People who have done this journey smile knowingly to themselves about several aspects guaranteed to be a 'thing'. The primary one, is the 'Prairies'; specifically their seeming neverendingness and hence the effect of utter mindnumingness. Talking stories? Oh, you'll be glad of them when you hit the Praries, etc. etc. But, after 8 hours straight of driving through the expanse of flatness that is Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the stunning array of every kind of sky ...

So Rosa has this beau (super handsome) and his mum right, she's from the 'Peg and she says we've gotta go there as it is an oft-ignored gem so I was like well, seeing as our kids dig each other, I'll take your recommendation. Well let me tell you ladies and gents, this is more than a gem. It is way my favourite city so far in Canada. Super friendly people, dizzyingly good food, cool architecture, parks, fountains, market, artsy feel, accessible, great vibe. I...

Soooo tip for saving money, is actually I endeavour to drive slowly. Which is handy, because in Ontario the highways are 90km. Even the dual lane ones when you are the only car. So, not only do you save lots on gas, but also on speeding fines, if you drive to the limit. So anyway, when I got stopped at 8am, the nice police officer in the unmarked car asked me what was out west. 'Mountains' was on the tip of my tongue, but family is the true answer I am guess...

The kids didn't recognize me this morning. They were like 'where's mum?' Because basically I look like one gigantic bug bite. Even the bugs we're not bothering this morning. They are either not recognizing me as human, or else they feel sorry for me. Last stretch today in Ontario. Tonight we sleep in Winnipeg...

Well, it's been days/hours and we are still in Ontario! Long day in the car today and we finally made it to a place to make a fire, roast marshmallows and sleep! The kids are being phenomenal; they are patient, interested, helpful and awesome. Thank. God. Oh...and I cooked an awesome chicken curry with instant mash over Paul's ancient rusty camping stove he got in Korea many moons ago! It works a little less everyday though...