Sydney, Nova Scotia!

It was a long day getting here to Sydney, narrow windy road part of it was not in good repair. The northern part of Nova Scotia near the ocean is picturesque the rest of it is gentle rolling hills with plenty of pine trees. I did drive down to Halifax hoping to catch the coastal hi-way but, got lost and decided to go on the Trans-Canada route to Sydney instead. Tomorrow from North Sydney I will catch the 11 a.m. ferry to Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland-- try saying that really fast three times in a row! It's been a long day and I really need to get to sleep so that I can be up early to wait in line for TWO hours before the ferry sailing. So, I will make a longer entry tomorrow, perhaps even from the ferry if they have an internet connection.

Fredericton, New Brunswick

This morning I woke up to fog in Maine! Fog is rare in Oklahoma, but I remember plenty of foggy days in London as a teenager. By the time I was on the road at ten in the morning the fog had burned off and the day was beautiful. I was going to check some of the lighthouses that Maine is so famous for but decided to head towards New Brunswick, I was anxious to get my journey across Canada started. After topping off Spitfire's (my car) gas tank we headed north on I-95. The top was down since it was only in the upper seventies, Robert Palmer and Prince helped to rev up the journey to high octane and away we went. A lot of the hi-way was very similar to the road I took towards Alaska along with signs warning of moose crossings!

It took less than ten minutes at the Canadian border, customs is my least favorite thing to do on the planet! Memories of being pulled over when I was driving to Alaska will always remain fresh in my mind, so this time I had my story ready along with details of how long I will be in the fair country of Canada. No problems this time I had nothing to declare, questions such as "Do you have any firearms with you?"-- brought a smile inside my head, I was not about to elaborate on my personal feelings about carrying guns, or about being a pacifist; too much information! I have had to remind myself that I only need to answer questions with a 'yes' or, 'no' answer, too much information given out by me always gets me in trouble!

Well, I entered New Brunswick and took a photo of the beginning of my Canadian adventure, Fredericton was not far away and I made it to my hotel by teatime. Indians, Canadians and the British know how to do afternoon tea. I sat in the elegant dinning room sipping on hot English Breakfast tea and eating scones. I didn't have to tell the waitstaff to bring cream for me, they know how to serve afternoon tea. Such a wonderful respite afternoon tea is, it rejuvenates in a very calm and serene manner.

After my tea I went to my room and began to plan out the journey to Newfoundland. This portion of the trip did require schedules since the only way to get to St. John's is by ferry hotels on the way have to be booked in advance so that I will have a place to stay. As much as I dislike planning ahead in this instance I do have to be meticulous in my planning. Getting to St. John's is quite a trek after catching the ferry to Newfoundland, there is a 7-9 hour car journey to arrive at St. John's! Good job, I like to drive!

Tomorrow I am going to get to Nova Scotia and drive to Halifax. I hope everyone at home had a very pleasant July 4th!

Freeport, Maine.

I crossed over many states in one single day, from Connecticut to Massachusetts, through New Hampshire to Maine! Amazing! It takes two days just to cross the length of California. I decided to get off the major interstate I-95 and go the coastal route on hi-way 1. Soon I realized it was a mistake because it seems everyone in all the eastern states had the same idea. It was bumper to bumper traffic on this tiny hi-way. It took ten minutes to travel less than a mile. Even though the small towns that dot this scenic road, are little jewels, I headed back towards the interstate. I didn't know how long it would take to get to Freeport, I had stopped to make a reservation around tea time. I knew a room would be waiting for me, at the same time I was not willing to crawl at a snails pace during the dusk hours.

The two towns I did get to see were Portsmouth Maine where the US navy started, and Kittery. In Portsmouth the middle of the town square there was an old working village, where people dress in period costumes and speak old English. It was intriguing to see how people lived in this brand new country. Remarkable to see how much this country has been able to achieve in a mere two hundred odd years. Kittery on the other hand is a shoppers paradise, it's a shame I could not find any parking or a few well chosen items might have found their way into the trunk of my car!

Tomorrow I plan to be in New Brunswick, Canada, but before that I am going to check out the charming little hamlet of Freeport and learn it's history.

Danbury CT.

Well, I made to Connecticut! I have never been in this part of the country before and I must say the small towns remind me of rural England, with windy narrow roads and no grid pattern apparent. I can see why the east coast is so different than the west coast. The east was colonized by the British and of course they would make this new land look like the home they left behind. As charming as they are, it's easier to navigate on a grid pattern!

Today, the driving was even more pleasant because there was no destination in mind except to get closer to the east coast. I will get to Maine and then on to New Brunswick Canada in the next few days.

I think all the east coast drivers are on some type of hyped coffee or, they all take steroids. I have never been around so many aggressive drivers. Even though the speed limit in Pennsylvania and New York is sixty five miles on the hi-way, none of them pay attention to it and most everyone was speeding-- my kind of people! The Pennsylvanian drivers maybe the best drivers in the nation, they understand the need to get in the left lane only to overtake, even if they are doing it at breakneck speed! It was my turn to be in the slow lane and I am not sure I liked that too much! I did get to enjoy the scenery, it was enjoyable to see the heavily forested lands and the picturesque farms of Pennsylvania. I had not expected that, for some reason I thought the land would be an urban sprawl. Most of the towns are tucked away in the valleys off I-70.

