On our second last day of our adventure we were on the road to Sussex.  After a slight detour (missed our exit and didn't realize it until 15 min later) - we arrived in Sussex and spent the next 6.5 hours with the agency.  It was a long but pretty successful day.  Since Sussex is only an hour from the Bay of Fundy (and I've never been there) Marnie took the wheel and off to Fundy we went. 

We saw some large Moose warning signs on the road - but no actual Moose.  We also saw examples of clear cutting.  However - I've never seen so many trees in my life.  New Brunswick (or the section we were in) seems to be one large forest. 

Apparently the drive down to Fundy is beautiful and scenic - what I can tell you for sure is that there are 112 stripes in the floor mat of the Ford Escape we were driving.  Marnie was incredibly patient with me as I gripped my seat and stared at the floor and asked to be notified when we reached the bottom. 

Once it was safe to look up - I was so glad we went!  It is absolutely stunning.  

Tomorrow we head West to Woodstock - the final stop in our tour. 

Yesterday we travelled to Fredericton, New Brunswick.  This was our first official 'travel day' - a nice change from the pace of our previous trip to Alberta!  This time we flew Air Canada as West Jet does not fly into Fredericton.  We didn't realize that flying directly to Fredericton meant we would be flying on a PROPELLER PLANE!!!!!!  AND - Marnie does not like to fly.  Although the flight was only 2 hours long - it was LOUD and kind of scary.  Apparently these planes can turn on a dime and it felt like the pilot was performing some stunt flying as we were coming in to land.

Happy to put our feet on the ground - we stepped off the plane into the tiny Fredericton airport.  Our hotel is right downtown beside the historic district right beside the river.  It is so quiet for a downtown area and I love it here - already.  There are biking/running paths along the river and it seems as if everyone is outside walking, running, biking. 

After a dinner of chicken parmesan (my kids think its sad I didn't get seafood) - we were done for the night.  After working together for so long - Marnie and I have discovered that we travel well together - we are finishing each others sentences on our site visits and ordering the same food in restaurants.  We opt for early nights and earlier work outs in the the morning. 

Today we head 118 km East to Sussex.  The majority of our drive looks as though we follow the river so I'm really looking forward to it. 

Downtown Fredericton has the dreaded one way streets - BUT there is much much less traffic here than Edmonton - so even if we do turn the wrong way on a one way... we should live to tell the tale!

Today is our final visit in Ontario.  The driving this week has been through beautiful countryside with no traffic.  Rural Ontario is pretty amazing and with our recent focus on Farm - we are paying closer attention to the farms we see on route to the agencies.  Wingham, Orangeville and Owen Sound are completed and today we are off to Walkerton. 

We have to find a way to incorporate the agency staff and their expertise into development for future phases... the information they share is invaluable. 

Week 2

Friday was a snowy, cold day in Edmonton. 

After our final visit in Alberta, we headed to the Edmonton Airport to do some people watching before the flight home to Ontario and warmer weather.  As we arrived at the airport, we realized that this week is March break in Alberta.  The airport was packed with families heading off on vacation.  LOUD, NOISY, families.  As we settled in at the gate to wait for our flight - we realized we were sitting right beside an Airmiles booth with a young, nervous woman trying vainly to interest travellers into upgrading to a BMO Airmiles Mastercard.  After a short time of listening to her supervisor give her advice on selling techniques - we had to move.  After locating some comfortable lounge chairs - we soon realized the child behind us could rattle a Tim Horton's bag continuously for minutes on end.  Fingers crossed we planned our flight home - no matter what the cost we were buying headsets, turning up the volume as loud as possible and watching TV on the flight home in an effort to drown out the happy vacationing family sounds.  Tired and cranky after a long week?  Maybe? 

As we boarded the plane - we found out the satellite system was down!  Enough said. 

Arriving in Toronto we both were looking forward to our QUIET commutes home in the wee hours of the morning.

Today we travelled to Wingham.  A short commute for Marnie and a great drive for me - travelling through some beautiful rural roads with the sun shining. 

