Playlist Ready

To say that my musical preferences vary from Sal's is an understatement. We do have some common ground and my "East" playlist is full of tunes we can both tolerate. But this year I'll be doing the trip back east solo so I was going to relabel the "West" playlist, but decided to dump it and start over. 22 full albums, over 22 hours worth for about 21 hours of driving. Looking at the map I might need another hour or two for construction.

"Quest2017" will keep me awake and the toes tapping...

Joe Bonamassa, Ballad of John Henry

Robin Trower, Bridge of Sighs

Pink Floyd, Division Bell

Robert Plant, Fate of Nations

Tragically Hip, Fully Completely

Genesis, Self-Titled

City and Colour, If I Should Go Before You

Big Wreck, In Loving Memory Of...

Tonic, Lemon Parade

Dire Straits, On Every Street

Peter Frampton, Self-Titled

Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti

Soundgarden, Superunknown

Doobie Brother, Toulouse Street

Gavin Rossdale, Wanderlust

Yes, Yessongs

Joe Bonamassa, Blues of Desperation

Trews, Self-Titled

Cry of Love, Brother

Chris Squire, Conspiracy

Van Halen, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge

Colin James, Hearts on Fire

Quest 2 the West, 2017

After reading my entries from 2010, all the while thinking how can it be 7 years, I decided to start writing. The decision to go this year wasn't made until much later. Sal is often already in Calgary spending the month with the rugrats.

We've both had trips to the doctor, an ailing transmission and a few hurdles with the house that all had to be dealt with before the decision could be final. But we're going in a month, June 17th to be exact. I'll be spending two weeks away and Sal will fly home with AJ a week later.

I'm looking forward to some adventures with Cullen and Campbell. Sal is in more need of a vacation than I am. My big decision is which bike(s) to bring. Life is in flux right now. I'm not sure what the next few years have in store for us, so enjoy it while we can is my thinking.

The Drive Home

Our drive home was pretty uneventful. Sal did lots of napping. I just enjoyed the drive. The sky was big and cloudless as we drove into the sun and east. I have to say I was a bit down knowing the big adventure was almost over. We stayed in Brandon again Saturday night, had no weather issues in fact no rain until Kakabeka. Leaving Brandon on Sunday morning only one other car was sharing our side of the highway in all of the 2 hours to Winnipeg. The time seemed to fly by until we hit Northern Ontario. I think I'd rather drive the prairies than tree lined highway. In total we added just over 8,000km to the odometer of the Impreza. I didn't want to jinx the little blue car at the time but now I can say it really proved itself. Comfortable, great gas mileage, climbs like a billy goat and not even a hiccup in nearly 3 weeks.

In all it was a great trip. Mike and Mel's place is ideally suited to having company. They are pretty easy going, don't mind letting the old folks rest up now and again. Mike was pretty game letting me drag him for an 80km. ride, his third in 20 years and 3 days. Our time with the Wicklund's and their hospitality was a bonus.

I've always wanted to make the drive through the Rockies to the coast. Canmore, Rogers Pass, Kicking Horse Pass, Revelstoke, Kamloops, the Fraser River, the Thompson River...all names I've known for years. Now I can say been there, done that...can't wait to go back. But the real kicker was Banff. Memories are sometimes more spectacular than the going back, and perhaps better left as good memories. But Banff surpassed those withering synapses in the old noggin', it was everything I remembered and more. They have done a tremendous job keeping the park beautiful. I saw a show about it the other day, the population of the town of Banff is capped at 10,000. You have to work in the park to live there and the town boundaries cannot expand.

I have every intention of going back but if that never happens my memory is fresh. Plus I have pictures to back them up if the hard drive between my ears starts skipping now and again.