Cross-Canada Road Trip: Week 1
The first week north of the border was entirely uneventful.
Stop. That’s not an intriguing opening line. Where’s the hook?
How about this:
The border was desolate under a pale, dull sky. A solitary agent beckoned me to the booth for my interview. Without fanfare. Such a contrast to the anticipation that was speeding the beat of my heart.
Better?
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) encourages all travelers to use the ArriveCAN app. This was developed and mandatory about six months into the pandemic. There’s online access as well, but I simply downloaded the app, answered a few questions, and uploaded photos of my passport and COVID-19 vaccination status. Easy peasy.
Except for the apprehension of providing the required answer to where I’d be staying the first two weeks in Canada. I didn’t know. I knew I’d be car-camping but I had no address for that. So, I entered the address of a hotel that I’d stay at if I needed to quarantine.
After agonizing over that one question in the app, because I’m not a criminal, getting through customs was a breeze. The border agent did blink and pause for a moment as he processed my answer to his, “Where are you going?” I explained I was on vacation and planned to drive across the country, estimating I’d be in Canada about two months. That’s what prompted the blink and the pause which he followed up with, “But where are you going?” I’m not quick-witted, but I intuited he would not appreciate a rambling narrative. So, I simply listed all the provinces I’d drive through, in order, from east to west and that seemed to do the trick.
Salut Canada!
My first trans-Canada experience was in 2019, my first year of van life. I should have documented it, but I didn’t. I was too busy getting used to living in my car and doing it outside of the U.S. That was a lot to take in and navigate. This time I planned to visit Newfoundland. Because I like to be on high alert. Not really, it’s uncomfortable, but it is indeed how I operate with every encounter of a new unknown.
The first week really was nothing to speak of. Primarily because I have a full-time remote job and had a good deal of work to get ahead of before sailing to Newfoundland. For which I’d taken paid time off. I didn’t want to work on vacation. And I was concerned with getting to the town where I’d catch the ferry. When the weather allowed, I did get out and about after work. But “camping” was overnight at Walmarts, almost indistinguishable from the Walmarts in the United States. Not exciting at all. Unless the hunt for a Tim Hortons with both outlets in the dining room and WiFi that actually connects to the internet counts as adventure. Other than that, my days were so long with working and driving, that each night found me exhausted and wanting only a safe place to sleep.
However, I did make note of all the towns that piqued my interest along the way, and will try to get to a few of them as I make my way west.
Next post, Newfoundland!
Au revoir!
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to get future posts delivered directly to your inbox!
