have met the nicest people.    The folks here are warm, caring, very polite, and seem content.  It is nice to see labels on packages in FRENCH and English....!  The people at Walmart actually LIKE their jobs.  And we have discovered Dollarama--makes Dollar Tree look like a storage closet!  The exchange rate here is even right now, which makes it easy.  AND their money is PRETTY!!!  Yes, I REALLY like Canada.
         So on we go tomorrow to our (drum roll please) HALFWAY POINT!  And we are having a good time.  God is truly taking care of us.  A note to those of you Down South....Get out and SEE YOUR COUNTRY!   Don't just talk about it.   DO it.