By April Meersman

Summer is finally showing itself here in Durham-Sud. I have only been gardening and getting ready for my summer vacation. This year we are traveling to Newfoundland for the “Construction Holiday.” (It is when the shops here close for about 3 weeks during the summer.)

When we travelled out to Valemount in 2005, we brought a DVD player and MP3 player to entertain ourselves so the time went by faster. (4000 kilometres is a long drive in a Volkswagen Jetta with 5 people in it.) I am once again thinking of how to make the journey part of the trip so we are not just waiting impatiently to arrive at our destination.

So, for all those summer road travelers with or without children, this is what I have learned about “The Canadian Road Trip”:

1. Nylons do work well in case of fan belt failure. However, the CAA card works just as well in any bad situation.

2. Not all roadside diners are safe to eat in. If there are no cars in the parking lot, move on!

3. Take your time to smell the tulips because when you hit the prairies all you will smell is pig manure!

4. Not all Kodak moments are worth it. If the bear is on the road, drive around it and don’t let the passenger out for the close up shot she’s been waiting for.

5. While driving, relax and enjoy the fresh country air. Because as you drive you will find that there are so many places with absolutely no radio stations to listen to.

6. While camping remember the bratty kid in the stall beside you will have kids just like him when he grows up. So just laugh at him!

7. When you get bored, find a place to release some tension with a new hobby. Self-portraits are stylish these days. And I am sure many members of your family would appreciate a homemade gift.

8. Kiddie pools are not recommended. They tend to come with small children who pee in the pool. If you need to get wet, use the shower.

9. Road kill stew sounds good, but only if you’ve killed it yourself.

10. Lastly, what happens in the truck stays in the truck, but it can be cleaned out with a pressure washer! Bon Voyage!