roadtrip | smitten

The drive from Okanagan back to Calgary isn’t the greatest. Not till you get back onto Hwy 1, anyway. It starts with a half hour around Lake Okanagan, which actually, is wonderful; then through Kelowna, then you follow a bunch of one way deserted country streets which are perfect for late night body dumps. But seriously, we drove past a lot of “we couldn’t possibly spontaneously stop here (not that we were looking for somewhere to stop) because we are soooooooo gonna get Criminal Minds-like murdered and dumped in that lake.”

Any feel-good shows I should be watching instead? Maybe I should make more time for Carebears and Sesame Street.

Anyhoo – more mountains, snow capped this time. More beauty. I’m so mad at the beauty of the rockies. So mad I don’t get to wake up to the sun peeking over snow capped peaks. Instead I get the low rumble of a construction site on the edge of a medium sized University town. C’est la vie.

Oh Calgary! Thank you for being so beautiful. Warm and sunny and having delicious ice cream. For making a steak dinner seem more normal than Thanksgiving turkey, especially when the moo comes with a side of Hunter Pence & The Giants. Thank you for a perfect brunch, a photo shoot, and a walk-of-blog-related shame. And a few hours of working at Analog. And then I cried at the airport.

To sum it all up; 13 year old who has just found MySpace style:

We’re near the river and far from rich
But we have got each other and gas in the tank
We’re laughing all the way to the river bank

– Riverbank, Brad Paisley

Maybe I cry every time I hear the chorus of that song. It’s just kind of perfect for our roadie, eh sis?

ps: planning a trip? travelling soon? have you tried the app HotelTonight? We used it; so easy with decent choices in major cities and good prices. Wanna try it out? Use my code ABRIDGMAN for $25 off your first stay. (not sponsored, just awesome)

pps: planning that trip out West? reach out to @helloBC and/or @TravelAlberta on twitter (OMG and follow their insta – BC/AB – such beautiful photos); their tweeps are super awesome and super helpful if you’re looking for any recommendations

miss any of the recaps? roadtrippin’ with Ford – Vancouver – Victoria – Okanagan

Last week I got back from my 5th trip to the West Coast (4 Canada, 1 US/Canada) in the last 3 years. And let me tell you, the West redeemed herself (I’m looking at you 2012…rain in Vancouver, snow in Calgary).

Over Christmas holidays last year, not quite ready to go back into the condo after seeing American Hustle (I’m sure we were the only 2 people that thought it sucked) sister and I leaned on the 3rd floor railing over looking the dark ocean talking about when she decided to move home we would first fly down to San Francisco, drive north up the coast then back to Calgary then pack up and come back to Ontario. Which morphed into let’s not wait and just go to San Fran and drive the coast this summer/fall. Which turned into let’s reach out to Ford Canada again and see if we can Canadian road trip in October.

Y’all remember Henry from last year, right?

Last summer, Henry chauffeured us to Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, and Bow Lake. A true gentleman.

Ford said yes, I booked my plane ticket in less than 20 minutes (thank you WestJet seat sale) and counted down the days. For this road trip I had but one request: fuel efficient. Without further ado, meet Clara:

Yes, Clara Ford; a sleek 2014 Hybrid Fusion. Henry Ford’s wife. Get it? Get it! (all sis; she’s the true brains behind our car naming game). Clara, such a pretty girl, escorted us on the Trans Canada Highway through Alberta,

through BC,

and to beaches and an olympic village and islands and wine country and then back home.

Girl was tricked out: told us where to go (I know you all love that trait in a good woman), played our favourite tunes, let us make calls and brag about our sweet ride. She has a heated steering wheel and hot buns. I mean I have hot buns. I mean Clara has SEAT WARMERS…that also warm your back. She’s magnificent. And the one thing I wanted, she delivered. This baby is mega fuel efficient!