PatDawnMontreal2022

  On day 4 we made a stop at Kirtland, just a few miles off I-90 and took a tour of the Kirtland Temple, with a guide from the Community of Christ.  It was a fascinating and historical building.  Their take on the history is a little different from our official version, but was very informative and interesting.  The building is in remarkable condition and it has been well preserved.  This was our first actual break from nonstop driving and was a beautiful day for a little diversion. The day after we arrive in Montreal, the senior couples had an outing to Ottawa for the annual Tulip Festival held on and around the Canadian Capital grounds.  In 1940, Princess Juliana (later queen) of the Netherlands fled to avoid being captured by the Nazis, and spent 5 years in Canada.  When she returned, she and her successors have sent a gift of tulips every year (continues to this day) to Canada.  The tulip gardens are extensive and very beautiful, made even mor...

The rocking chair blew off in a sandstorm coming down Hwy 89, North of Flagstaff, so this was all Sis. Johnson had to sit on all the way to Tulsa.  I just felt the reality of a 7-day road trip across the country, and this is only day 3.  But we made it all the way past Indianapolis.  Tomorrow we will stop at Kirtland, OH, neither of us have been there before.  Then on to Buffalo, and the semi-final push into Montreal on Friday.  

 7 May 2022 Well, so much for my careful plans of how we're going to get all our (absolutely necessary) stuff to Sydney.  It was evident this morning that it won't all fit inside the car and the hitch carrier. So what to do?????   Too late to buy a small enclosed trailer.  U-haul wants nearly $800 for a 1-way rental.  I do have a lightweight aluminum trailer - but it's a flatbed, and our items need to be secured.  I do seem to remember that I bought a Thule soft rooftop carrier a number of years ago, but it's still stored in the mezzanine of my North Salt Lake shop.  Wait!  I cleared that out a month ago and it's down here in Dammeron.  Found it! And it's just the right size for our extra items.  Won't be good for fuel economy though.  I made a crossbar to secure the front, and there are straps to secure the sides to the Touareg luggage rack.  But it's so tall I can't get up to load it!  Wait again!! a 3-step ladder w...

  April 25, 2022:  We are really here, in front of the world map, point to our mission assignment in the Canada Montreal mission.  We're actually pointing at Sydney, Nova Scotia.  It's the farthest you can drive in any direction from Dammeron Valley:  3655 miles.  It's further than Fairbanks AK, Key West, FL, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We are in class, being taught by Sis. Esperanza.  She is delightful, very informed, and an excellent teacher.  She makes our lessons a lot of fun, and we really enjoy her!