Lucy! I'm HOME!

I love vacation.

I love coming home even more.

Nothing compares to your own bed.
Your own shower.
Your own everything.

Nevermind the fact that Tigger and Butters are giving me the cold shoulder. Yesterday I got off the ferry in the afternoon and couldn't wait to come home. I picked up Butters the minute I walked in the front door to hug and sqeeze and give all sorts of love. She put her paws on my shoulders and actually pushed away. Little stinker. And Tigger, he couldn't even be bothered to get his butt off the couch to come to the top of the stairs to see me. Whatever. We'll see how they are when I find the bag with all their toys I picked up down south. Then we'll see who's giving me the silent treatment.

First, let's get important information out of the way:

September 23rd was the end of the 2009 tourist season! The last ship pulled out to a full moon. Meaning, hundreds of summer locals were out on the docks giving their best regards...from behind. It's an unofficial tradition. We moon the final farewell of the last ship of the season. They float out to the middle of the harbor and blow their horns long enough to get all the dogs in town wound up and then drift off into the night, nothing but a puddle of lights reflecting on the ocean as they round the bend. It's so sad...

But we get over it quickly.

And then we go on vacation!

My friend Lorilee and I left early morning on September 24th. We're not ones to waste time. The fall colors were showing along the Klondike Highway. It was gorgeous.

And then this happened.

A few days before we were to leave, Keith took the car to Whitehorse to get the brakes checked and the oil changed. Apparently, someone didn't put the plug in the bottom of the oil pan properly and we lost it. All I can say is how thankful I am that this happened less than a hundred miles from home, and not when were out in the middle of Canada. We got it fixed quickly and were back on the road in a jiffy. The first few days across Canada were just gorgeous. It was the perfect time of year to hit the Alaskan Highway. Bright yellows everywhere you looked. And if you peeked into them even further, there were buffalo, elk, caribou and one lone moose. There were also three separate cars upside down on the side of the road that humbled us enough to take it down to 80.

 
 

All I have to say is buffalo are HUGE. And they don't budge at all. Not even when two girls are hanging out of the sunroof clicking cameras at them.

This is pretty much what the next two days looked like. Yellow. Buffalo. More yellow. More buffalo.

We thought Canada had some pretty funny signs. We tried getting some pictures of them all, but most were just took out the window as we flew, I mean drove safely by at a legal speed. Here's some of our favorites.

 

 

 

 

I'm not trying to be offensive with these...after all, they're clearly visible from the side of the road. Really though, what do lubricants and showers have to do with one another? And what in the world is a tidy tank? I hope I have one, cause I filled up there. Even though I'm not a big truck. But there was a big truck currently occupying the "small car and dirty tanks" pump.

Stay tuned...more to come! Eventually, we get to Utah and that's where all the great quilt shops were! Don't believe me? I have pictures to prove it.

* I just previewed my post and noticed that the writing in the sign pictures is too small to read. If you click on the picture, it will bring up the original full size so you can read it and giggle like we did.

 
 
 

 

Comments

[Thelma]

Yeah!! I'm so glad you're back! Enjoyed starting the day with a good chuckle.

I'm guessing someone from Canada reads your blog and can tell us what a "tidy tank" is!!

[Julia]

What a fun trip! The fall colors are gorgeous! Can't wait to see what goodies you bought! Glad to know that you have arrived back home all safe and sound. :~)

[Nicole]

So glad you are back! That scenery on your trip was incredible. I need a vacation. I know what you mean about buffalo. My dad and I took a road trip once and encountered them. They are gigantic!

[Robin Booth]

You've been missed. I'm anxious to see what you brought back with you from my illustrious state.

[Pat T.]

Just found your blog - enjoying reading your fun entries & seeing the photos. Our son lives in Wasilla (commutes to Anchorage) & we are hoping to get back up there in 2010. Having traveled both during the summer and fall seasons through Canada and Alaska, we think the golds of Fall are pretty hard to beat though summer has its own beauty. Either way - so much inspiration for quiltmaking. Thanks for sharing.

[Christine Thomas]

I haven't even read your post yet...I'm so glad to see you on again.

[Christine Thomas]

Your pictures are gorgeous. My daughter and her husband drove down from Haines to Seattle a few years ago in February. So, I'm going to send her this blog so she can see what it looks like in the fall. Can't hardly wait to read about the rest of your trip. I missed you.

[julie p]

OMG! When I first saw "and then this happened" and the picture below it, I thought.....they hit someone on a skooter ...
....and they are still laying there!
then I slowly figured out what was going on.
I love the tourist pictures!!

[Lisa]

Hi,
Just came across your blog and have been reading your old posts.
I am from BC Canada and am glad you enjoyed your trip. You comment about the funny signs you came across had you questioning what a tidy tank is. It is a brnad name of large portable gas tanks that allows you to pump fuel into other vechicles/generators, etc. They are red and take up a large portion of the back of a pickup truck. Hope that answers that question.
BTW, I LOVE your blog. Wish I had found it earlier to join the red and cream snowball quilt. Loved it!!!