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august 29, 2000. 12:18 p.m. - 401 Highway, past Bowmanville, Ontario "We got a great big convoy, ain't she a helluva ride! CON-VOY!"
Left the parents' house at 9:30; left Toronto (avec chat) at 11. We feel like we're making incredible time. Trip highlight so far: Cobbledick Rd. (We're such children.) The cat's adjusting very well; we gave her ¼ dose of kitty valium before we left and she's wedged in right behind our heads. There's food & water & a tiny litter box in there with her and she has yet to foul herself. Sigh. I suspect that I'll become used to the sharp, acrid smell of cat pee in the future. Every once in awhile she mews piteously; but I think that the last 7 months of living with St. Stephen (i.e. Alternate Food Guy) have calmed her considerably. I actually feel rather sorry for her: she has to leave a place that smells deliciously of cat and contains 2 monkeys that hop to her bidding in favour of a 2 day car ride with Food Guy & the Bitch (a.k.a. me).
1:02 - near Belleville A sign reads, "Reid's Family Fun Dairy." Huh? Not to the lactose intolerant, bub.
1:12 We're about to meet a whole bunch of people who will never know us as other than married. Talk about your new life phases!
6 p.m. - outside Montreal, Quebec We've been caught in traffic for an hour. The CD player won't transmit so we're listening to light FM (Neville Bros.) and translating billboards. Our highschool French leaves much to be desired. So bored. Then we sang camp songs. Even better. I finally found a They Might Be Giants tape, which is the saviour of our journey's morale. Everything is better with geek rock.
"We're in the ass of Montreal, waiting to be expelled. Ugh."
6:11 - Crossing the Saint Lawrence Wooooo!
In your face, Champlain! (ed. note: I have no idea what that means. I must have succumbed to car madness.)
7 p.m. We stop at Burger King for dinner, having tried & failed to get in at a crowded St. Hubert (no wonder there's no more in Ontario!) We're tired & cranky & afraid. Everyone says that les Quebecois are hostile to those who don't speak French, but we just don't have the ability to order a Whopper in a dimly remembered language. Stereotypes shatter as the counter girls are more than happy to speak a halting English to us! It was fantastic. Yeah, I'm not much of a world traveler.
8 p.m. - Drummondville The pungent smell of animal shit pervades the air. At first I blame the cat. Ten minutes later we pass a horse trailer. I do not apologize to the cat.
8:30 - Somewhere in eastern Quebec Argument tears apart car as cat begins to whine despite second dose of Valium and cuddling by the Boy. My eyes itch. Driving is making me paranoid. The Boy wants to drive until we collapse. Argument mainly issues from me: he's in a zen-like state of obstinacy. We agree to try for Quebec City.
9:13-17 Seconds crawl. I writhe angrily in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position after 12 hours of driving. Ceilidh's one-cat symphony of anguish continues. I am annoyed.
9:20 A motel! We sign into the Motel du Pignon as Mr. & Mrs. - fun, although true. Once in the room, the argument begins anew. No Quebec cuddling, as I am angry for 7 hours out of our 8 hour stay. The cat whines all night, bringing back find memories of sleepless, annoyance filled nights at Froghopper Nook. The Boy is at first unable to sleep, fearing that every outside noise is directed towards the van filled with our earthly possessions.
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