Another successful visit under our belts and we look forward to our travels for the remainder of the week - Orangeville, Owen Sound and Walkerton. 

Yesterday was Stony Plain - a shorter drive - well..... it should have been except there was some confusion between myself, google maps and Marnie's Iphone and we ended up taking a lovely tour of many of the exit ramps and on ramps near Anthony Henday Dr. 

On our return trip we had company - SNOW - and lots of it. 

Today is a trip to Sherwood Park and then off to the airport this afternoon for our flight back to Toronto.  Hope it is still warm and sunny there!!!

Off to the gym for our morning meeting ! 

Another busy day on the road is coming to a close. 

There is never a dull moment - for example this morning I turned out of the hotel parking lot today to head south on Gateway Blvd - HOWEVER I turned South onto the NORTHbound lanes (4 of them)! 

I was able to reverse at top speed back into the hotel parking lot as the 4 lanes of vehicles approaching were probably wondering what the crazy ladies in the rental car were trying to do.  My co-pilot didn't even bat an eyelash (we have obviously been working together for a long time)

The Lacombe office welcomed us with open arms and we even received HUGS when we left! Now that is the best type of thank you.  The weather may be cold here, but our hearts are warm!

Total kilometres driven in our first three days:  800
(Its a good thing Marnie and I are used to commuting and that neither one of us is opposed to flying down the highway at 140km/hr - its a really flat highway so it doesn't feel that fast).

Tomorrow we are heading West to Stony Plain.     

Tuesday we travelled to Okotoks - a short drive south of Calgary (no traffic!).  Our visit in Okotoks was shorter than expected (and we again met some great individuals! Everyone at head office should spend some time in an agency!) so we stopped in at our Calgary office to meet the folks there that we only ever get to hear over the phone.  It was great to put some faces to names and meet the Calgary team. 

After another busy day of meeting new people - Marnie and I crashed at the airport early to get some down time before our flight to Edmonton.  I'm sure we looked like a couple of zombies in the airport staring vacantly at our laptops in an effort to keep on top of email. 

Our flight to Edmonton was short and rather 'bumpy' but we arrived safely and have still managed to avoid snow (although it is quite chilly here).   

This morning we had our morning 'meeting' in the gym on the treadmills and are getting ready to head South to Lacombe! 

I must be tired - Pincher Creek is in the SouthWEST of Alberta (oops!)  Sorry.

Yesterday was a long but successful day!  Marnie and I both survived the flight (however - I never EVER EVER want to sit in front of a travelling salesman AGAIN) and the weather for our drive from Calgary to Pincher Creek was cool but clear.  

We passed through some interesting towns - High River (and yes - it does flood there), Nanton (home of the Nanton Candy Factory with over 1000 varieties of candy - and no we didn't stop), Stavely and Claresholm.

We also saw a little bit of wildlife on the drive as a coyote crossed the highway in front of us and we saw some deer as well.

Pincher Creek is in the Southeast of Alberta nearing the mountains and not to far from Crow's Nest Pass.  It gets very windy in this part of the province we are told and this is reinforced by the multiple "severe wind gust" signs we see along the highway. 

We met some great people at the agency in Pincher Creek and in addition to the objective of our visit we also learned a bit about the farming that is prevalent in this part of Alberta (We also found out that not all horses get to end their days peacefully grazing in a field - its a toss up between the factory or a trip to Japan).

We were offered tickets to the Curling in Lethbridge but unfortunately due to our tight schedule - we had to decline. 

As we begin a new day - I'm heading to the gym to work off the chocolate almonds I consumed last night in my weak and tired state of mind. 

Day 1 has officially begun!  Sitting at Pearson airport checking our emails - waiting for our flight to Calgary.  Its about 20 degrees here and apparently we are heading into snowy weather!  Good thing we booked a 4wd rental....

On your mark; get set....

The flights are booked.  The hotel reservations are made.  The rental cars are reserved.  The agencies are ready for us.... The question is are we ready for our adventure?

Travelling in Canada in March is never ideal and our fingers are crossed for fair weather, calm skies and open roads. 

The adventure starts on Sunday... stay tuned!