Day 46 - Nanaimo - WE MADE IT!

We stayed at my brother’s place again last night and headed off to downtown again to pick up our visas. They were completed as promised so we headed for the ferry. It feels like we just took this ferry a few days ago, the time has gone by so fast. Nicola and I recall all the cool stuff we’ve seen and done over the last 6 and half weeks and the end to our road trip is bitter sweet. The trip across Canada was so much fun and we learned so much about our country but it’s great to be back to see all of our friends and family and then take off for Part II of this vacation, overseas.

We are both so glad we decided to do the trip and it truly has been an amazing summer for us. As I’ve just graduated with my business degree the possibility of working anywhere else in Canada is definitely open. The purpose of the trip was not just to have a great time and explore our country but to seek out any other places where we would be happy living. We are pleased to announce that BC truly is the most beautiful place in Canada and we wouldn’t be happier any other place. Though we loved the east coast and many places out there remind us of our coast they simply lack the diversity, economy, and temperate climate we enjoy on the west coast. The variety of landscapes and range of services we enjoy here is unmatched anywhere in the country. There are not many places where you can golf, swim, and hike in the summer, be right next to world class ski resorts for the winter and enjoy all the benefits of living right next to the ocean. Additionally we can chose to live in a medium sized city like Nanaimo, or slightly bigger like Victoria and still be close to Vancouver for concerts, hockey games etc. all while being close to family. We are really lucky to be where we are, and this trip has given us a great appreciation for our beautiful west coast.

After thinking about the trip we put together our top 15 favorite "touristy" things to do in Canada, and in no particular order, here they are:

· Riding the Gondola in Banff
· Touring around Old Quebec City
· Hopewell Rock Park with the high tides
· Playing in the warm ocean at Brackley Beach on PEI
· Gros Morne National Park and all of it’s sights
· Whale Watching in St. John’s
· Splashing in the waves at Black Brook Beach on the Cabot Trail
· Maid of the Mist at Niagra Falls
· The Royal Canadian Mint Tour
· West Edmonton Mall’s waterslides, shopping and the Mindbender
· Going back in time in Barkerville
· Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto with the best rides in the country
· Surfing in Tofino
· Helicoptor Tour of the Glaciers at Three Valley Gap
· Morraine Lake and Lake Louise

The trip by the numbers:

46 days
19,830 Kilometres
124.9 – Most expensive fuel (Radium, BC)
95.9 – Cheapest fuel - Ottawa (Toronto was cheaper but we never filled up there)
1 Speeding ticket
2 Oil Changes
12 Litres of Windshield washer fluid
10 Provinces covered
5 States visited
2 Rock Chips in the windshield
3 Thunder/lightning storms experienced in the tent
3 Moose spotted (that’s it?!?!)
18 nights staying with friends or family
18 nights spent camping
8 nights spent in Motels
1 night spent sleeping in the front seats of the car
2,523 pictures taken….

And of course, countless memories and good times