The Short Travel Journal of CrackedInkWell · 4:49am Aug 9th, 2018
Since I'm expecting to return home tomorrow afternoon, I thought it may interest a few of you that might wonder how my trip went.
Day 1
Aug/2/2018
Originally, this vacation was supposed to start the day before. While we had our bags packed and snacks ready to go, we spent the day waiting for had to see if he could go with us or not. Since this trip wasn’t planned, we weren’t exactly upset when he finally came home by nine. By the next day, we found out officially that he can’t go because, as his he puts it, “Nobody cares. I’ve got a bunch of these people after me. I know that they see this as important, they think that they’ve bought my life. Go ahead guys, be safe.”
So with one less (and disappointing) occupant on this trip, we were off. Apart from me, my little brother, sister, mother and grandmother are going on this vacation. We travel from home in a van full of our clothes, personal stuff, electronics, and enough snacks to choke a horse. Of course, there’s very little room to move around as our electronics and snacks take up most of the room. Still, at least I was able to do my goal of writing a thousand words a day, even with the noise of music of the eighties from Mom’s Ipad that’s connected to the van speakers, the constant noise of the road and the time to time, everyone else asking for fetching for things or having the occasional conversation.
We traveled first northward into Montana before going westward into Northern Idaho. Once we’ve reached into the mountains, the landscape from there became consistent as the roads became high mountains with never-ending forests of pines. Only the small towns tend to break up the monotony.
The town we stayed in was called Wallace, Idaho. Although small, the town does have a sort of charm with its old 19th century western buildings that my mom and grandma remind them as the setting of Dante’s Peak. Part of me wonders if that were true, why else would a town put up a sign that says: “Center of the Universe” after being filmed a disaster movie like that? Still, it’s a nice-looking town that I wish I had taken more pictures of. I would think it would help me gain inspiration for future paintings as it’s a memorable looking place.
We ended up eating dinner at a place called “The Smoke House.” And since we’re traveling on a budget, we ended up ordering a rack of ribs with siders – macaroni and cheese, cold slaw, and jubbah. It was decent but didn’t exactly leave an impression as all it did was fill us up. The BBQ wasn’t our only choice for food in that town, of course, but given how booked the “good” restaurant was, and a pizzeria was closed down, we didn’t have much of a choice. In fact, that might be the downside of visiting a small town is that it may not have everything you wanted in one location. In fact, we had to go to the next town for ice cream.
Too bad I could say less of where we stayed at. Stardust Inn, a motel in which Mom was able to get two rooms on the second floor as it was the only thing available. At least the beds were comfortable. It should be noted that the places we ended up staying is simply because of last minute planning and seeing if there was a place cheap enough to house the five of us.
Day 2
Aug/3/2018
After spending most of the morning and the afternoon, we’ve made it into Canada. Since the border crossing was smaller and it was smacked dabbed in the middle of the forest, we’ve managed to get into the country surprisingly quickly. Of course, we immediately noticed that being Canada, the speed limit signs go from mph to kph. Yet, as much as we try to get it as close to the speed – we can’t help but notice that most of the Canadian drivers tend to go a little bit faster than what it says.
Still, even though it’s still mountains, valleys and pines, there’s something about this country in which nearly every turn looks like something out of a forgotten painting. It’s a good thing that I’ve managed to snap a few pictures here and there. But I wish that I took more pictures of a town called Kimberly – a place in which part of the town is in a Bavarian style. However, we only walked around the market place.
We also found out (much to our annoyance) that the house card, along with a few others, have been declined. While we understand that it’s standard procedure when it comes to the whole fraud thing, each of us already told our bank that we were going here to begin with. Luckily, Mom has a card in which that isn’t blocked so she’s able to use it here. But at the same time that means we’d have to wait until Monday to get it clear to the bank that we’re in Canada. Plus, I've figured that if this were the case, than there would be a really good chance that my temporary card would be declined also, so at this point, it's pretty much useless until I can get back home.
