Vacation 2022

Well, it has been more than a hot minute since I last wrote. Where the heck did this summer go? One morning, I woke up and looked out the window and spring had left and summer was peeking in the windows. I blinked and summer was gone!

Fortunately, I have had the wherewithal to take lots of pictures.

Earlier this year, Alex and I discussed what we were going to do about a vacation. We decided that Europe was not an option yet. Nor was heading south. So, we felt that it was time to head back to the Maritimes.

First was to find flights. Both National airlines were stupidly expensive. Flights started at around $1,400 / person with a 3 – 5 hour layover in either Montreal or Toronto. *shudder

So, I started looking at regional airlines. Swoop (a discount airline) had flights from Abbotsford to Edmonton and then direct flights from Edmonton to Halifax – PERFECT! The best part was, even with paying to choose our seats and baggage fees, our bill was just under $1,200 for the two of us – RETURN. Hooray!

Next, was booking hotels and car rentals – we decided that we were going to make our own way around and not stay with anyone – a wise decision on our part. Car rentals have gotten crazy since the pandemic started. Fortunately, I was able to secure a 9 day car rental in Halifax for just under $930 (unlimited mileage).

Not so fortunately, I was not as lucky in Edmonton for the first part of our trip – The rental agency I used for the first (and last time) was very disappointing. I reserved a mid-sized car online – used a code that I got from an organization I recently joined was denied at the agency location in the airport. So, I was forced to take what they gave me – a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 pick up with all the bells and whistles. The rate went from $111 for the day to a whopping $378 for the day! Word of caution to anyone reading this –

DO NOT RENT FROM A RENTAL AGENCY WHOSE NAME IN LATIN MEANS “BIRD”!

Back to the trip – September 7 – we arrived in Edmonton just after Midnight. Picked up the rental behemoth and made our way to our hotel – Radisson in Leduc – short trip from the airport. We went straight to bed.

September 8th – We got up reasonably early. I went for a quick 4 km walk. Alex and I then went to St. Albert to visit my parents’ and sister’s graves. Fortunately for me, Alex has a good memory. I knew where the cemetery was but wasn’t sure of where they were resting.

Alex remembered where they were. We dropped off flowers.

Visiting this site still makes my heart ache but, they are all together and that gives me some comfort.

From there, we went and met up with my best friend from High School – Sharon. Sharon and were inseparable in High School. We did everything together. So, it was so much fun to meet up with her, her husband (Scott) and her parents – Phil and Irma.

Phil and Irma are originally from the Maritimes and so there is a possibility that Alex is related to them somewhere down the line. One day, we will have to explore that.

From there, we made our way over to my niece and her fiancee’s place.

September 9 – We said adios to Edmonton at noon on the 9th and headed off to Halifax. We arrived at around 9:00 local time and made our way to our hotel. When we entered the hotel, we were greeted by Alex’s best friend Angela and her beau, Glen. What a great surprise! We sat and had drinks with them for a couple of hours and then it was time for bed.

September 10 – After a wonderful breakfast with Angela and Glen at their house, we were off to Moncton. We arrived in Moncton mid afternoon. We made our way to our hotel – checked in and then were off to visit Alex’s sister, Anna.

We had a thoroughly entertaining visit with Anna for a few hours – then back to Moncton for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Dinner was at a great Brew Pub on Main Street in Moncton.

September 11 – The day was spent with Anna, her son, Mark and his son, Tyler and Anna’s husband Larry. We had a great time at their place. Sadly, none of Alex’s other brothers and sisters were able to make the trip to see us.

September 12 – Today was the day to head off to the Bay of Fundy where Alex and I spent the day wandering around. But, first we made a stop back in Sackville, NB where we were able to find one of Alex’s aunts living in a nursing home. She was so overjoyed to see Alex after so many years. Needless to say, lots of tears were shed.

Then off to Amherst where we stayed at the Wandlyn Inn. A very cute older hotel. We had a stop at Mel’s diner where we have eaten every time we were in the Maritimes. Sadly, Mel’s did not survive the pandemic.