Text 28773, 85 rader
Skriven 2012-08-26 22:13:00 av JIM WELLER (1:123/140)
Ärende: trip 3
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Tues: Third obscenely large, high protein breakfast. (I had already
gained five pound at this point.) We left a day earlier than planned
and drove a whole two hours toward B.C. mostly to get a better hotel
in Grand Prairie. We stopped along the way at the picturesque
Dunvegan crossing on the Peace river where there is a park, museum,
gift shop and playground as well as a nearby pick your own market
garden. The kids managed to prolong a half hour stop into a half day
adventure there. Our stop in Grand Prairie was at a Super 8 that had
a pool which pleased Lexi and Charlee immensely. We had to go twice,
once in the evening and again early in the morning before pushing
on.

We had a very good dinner at a Japanese place next door, first time
for me but a familiar haunt for all the others. That's the place
where Charlee once ordered crab salad and was pissed off when she
got "Krab Sea-legs". Surprisingly good sushi for the middle of the
prairies. And in all fairness they had both Krab and real crab
dishes on the menu (at different prices of course.) Roslind has
exaggerated Lexi's sushi knowledge; she does not know all the
Japanese names for the seafood, just half of them. And the menu is
illustrated with high quality colour photographs which makes choosing
things easy. Lexi proudly ordered for all five of us: a deluxe
assorted sushi boat meant for two hearty appetites, a Bento box of
assorted goodies including tempura and a platter of inari zushi
(sushi rice stuffed into aburage [fried tofu skin]) with vegetable
garnishes. It was more than enough. I added a single small order of
most excellent glazed broiled eel, which for some reason nobody felt
like sharing with me. They had Asahi, Kirin and Sapporo available so
I tried an Asahi having had the other two before. Asahi is a
typical Japanese malt and rice lager, no better and no worse than
the others.

Wed: We pressed onto Prince George B.C. after our morning swim where
we encountered Trip Advisor's next hideous pick. This place which
shall remain unnamed was recently taken over by an immigrant who's
ethnicity shall also remain anonymous. It was run down, dirty AND
spider infested. It was too late (around 10 PM and the kids were
exhausted) to look for other accommodation so we stayed there
reluctantly after I sprayed it with Raid (Don't leave home without
it). Our late supper was also a major disappointment; very greasy,
starchy bad Chinese food from another Trip Advisor recommended
place. Could it be possible that Prince George's other Chinese
restaurants are even worse? I sincerely hope not.

Thur: Arrived in Smithers where we finally found a good Trip Advisor
pick. The Firewood Motel has nice, spotlessly clean rooms with
kitchenettes, a complementary laundry, a quiet clientele and an all
female super friendly staff, most of whom seemed to be related to
the owner/manager. It was also easy walking distance to a municipal
pool, park and playground as well as several decent restaurants (as
recommended by the motel staff, not Trip Advisor). We had two
adjacent smoke free ground floor rooms. When we were checking in
Roslind repeated her request for smoke free rooms and Lexi piped up
"and spider free too", which necessitated a long story about our
previous night from Charlee that drew wide smiles from the lady at
the desk.

I then learned that Betty actually lived in Terrace which is 3 hours
further down the road and was hoping for a ride as she didn't have
bus fare for Greyhound. So off I went with Neekha to fetch her while
the others went to Boston Pizza and then to bed. We found her with
her latest boyfriend, an alcoholic, unemployed drywaller who might
be a small time crack dealer and is undoubtedly a crack user in a
squalid little shack beside the railway tracks. And she is still a
crack addict herself; it shows painfully and plainly in her
appearance, mannerisms and speech. Neekha was quite shaken by how
she looked and acted and became very glad her half brother was
living with his father and not there.

Since Betty was broke and her borther's house in Smithers was full
of other relatives there to attend the wedding, Neekha invited her
to stay with us as we had room to spare. I went along with that as
quite frankly I didn't want to leave Neekha alone with her which
would have been the case at Mark's house.

Cheers

YK Jim


... If you don't care where you're going, any road will get you there.

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