Day 1
Mood:  spacey
Wed Sept 7th 2005

After a long summer of waiting to be able to get out of Dodge I was finally on the road. I was told by numerous individuals that I should not attempt the trip due to gasoline prices hitting record highs because of Hurricane Katrina and the damage it caused. I didn't care come hell or high water nothing was going to keep me from taking my much needed vacation this year.

I left knowing gas was running 5.55 a gal in canada and 2.99 a gal in Sault Ste Marie but I figured I would simply cut corners in other areas in order to make my trip happen.

I got up early and it took a while to load the last minute things into the van. I had to load the coolers with ice and food and make sure to grab my cds and camera equip. I left the condo around 8am and headed north. I had to drop the critters off at Stacy's in Mt. Morris on the way up and left their place around 9:30am. Due to the construction mess on most of the trip up it took me until 12:30p to get to Gaylord Mi. I stopped at K-mart to pick up shampoo and cond and batteries for the camera, while there I also found a pink comforter on sale for $30.00. After K-mart I stopped again to get gas I believe I had only stopped for about 30 min total.

I got back on the road and headed up to the SOO. Once again I ran into construction that forced me to go 45 miles and hour it felt like I would never get to canada. I reached the Soo at 3:30 and got gas. I also stopped at the visitors center to use the facilities and to ask about any known hangups at the border. I was allowed to make a call and ask about taking gasoling across the border and was told it wasnt a problem as long as it was under 20 gal. I stopped at the Duty Free store to exchange cash and was horrified to discover the exchange rate was only 1.17 down from 1.30 last year. Evidentally Hurricane Katrina really messed up the economy and our money isnt worth as much as it previously was.

Upon reaching the border at 4:30pm I was asked where I was going and what I had with me and was waived on through and told to have a fun trip.

I stopped at the indian crafts and campers store to get a calling card, fill ins, and an ice cream for the road. I also used the bathroom and changing room while there to get into some warmer clothes. It was around 6pm and I still had a ways to go to reach my destination

I reached Wawa around 8pm and was absolutely exhausted and looking to rest. I stopped at the white Fang motel and the owner offered me a room for $58 (thinking he was giving me a deal) I declined the offer and instead stayed to visit with him and another gentleman a while to help me wake up a bit and then returned to the road to drive the rest of the way to Chapleau. I was told I was crazy to be driving at night that area and distance due to the Moose being on the road and the fact I was tired was not good also. But I had somewhere to be so I pressed on. Around 10pm I was exhausted again and saw something out of the corner of my eye in the sky. A green streak of sorts. I backed up and pulled into a turn around area and looked up and was amazed it was the Northern Lights they were a bright florecent green that appeared to be seeping out of the earth and reaching towards the sky. I turned off the van and sat and watched for a few minutes but then I thought I could see them better from a different angle so I drove a little further and found another place to pull off the road and watch. I watched them for a half hour to 45 min or so until they disappeared. Then I made sure my doors were locked and I went to sleep.