The Digital Bedouin - The World in a Digital Age!

The drive begins. My last day in Minnesota for the foreseeable future was spent sweating, packing, a bit of swearing and the emptying of a few years of “stuff” from my house. It took quite a few hours more then I thought it would, but in the end we got it all cleaned out. Kudos to my parents for helping out!

I got on the road at about 13:00 or so and with a full tank of gas, a last wave to the parents and the apprehension that my Tundra’s suspension wouldn’t be able to handle the trip I headed north on I-94. I noticed right away that hauling a fully loaded trailer was going to absolutely murder my gas mileage. I didn’t exactly take scientific notes on this, but I think I was lucky to push 10miles per gallon on the flats. $$$$

I stopped for a quick late lunch with C on my way up and after some tearful hugs and good-byes I was back on the road loaded up with some extra goodies. Thanks C!

The hours rolled by and I ended up making a detour into Grafton, ND after almost running out of gas. Did I mention my gas mileage sucks? Note to self, start looking for gas stops at half-empty!

I made it through the Canadian customs at about 23:30 and it was a piece of cake. They didn’t even ask for the pet paperwork I had gotten all ready for them Oh well, better to be prepared I guess.

I pulled into the Best Western in Winnipeg at about 01:00.

Some words of advice: Never stay here! They had some ricer dick wads road racing in their Civics around the local highway loop, they didn’t have parking for my trailer so I had to park 4 blocks away and to top it all off they stuck me in a smoking room. Now, when I make a reservation a week in advance and pay with a CC I damn well better get the room I asked for even if I’m the last one to check in. You’re going to bill me anyway. So yeah, never stay at the Best Western on the west end of town. Sucks with a capital S!!!!

After a shower and a shitty nap I pulled out of the Best Western in Winnipeg, stinking like day old cigarettes, at about 03:30, tanked up on some Mountain Dew and unleaded and kept driving. The bugs were so think it was almost like it was raining. Thank god I wasn’t on a motorcycle! I headed West on the Canadian Highway 1 (the Trans Continental Highway). I took a right on Highway 16 and headed towards Saskatoon. I pulled in behind some truckers and tailed them all the way to Minnedosa. I pulled into the truck stop / rest stop, fed the dog and went to sleep in the truck. Uncomfortable, but I slept better then the Shit Western Winnipeg West.

Total Mileage for Day 1 and 1.5: 600 miles