For dinner we ate at a pizza place in that Market Place. It was one of those prestigious, new age sort of places that consider being in a barn as part of find dinning. The very lampshades were made out of buckets and tractor seats by the bar. The pizza there wasn’t that memorable either. In fact, Mom had commented that Pizza Hut or even Costco Pizza would be a better alternative.
As to the place we slept in, it was a travel loge in which we were able to get two rooms. As mom paid for the rooms, we found out that the main card that we’re supposed to use was declined. Fortunately, she was able to pay it with her card as it was the only thing that worked. She said that she’ll have to wait until Monday to call the bank when they’re open. Still, the rooms we got was modest enough, and I was able to sleep by my own as the bedroom and living room was separated by a wall.
Day 3
Aug/4/2018
Since gas was way too expensive in Canada, Mom and Grandma thought it would be best instead of going towards Glacier National Park, it would be cheaper to go towards Vancouver by going through Washington. We traveled all day going through the windy back roads with little service on our phones.
For dinner we ate pizza at Cusco, and Mom was right! The pizza there was actually better compared to the other day. Not to mentioned that it might have been the cheapest as they’ve spent about $30.
Later this evening we drove across the border with more of a wait time. Since there were more people, there were plenty of cars that waited their turn to go into Canada. As we did so, we couldn’t help but notice that most of the license plates were Canadian. But once we were over, we drove into an area of both forests with houses and skyscrapers.
We drove not directly into Vancouver, but in an area near it that seems to be populated by Korean people. I know this because I could recognize the lettering on the signs as we passed by before we got to our motel. The place we were supposed to sleep in was recommended by a close friend of Mom’s, saying that it was decent and cheap for a two night’s stay. But for my first impression of the place, it was… underwhelming.
Looking past the fact that there was a misunderstanding of how many people to be housed in a room, the experience of said room was kinda disappointing. As there was five of us, the room had enough room for two queen size beds and no cot. In fact, my sister had to sleep on the floor near the bathroom. Not only that, but I’ve noticed the smoke alarm was duck tapped to the ceiling, I found a spider in the bathroom, the trashcan is tinny and the sheets on the bed came undone as soon as you lay down in them. Hopefully tomorrow might be a little better.
Day 4
Aug/5/2018
Today has reaped with mixed results. Since we never been to Vancouver before, Mom thought that it might be best to take one of those bus tours to take a look of what the city has. I must say that the city itself is incredible – a collogue of old and modern structures, where past meets present, that is housed to countless people of probably every type of humanity that one could imagine. If anything, it’s a beautiful looking city that this time I was able to snap dozens of pictures of interests. In fact, I'm planing on using these pictures as a reference point for the Inverno sequel as I've noticed there's not a lot of fan art about Vanhoofer, so at least it would give me some idea how to describe it when I write about Buch.
Lunch was incredible. In the Gas District, we ate at a place called The Old Spaghetti Factory. The pasta was excellent as we ate in a place that, the only way I could describe it as being at an eccentric grandparents home that they’ve collected random but incredible things from stain glass windows to a trolley in the very center of the restaurant.
Once we returned to the motel by around three, they did the laundry so at least we would have clean clothes with us before tomorrow. We pondered over dinner, even Mom took up the suggestion of her friend of going to a Chinese restaurant by getting a reservation. However, since we think it might be too much and we wanted to eat somewhere closer to the Motel, we’ve decided to look up someplace else to eat. At first, we were okay of going to Red Robin’s as it’s familiar and we’d know what to expect.
It was too bad that we didn’t. We found out later that they were understaffed, something that we wished they told us beforehand. For after a fifteen-minute wait, we were seated by these windows and mirrors that were giving off the greenhouse effect, even with the blinds down. Our waiter, after taking our order, the guy didn’t return for a good forty or so minutes with our food. In fact, the guy was so busy that after we got our drinks, he didn’t come back to ask for a refill. And when the food did arrive, ours was a little sieged, but grandma’s was burnt to the point she couldn’t bite into it. Of course, before we left, they did remake her order, so it was at least okay. And the bathroom was embarrassing. Paper towels everywhere on the floor, and the large garbage can was overflowing of the stuff. It occurred to me that the bathroom must have been neglected for at least a few days or so. Needless to say, we left the restaurant unsatisfied, even Grandma instructed my brother that, when it comes to paying them, to not leave a tip.
