Canada, EH?

The countdown is on for this trip, and I'm pretty much organized. I packed my small backpack yesterday - the important one with my protein bars, all the medication, and a few other things, like three pairs of glasses! I have a few other small things to pack, but it should easily be under 10 lbs. 

I got a chuckle as we've heard many times about small planes that you need to get from one destination to another, which we have to take for parts of this trip. I believe the maximum weight per passenger is 20 KG, and the agent was EXTREMELY clear that DH needed to talk to his wife to ensure that I was within the weight limit. His response? "I don't think that will be an issue! I'll be under 20 LBS, let alone 20 KG. 

And there's a weight restriction on how much luggage you can take into the national park for the climb. So, carrying less is a big deal, and no hard-sided suitcases as they don't fit well on the smaller planes. 

I'm not an expert on adventure trips, but I have taken many of them, including a 10-week bicycle trip across Canada, as well as at least four other three-week bicycle trips. Semi-backpacking (not hiking) in Europe and Mexico on several occasions, as well as three years of hiking in Spain. OK - I guess I have enough experience to talk about it, but I'm not an expert. You are on vacation. This is not about carrying all the luggage you have at home. Taking less is one of the most freeing things in the world. You not only left the worries of home behind you, but your LUGGAGE (literally) as well. 

I lead a simple, uncomplicated life at home (except for that darn calendar). I don't need a ton of clothes - I need one to wear and one to wash, which makes for some calm vacations. You can turn on a dime if you need to make alternate travel arrangements. I can't understand how people need so much stuff. 

I'll try to get everything packed later today, so that I have a couple of days to remember any other items I need to pack. I'm still looking for my toque, but where have I put it? I have two different places to look, and I had better find it because where am I going to get an athletic toque on such short notice?

I finally found this extra battery bank that I can use to charge my cell phone on the mountain if needed. It was in the office somewhere! But it's found and charged!

Charging the power bank

I charged my keyboard, but I must remember to pair it with my new phone before I pack it. 

Charging the keyboard

Here's my small backpack that will carry all the essential things. When we move around, I'll have this one on my front and the larger one on my back. 

Carry-on backpack

Someone asked where I got my waist pouch, which will carry all the essential stuff, like passport, money, and phone. It has two zipper openings and a velcroed pouch. I use the velcro pouch to store my hair supplies, such as elastics and clips. It could also be used for coins, but I HATE having coins, or it could be used to hold half a protein bar. 

The small zipper section is long enough to hold money (bills) and my three cards - debit, credit, and travel insurance. And the top one is tall enough for the passport and my phone. It's a bit wide, but honestly, I would NEVER travel without it. It is flat and sits under my shirt or under the straps of my larger backpack. If someone even knows it's there and attempts to remove it, then they deserve to have it! Plus, all the essential stuff that you need at the border, airport, security, etc, is right in front of you. Because there is little in there, it's easy to find anything. Hands-free!!! 

My travel waist pouch

I found it on my favorite online store, and there are many different styles to choose from. I get the slim one that is very SLIM! It's as wide as whatever you put in it, so mine is as wide as my cell phone. 

I went to the bank and the mall on my errand run. I found a new store at the mall. It's probably not new, but I don't usually go on the upper level. Speaking of bears - look at these guys. This store is filled with Canadian stuff!!!! It's called Eh Canada. 

Bears at the mall

Are you looking for those iconic red Canadian mittens? They are here! And yes - they have toques, but that is NOT the kind I want. I want one made of a tight-knit fabric that the wind won't penetrate. 

Iconic Canadian mittens

Look what followed me home. A red and white shoe for Canada to add to my mini shoe collection. It's a soccer shoe, but better than nothing. And I found a small keychain with a two-sided Canadian flag. 

My Canadiana collection

We all went out to dinner last night and discussed some of the details. Oh boy --- this is going to be an adventure. I don't think DH is quite prepared for this kind of travel, but we'll just keep an open mind. He's used to business travel where the concierge does everything, or he travels with his rolling suitcase. No concept of adventuring in his vocabulary, although this is not a "roughing it" vacation, at least for him, but a lot of moving around. 