Connecticut is charming I can see why people would want to live here, the forests have tall majestic trees and the homes are lovely. Along with tiny windy roads to compliment the picture perfect location. More tomorrow!

New Stanton, PA.

Well, I didn't get as far as Harrisburg today, the eastern part of the country is definitely harder to traverse than the western half which I am so used to traveling on my way north to Vancouver. The way I have been driving so long and hard, by now I would have reached Portland Oregon! So, a change in plans, I will not be able to make it to New Brunswick by July 4. Time to step back and remember the reason for this trip-- to enjoy the journey! I think the reason for my haste is rooted in the ferry schedule for Newfoundland and consequently lodging in St. John. I dislike having to book ahead of time it takes all the fun out of spontaneity! This trip has had to be different because I have had to plan ahead and book hotel rooms along the way to insure arrival in St John. Well, today that went out the window! There is more traffic and even more construction on the roads and most drivers just don't stay out of my way!

I came to my hotel room exhausted and regrouped. I cancelled most of the bookings I had made and decided to slow down and enjoy the idyllic Pennsylvanian countryside. I kept one hotel booking on Newfoundland for later next week just in case I do get there, other than that I will be flying by the seat of my pants as I usually do!

Today, as I was racing towards Harrisburg I was mulling over what wonderful fast food chain will I patronize when I noticed a huge sign written in Gurmukhi, it is the way the Punjabi language is written, I can speak Punjabi but never learnt to write it; though I recognize the script. Gratefully, under the Gurmukhi script there were these words in English "A Taste of India next exit and then turn right"! This was another truck stop catering to Sikh truck drivers just as I had found a truck stop in New Mexico last summer. I was overjoyed!

I decided to take the exit knowing I would get to eat authentic Punjabi food. I was not disappointed. These truck stops cater to Indian truckers so the food is like homestyle. It's not made for the North American palate. Sumptuous and spicy I enjoyed my lunch, I was thankful I didn't have to choose between Cracker Barrel or Subway!

The rest of the afternoon was very pleasant, amazing when the belly is full the brain is happy. It also helped that the weather is cooler in this part of the country and I was able to have the top down and listen to some great music!

I have no idea where I'll end up tomorrow so it will be as much a surprise to me as to you! Until then.

Journey towards Newfoundland Canada.

Well, the day has come to be on the epic journey of traveling across Canada on Trans- Canada Hi-Way 1. But, before one can drive across Canada from east to west one must get to Canada! So, the arduous task of getting mentally and physically prepared for this began in earnest on Monday. I usually make my guest room the staging area for all the items needed for such an undertaking. Having everything in one area is so much simpler. Anytime I find something that must travel with me it goes to the staging room.

It's always hard to leave home, always hard to say good bye to my daughter Reina. She has two precious Cocker pups who are so adorable, if I could have I would have taken them with me. They stopped by to wish me bon voyage, we ate lunch together and then it was time to get on the road.

The drive to Vandalia Illinois was uneventful, too many people kept getting in my way, driving slow in the fast lane.. don't they understand that the left lane is for overtaking only? This has to be my biggest pet peeve. For some reason, today was a hard day, it was very hot in Oklahoma and just getting the car packed was exhausting. I am looking forward to cooler days ahead and getting to drive across all the Canadian Provinces!

Anthony Weiner's Numerology!

I am always fascinated by human behavior.  Watching the unraveling of Anthony Weiner's life so publicly intrigued me enough to want to figure out his Numerology.  A person's numerology always gives us insight into the inner workings of the personality. 

In numerology every letter in the alphabet has a numeric value.  Each number has positive qualities and negative influences. Of course, it's up to us to vibrate to the positive.  Mr. Weiner's first name numerology comes to 7 and his full name numerology comes to 9.  

Both numbers have the potential to be extraordinary!  A 7 vibration to his first name, gave him the ability to be poised, spiritual and be a wise person-- or, cold, aloof and deceitful.  His full name numerology offers another peak into what contributed to his fall from grace. As a 9 expression he is charming, magnetic and is drawn toward philanthropy and humanitarian causes.  Yet, the negative influence of the same number can be, egocentricity, indiscretion and immorality.  

Another component to numerology is the life path.  This is determined by the birth date of a person.  Mr. Weiner was born Sept. 4, 1964 all the numbers are added together and then reduced down to a single number, which gives us the life path number.  

His life path is 6.  A person born under this life path must learn the meaning of responsibility! It's a life path of service to the family as well as community.  People with a 6-life path are often drawn to the 'helping' professions.  Those who choose not to answer the calling of this life path will often be devoid of responsible behavior, have an air of smugness and mistaken ideals.

According to his numerology Anthony Weiner was in the right profession, he had the innate ability to be a wise, spiritual leader who I am sure must have been charming and yet he chose to seek the baser vibrations of his name numerology as well as his life path.  A person who wanted to serve his constituents and his country is left out in the cold today; trying, I am sure to make amends to the people he hurt the most, his wife and family.