Early Morning Prep

Up at the crack of dawn to take the dog out. As the first sips of morning coffee were being had I was popping the mustard and cumin in the hot ghee in the pot. The mung beans and rice had soaked overnight. I ground a great spice blend in the electric grinder and added it to the hot ghee and popped spice. Next I added some chopped leaks, celery and carrots. Once the vegetables were coated in the spiced ghee I added the drained rice and beans and coated them. Finally water is added and I brought it to a boil. After 5 minutes I ladled the hot mixture into the vacuum thermos and sealed it.

Lunch will be ready in 3 to 5 hours. On the road with food appropriate to our constitution, gluten free and keeping us happy.

Cranbrook

Nothing could be better than spending time with welcoming and loving family. We're having just an amazing visit here in Cranbrook. Everyone is interested in the Mitzvah, the Yoga and the Ayurveda. I've had lots of time to devote to teaching our uncle and neice several exercises.

An afternoon was spent making personal Chai Tea. How exciting. Out of the tupperware bins I pulled out bags of: Indian Long Pepper; Black Pepper; Cardamon; Cinnamon; Ginger; Anise; Fennel and Black Tea. Our uncle then brought out a tin of green tea that he had purchased the last time he was in Vancouver.

Walks in the snowy forest with Hardy and afternoons spent chatting around the kitchen table.

Staying with Family

It was a long time coming to make this update. We equipped ourselves with a Telus mobile internet stick, with the idea of updating regularly. However, there are still many regions of Canada do not have high-speed internet. So, here we are in BC now.

From Toronto we had driven to North Bay, following Highway 11 we went on to Gravenhurst where we were last able to update and spent a good night at the HoJo. Weather was getting snowy as we pulled out of town before the sun was up.

We then continued on the same path, by-passing famous Timmins, and going on to Hearst Ontario. What a fantastic FRENCH town. Amazing. Some years back people Quebec started moving into Hearst. Its now a French community, beautiful. I got poutine at the McRonald's, so yummy. We stayed one night at the Companion Motel in Hearst. It was a very comfortable evening.

From Hearst we stayed on the 11 and drove through Thunder Bay. We considered staying the night but hotels were expensive and the town was booming. It just didn't seem like they needed our money. So after checking out the downtown and a hotel or two, the sun still giving us plenty of light we continued on our drive to Kenora.

The hotels were almost half the price and our dog was welcome. We enjoyed 2 nights at the Kenora Comfort Inn, some shopping at the town Safeway and we even stopped at the Greyhound station to drop off another bag and a box of goods to ship home.

We left Kenora early enough to make in to our destination, Carenport Saskatchewan, by late evening. The Pilgrim Inn was certainly our destination. We had stayed there on our last trans-Canada adventure and really enjoyed the stay. After taking such a long drive we knew already that it would be best to stay 2 nights. On our one day there, as the driver rested, I went into Moose Jaw to the Sobey's to pick-up some more groceries.

Now - We've made it to Cranbrook, BC. We stayed in Caronport, Saskatchewan at our favorite Trans-Canada hotels. The staff are beyond kind and friendly, their breakfast is simple yet fresh and delightful, pets are no charge and they have free laundry. A traveller could not ask for more.

Gravenhurst Ho-Jo

We made it out of Toronto!!!

A few days to tie-up loose ends and we were able to go. The Indigo Hotel was a good home out by the hotel for a few days. Lots of airplanes to watch which never ceased to cause awe and amazement in us both.

In a short evenings drive we made it North to Gravenhurst. The Howard Johnson greeted us with a fridge and freezer and cotton blend sheets to spend the most comfortable night so far.

We're back on the road again....talk to you soon.

We're Out 'a Here

That's it, we've moved everything into the hotel, done all of our errands and we're leaving the keys at the sublet. Saying good-bye to this beautiful 'hotel'. What a trip its been. I'm tempted to upload all of the photos we took upon leaving. This apartment is in perfect condition, so beautifully clean.

We'll be keeping things quiet for a few days, resting up and enjoying the hotel's facilities here in Toronto. We'll get up to Barrie for a visit too. Then off to Kingston and Montreal for a final Central Canada Holiday. I just can't leave this area without spending at least a few days in Montreal. I had such a great August there many years ago.

Coming Around the Mountain

We've got our fridge down to two bags and it's all cleaned out. All the bags are packed and things are sorted - what will be shipped and what we will drive. Now we can bring things to the hotel to settle down and have a chance to take a second, or really twentieth look, at what we are bringing. We want to get it down to the least 'stuff' possible. If I bring it home it doesn't end there, I have to take care of it.

We had a great night last night. I taught my final Toronto Mitzvah Demo students. I'm at student number 33 now. Excellent. A real bonus for me was that in that session, one student was a youth, one a mother, and the other a doctor. It was a great mix for me and a real treat. I'm so happy to be connecting with youth.

As my lesson was coming to a close our greatest Toronto friend came over to spend the evening with us. We ate a simple dinner and had spiritual discussion before packing up a car load of our bags and driving off together to the hotel. He assisted with carrying bags and making the most enjoyment out of saying "see you again." We drove him home, leaving him with extra goods that we loved but didn't want to transport, including my favorite glass jar art. It was wondrous to see how much he enjoyed my hand pained reclaimed glass jars. I surely loved seeing his face beam with appreciation and joy as I gave him all the jars that I made. It was great, I finished painting them the night before. Several of them year long projects really. I only worked on them when I truly felt I had a spare moment.

I love returning to friend's houses to see them using and displaying my painted glass. Its a real reminded that someone has appreciated my arts. Joy.

After a few nights in the hotel and finishing off any Toronto business, including my last Mitzvah lesson, we're off to Montreal!!

The first hotel

Well, as it would turn out we'll be getting a hotel for a few nights in Toronto. It will be much easier this way, certainly. Then the journey will begin. First will be Montreal, I think. But really with us we never do know.

It will just be great to get out of this sublet, move everything into a hotel room and be sure of seeing just what we have - nothing else.

We subleased a furnished place - never again. We just aren't the furniture type.

Transporting My Lifestyle

How do I transport my Ayurvedic lifestyle?

It starts with a big tupperware box full of 'ziplock' bags wit every herb or spice, tea, rice or bean that we might want to use over a month or so.

Oh the 'ziplok' bag. I did everything that I could to reduce the plastic in my life for so long. But when you want to move, across Canada in a car, the lightweight flexibility of a plastic bag and the durable tupperware is optimal. At this point.

Of course we do wash and reuse all of our 'ziplok' bags.

We like to cook in our hotel rooms. Oh dear, the secret is out.

We have a one burner stove, a pot and probably a frying pan as well as a small pot for hot drinks. We have several thermoses and a few different 'tiffin' containers for food transportation.

We'll be eating 'kitchari'. I usually do add some spices. Cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, hing (asafetida), coriander, cardamon, clove.