If you're just tuning in, yesterday we published this piece about how Senator Larry Campbell decided to drive from his home on Galiano Island in B.C. to Ottawa to vote in an emergency bill he sees coming down in the next few days.
We're bringing you daily updates from what his wife has called his "great adventure", and this is chapter two - day four on the road for the former Vancouver coroner and mayor.
Larry called in bright and early this morning as he was nearing Winnipeg (he didn't get there as planned yesterday), talking about how beautiful the sunrise was.
Sunrise on the way out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Photo Larry CampbellLast night he stayed at the Verdin Hotel in Verdin, Manitoba, because as I mentioned in yesterday's post the heat in his trailer conked out and, as he put it, "I'm starting to smell like the dog, you know?"
Sue got her own bed.
Sue got her own bed. Photo Larry CampbellToday is "a Kenny Rogers tribute day," he tells me as he expresses his sadness over the singer's death yesterday, and how he started his day by listening to Just Dropped In.
I've so far mostly resisted injecting my opinion into this serialized Travels with Larry and Sue feature but am breaking from that now to say that it makes me smile thinking of Larry driving out of Winnipeg with his dog at his side, blasting this song and heading for Thunder Bay, where he hopes to end up tonight.
Last night he ate a chicken burger, fries and a Coke for dinner, as he says almost all restaurants are closed and it's looking like fast food might be the only option for the rest of the trip.
Gas prices between the Manitoba towns of Verdin and Winnipeg (a three hour drive) are between the range of $.78 per litre and $1.20, much like they vary here.
And much like many people I've spoken to about gas prices, Larry says "I don't know why within 200 kilometres there's a $.40 a litre difference."
The best thing he saw yesterday during the drive was the giant moose in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
He tried to get a photo of the dog with the thing but she "Sue wouldn't participate," because she was scared of the thing.
That's the world's tallest moose right there. Photo Larry CampbellHe says the roads have so far been great, except for in Manitoba where he describes something called "frost heaves".
The road freezes then thaws then freezes again and it causes bumps, or heaves as it were, in the road.
The frost heaves have caused him "a little angst, but aside from that it's been just great."
Frost heaves along the Trans-Canada Highway. "You've heard that old saying that you can watch your dog run away for three days out here? It's true." Photo Larry Campbell. About the people he's met (mostly at gas stations) he tells me "Nobody's panicking out here. They're careful. Every gas station has hand sanitizer out."
And that everyone he's met are "Just really nice people."
"The secret to this whole thing is to keep washing your hands and don't touch your face - and don't go hugging anybody. Other than that, life goes on."
He's mostly avoiding listening to the news all day, opting for Spotify. As he's spent a lot of time in the prairies in his lifetime he's a lot of memories are coming back as he makes his way to the capital.
"I go past all these towns, and I know people from these towns. I see the sign for Stetler and, oh, memories that it brings back. Thinking back about old friends and what you did... this is just so cathartic. I just am really enjoying it."
"It's nice, for an old guy."
Come back tomorrow for day 5 on the road with Larry Campbell and his bluetick coondog, Sue.