Tomorrow we’re planning to visit an island before going back into the United States. And like the city, none of us really know what to expect.
Day 5
Aug/6/2018
For our last day in Canada, we decided to pack up our things, leave them in the van so we can hop on a fairy over to a placed called Victoria Island, towards the town of Victoria. I wish I could fill these paragraphs of the amazing architecture, the people and such, where we went from one store to another and got a few souvenirs like yesterday. I would like to, except for the fact that all we did today is spent about an hour and fifteen minutes getting to said island by boat. Than pay for all day passes for a public bus that stops at nearly stop to pick other people up that took about an hour. We didn’t have time to do anything else except take pictures of the famous government building and eat lunch before calling for a taxi to get us back to the fairy in which we have to wait for about another hour just to get on to get back to the van.
Why does this annoy us a bit? Well, my mom’s friend had invited to have dinner with her and her husband, but by the time we got back in the van and across the border, we might not even have much time for said dinner at all. Fortunately, however, we did manage to eat out at a favorite Chinese restaurant of theirs of spicy Schwann chicken (the first I’ve ever tasted) and hand graded noodles. Arguably, it might have been one of the best meals we’ve had on this trip.
Tonight, we’re staying at a Motel 6 in which they’ve asked us for our driver’s license because of a security precaution in case any of us might have lost our keys. At least we’re getting two rooms this time around. Rooms in which look like something out of a “House of Tomorrow” that was made in the 60’s that at least it’s somewhat tasteful. The main colors are orange, white and dark wood where most of the furniture has a rounded edge. Still, at least this time everyone has their own bed to sleep in and the beds seem comfortable enough for the night.
I heard from my mom’s friend that she and her husband gave mom a short cut to Boise in which might cut our travel time a little. Said something about traveling through Washington’s version of wine tasting country. But one thing is for certain, that from here on out, we’re on our way home. It all just depends on what we’re planning on doing on the way (or lack thereof).
Day 6
Aug/7/2018
There’s no doubt about it now – we are going home. As I’m writing this, we are in Western Idaho, in a town that’s not too far from Boise, and still several hours until we get home on the other side of the state.
I should say that all of us are just missing home already. We didn’t bother checking out the fancy breakfast place that Mom’s friend had advised and went straight towards a McDonalds. And after that, we drove past Seattle, just say to ourselves that we’ve saw it and drove on. It’s not that we don’t want to stop, but rather that since it’s a place we’ve hardly been to, we don’t have much of a clue what to do while there. We didn’t see the reason to stay so we took the rote homeward.
By the time we got out of the forest area, the landscape has been mostly rolling mountains and yellow dry grass. It’s not much to look at, but we didn’t care as we drove east through Washington into Oregon. We only stopped to get gas and lunch at a Costco and water at a Walmart. Yet, on the way back, I did overhear mom talking to grandma about the possibility of going on a cruise. As much as they talked about the benefits of going on one, I can’t help but let my cynical mind think otherwise, that there might be something in the future that would throw a monkey wrench into our plans.
As of right now, we’re in a proper hotel for the first time during this trip, at a Sandman Inn. It’s a small but comfortable place where Mom got two rooms. It should be noted that this is the first time that I’ve managed to access wifi as I’m finally able to check up on a few things. Still, at least I’ve messaged my volunteered editor that the next chapter needs to be looked at and I’m nearly done with the third.
I can’t wait to get home to my bed. Back to my room that hopefully has my new card that the bank said would send. Once it does, I have a debt that needs to be paid, but otherwise, life should return back to as it should be.
