This "Mountain Majesty" part of the site will bring you to the journal entries, from my trip to the Rocky Mountains of Canada. The entire trip took 3 weeks, and this is a chronicle of how my journey progressed. It is related to the mountain poetry and photo pages on this site. As I moved closer and closer to that place, where I would feel at home for the first time in my life, the entries get longer and more eloquent.

     The Poet referred to in the salutation is me. I write my journal entries, as though I'm talking to a friend. The names you read refer to friends, or people I met along the way. If necessary, I explain them as we go. I do hope you enjoy the reading of the story, as much as I enjoyed the experience.

     Differently coloured words are links, and they take you to a poem or photo inspired during the trip. After you are finished, right click with your mouse and press "Back", to return to where you were.

August 15, 1998 (3 p.m.)

Hey Poet,

     I’m just South of Guelph on Highway 6. I’ve just dropped Joan’s bookmarks off, and since she’s not home, I’m heading for Niagara falls. I’ll probably check out the American Falls, just to see if I can get across the border. The mileage read 242250 when I left. I expect to stop in Michigan about noon tomorrow, and have a coffee with Terri. It’s been an uneventful trip so far.

     I drove from home to Lee’s place, and picked up the camera and the cooler. Got a chance to tell her I loved her and to see the pups. Then I headed for Joan’s place, I also stopped in Toronto, to have a coffee with Mags, but she wasn’t home, another time perhaps.

Mileage so far 242460. Ciao for now.

8:20 p.m.

     I’m back at the coffee shop where I was at 3 this afternoon. Went to Niagara Falls, and took some pictures, then drove back to Joan’s. She’s still not home, so I guess I sleep in the car tonight. It hasn’t been a bad day, got my sea legs anyway. About 10 hours driving and only two painkillers. It will get worse I’m sure.

Mileage so far 242715. Ciao for now.

August 16, 1998 (3 p.m.)

Hey Poet,

     Well that was an interesting night my friend. I did get “some” sleep, but after just the first night on the road, I wonder if I’ll make it across country and back. I’m only about 3½ hours from Mount Pleasant, where Terri lives, so I will take it easy for the morning. I miss my shower already BG Later Poet

12:50 p.m.

     I made it to Mount Pleasant, and am waiting for Terri to show up. No problems to speak of. Some thoughts about the differences with Canada though. The U.S. advertising is all over the.....

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August 17, 1998 (3 p.m.)
4:50 a.m.
White River mileage 243920.

Morning Poet,

     A long hard haul from yesterday my friend. Let’s see, when I left you so abruptly I was... oh yes.. Terri pulled up with two of her daughters, and we said hello then went for coffee. Hey, first finish the thought about differences between Canada and the states. As you enter built up areas, or population centres in the states, billboards attack you. They are everywhere! They are garish, and they are huge! I don’t like them at all.

     There are also rest areas for drivers every 30 or 40 miles. Man, they were beautiful, heavily wooded, little enclaves, totally cut off from the sounds of the highway. Each had washrooms and picnic areas, and were quiet serene places to rid yourself of stress. I love those! The people here are the same as they are everywhere for this wee Poet, friendly and willing to talk about everything.

     Back to Terri. She is a beautiful lady, nice figure and a fantastic smile, but there is a lot of pain hidden behind those eyes. She had two of her daughters with her, Sophia (I think), with the same beautiful eyes as her mom. She is an artist with a sweet quiet disposition. She was involved in an auto accident, and is now mentally challenged, but is a beautiful girl. Terri’s other daughter is the one who’s been in trouble. She’s 14 trying to look 20, and also a very beautiful girl. She too stole her mother’s eyes. BG

     I had a good long talk with them. Sophia showed me her artwork, and then we sat in the sun and I played them some songs. They seemed to like it. Terri told me I should be doing that (singing) for a living, and also telling me something about “depriving” the world of my songs and poems, because I haven’t shared them! What a beautiful thought!

     I left them about 1:30 and drove through Michigan to Canada. Gorgeous scenery, with breathtaking forests, and good roads. Just before Sault Saint Marie I stopped to pick up a couple who had had car trouble. They were Canadian from S. S. Marie! What’s the odds? I took them home and then started driving toward Thunder bay on Highway 17 North. It was a bad stretch. Oh the scenery was beautiful, but after having rest stops every 30 to 40 miles in Michigan, I was spoiled, and there was no place to stop for the night! I left S. S. Marie about 7:30 and drove until 11:45 before I found a place to stop.

     Met another couple with car trouble about 10 o’clock. We were on a stretch of winding, mountain like road , and they had stalled. I stayed with them for about 20 minutes, until their car started and they were gone. The sky overhead was worth the stop. Wow! Wow! Wow!

     I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. There were SO MANY stars, and the Milky Way was so clear. It was unreal, and made me glad I’d stopped to offer what help I could. I’d better close for now. I’d like to meet Gloria in the morning, don’t know if I will or not. I need a shower and a good night’s sleep. BG Later Poet.

6:45 a.m.

     I stopped at a Can-op outside (West) of Marathon, and they have a shower for rent!!! Remember that Petro Canada rips off motorists with their gas prices. The Can-op has reasonable gas prices, and great prices for some souvenirs etc. (bought me a moose I did). It’s called Ney’s Lunch. Remember it for next time.

4:25 p.m.
Mileage 244520.

Hey Poet,

     I’m at the Tower Hill Truck stop, just West of somewhere. I stopped here a couple of hours ago, and had a wee nap I did. I found out this morning, from a trucker, that I could drive to B.C. in about 3 days, at 18 hours a day. No need for that, so I slowed down some, and started taking some photos as I go. I passed the 90th something or other (meridian?), and moved into the Central Time Zone.

     I got a great shot of that and just before Thunder Bay, I stopped at the Terry Fox Memorial. I think it was where he was finally forced to stop, by the reoccurrence of the cancer that eventually killed him. It is a beautiful rest area, similar to the ones in the states, and I stopped there for a few hours to get some rest. That was a very moving experience for me, and I took lots of pictures. I’m dead again, but more better (BG) than I was, now that I’ve stopped.

Ciao for now.

5:20 p.m.

     I made it to Wabigoon!! And of course Gloria wasn’t home. BG I told her to expect me Tuesday or Wednesday, and here it is late Monday. Oh well, maybe on the way back.

Later Poet

Poetry from the sky (Poetry written on this day)
The view from behind the camera (Photos from my western journey)

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