Living to Tell the Story

The long weekend in February usually finds us itching to see our girl a province away.  It probably has to do with it being her birthday a few days after the holiday Monday.  I really, really miss her on her birthday.  And I think her Dad does too, because it's usually his idea to jump in the car and go.  Weather permitting, of course.  The thing with her living a province away is the weather might be permitting here in Southern Alberta but it may be a whole other story over there.  It tends to be colder over her way, and unlike us who enjoy the chinook winds to clear the snow, once the snow comes over there it stays until spring.  But it looked like a promising weather report so off we went.

It's a long, long drive, around 6 1/2 hours providing one only gases up once and includes a bathroom break in with it.  But hubby likes to take it easy and not be rushed.  So our trip usually runs a bit longer.  I mean, what would a road trip be without a Starbuck's fill up here and there, and of course, the dog needs to do his thing occasionally, and then we need to pull off so I can take over the driving so hubby can "rest his eyes".  All in all though, I'm excited to get there and see my girl.  The roads were good and not too terribly busy and I got some good reading done.

After a really nice couple day visit which included taking her shopping for her birthday gift and lots of good eating, we headed back Monday morning.  To be met with the worst road conditions we have ever in our lives driven on!  We knew there was blowing snow warnings the night before but never in our wildest dreams did we think we would be met with roads that weren't roads at all but literally skating rinks for hours on end.   White knuckle, going 60 kph in a 120 highway and still feeling that was too fast, semi-trucks, trailers and car upon car in the ditches, kind of road.  Tense doesn't even begin to describe it.  Well, for Hubby and I anyway.  Younger daughter slept through the whole thing in the backseat.  Thank the Lord, it wasn't snowing on top it and we at least had visibility.  I didn't even think to take any pictures to show you 'cause I was too busy praying and watching for what might be up ahead aways.  And thank God after a scary 3 1/2 hours as we got closer to the Alberta border it was back to nice dry roads with sunshine peeking through.  Yikes.  It definitely called for a Starbuck's stop after that!

But we are now home safe and sound and, ironically, watching the snow lightly falling today.