I bought the flag because people in other countries tend to be very friendly to Canadians, and it's fun to identify your nationality when abroad. He thinks it's silly. I don't care! 

When I was working downstairs, I found something. An ultra mini shoe as the zipper pull on my pencil case! I forgot that was there. I've had that thing for years and have no idea where it came from. But I love that it has mini laces!!!

My ultra-mini running shoe

The Pony Express works! Another item was delivered to Sudbury from here! That's so exciting to see things go to the right place with just a little creativity and a bit of asking questions! It all works! I got a chuckle the other day when someone else started sending things around through friend connections rather than in the mail. They said not to tell me in case I charged them franchise fees!!! That was hilarious! 

Speaking of which, my staging area is getting pretty empty. Actually, at one point yesterday, it was this empty, with only a few things on the ledge on the left. 

The Pony Express is almost empty

I had to add this quilt to the area, and it'll get picked up this coming week. It's much neater than it has been for a long time! 

The start of the next batch of deliveries!

The other day, we were chatting about the type of craft books you can find at the bookstore. There are few quilting or mixed-media/scrapbooking books. I don't even think anyone is publishing them. BUT if you are into quilling - that seems to be a big thing! There were six books about quilling!!

Books on quilling

I see the quilting magazines have been moved to the front of the magazine rack, which is good! Maybe that will entice some new quilters to take up the hobby. 

The quilting magazine section

And if you have not tried the towel on your ironing board, you need to!!! I was pressing some fabric that I had washed, and looked at the mess. 

Tough wrinkles from the dryer

I used steam and the towel, and this is what it looked like after a quick swipe with the iron. Even the back was nice and crisp!! 

Wrinkles are gone! 

We asked the owner of the retreat why she put a towel on he ironing surface, and it was basically to keep it somewhat clean! Well, it's fantastic and I won't press without one. The large, inexpensive beach towels work best, and one that covers the entire surface. Do not use white - it'll pick up all the discoloration from the iron. And don't use one with a decorative band on it! I love it and it's easy to clean. I'm going to add some kind of tie or elastic on the corners so mine won't roll when I press large things. 

At one point in the day, I checked my two fitness trackers to see how in sync they are. Hmmm -- that's pretty darn close. 8,707 versus 8,743. 

Monitoring the fitness trackers

Those girls of ours are pretty funny and very particular! Spoiled? Oh yes - they are spoiled. 

Miss Murphy and I discovered a bench near one of the entrances to the forest. I guess it's not ready to be used yet. 

MOM - Can I sit up there?

And her ball and the blankets. I wrap her toy in three blankets and leave it for her to unravel when she needs something to do. She won't touch it when I'm away because there is no one to put it back. But when I'm home, she attacks those blankets to find the ball. It's hilarious to watch. I think I do it more for my entertainment than hers! 

MOM - I'm savoring the anticipation before I attack it!

MOM -- I got the ball!!!!

And that Princess Lexi - well, she's a diva for sure. She has her new nice dog bed with several blankets in it, but it's been a while since she slept in it. I threw all her stuff in the washing machine and then spread it all out like a princess' bed would look. 

When DH sat down to watch TV, guess who jumped into her bed? 

MOM - I HATE dirty sheets!

And this says it all!!! 

MOM - I'm so comfy - thanks! 

I completed the next writing assignment. A quick last read through after walking the dogs, and it'll be gone! Remember - when writing these assignments, I actually have to do the work before I can write. I won't be around to alert you when those posts go live, so you'll just have to watch QUILTsocial all month. I think it'll be the third week of August, but I'm not sure. If you are going to take one of my classes this fall, you'll be very interested in these posts, and that's all I'll say. 

I have two more posts to write, which should be easy enough. Time is very tight, but it'll all work out. 

And on that note, I'm out of here! 

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!