You know that thing where you plan something for so long that it starts to seem like it will always be off on a distant horizon? That’s the story of this road trip. Up until the day before we left it felt like the trip was miles away, until suddenly bags were being tossed in the car, the dogs were gone, and it felt like even the house was shooing us out the door.

The route was simple: we had ten days to drive from Winnipeg (dead centre of Canada, north of North Dakota) and drive through the northern US, into the mountains to Seattle, then up to Vancouver, through the mountains to Calgary and home to the prairies. Over 6000 km and 3700 miles – nothing more than a jaunt ;)

The first few days took us through North Dakota, South Dakota and into Montana. The country is beautiful there – it all feels like home to me. There was lots of coffee and listening to classic radio mysteries (The Strangler! The Haunted Typewriter!) on the XM radio that Mister bought for the trip. We had a massive Mount Rushmore fail that had me falling down laughing in the parking lot, and made me want to take a series of photos of it for our living room. I’m pleased to inform you that between giggling fits I’ve perfectly refined my pitch for a “National Monuments Obscured By Mist” coffee table book.

We made a stop to see Serena Ryder in Missoula, Montana (she was playing with the Barenaked Ladies) and had a great time out with all the college kids in town – I even made friends with some college football players after I broke up a fight! “Nice Block” is about the best complement a girl can hope for some of the time, don’t you think?

{In North & South Dakota I recommend: The Hotel Donaldson in Fargo & checking the weather before you go to Mount Rushmore!!}

We wound through the prairies into rocky hills and mountains, and as the elevation started to skyrocket we knew we were in rural Washington. There were orchards everywhere, tiny little run down towns and amazing Mexican places at every turn. After a long day we found Winthrop, a perfect little Western town tucked into the mountains and found where we were staying: The Rolling Huts!

The Rolling Huts are six beautifully minimalist cabins designed by a local architectural firm, each with its own own patio, picnic area and fireplace. The on site restaurant just opened and while the servers were still figuring it out, the food was amazing. Incredible wine and some of the best tapas I’ve ever had. The huts were a little rustic (no plumbing) but for a very plush camping experience near breweries, wineries, and all kinds of outdoorsiness they were the perfect break from the road.

{For a fancy camping experience I recommend: The Rolling Huts in Winthrop, WA}

Word of advice: When you are driving in the mountains, take the interstate. Even if it’s under construction and there’s another road that’s really close. Take the interstate. Especially take the interstate if you have a fear of heights. Really especially take the interstate if you sometimes get motion sick because you’re from the prairies and aren’t used to winding through harrowing mountain passes. Disregard if you’re Mister, but be prepared to have a cranky wife on your hands.

That being said, when we actually got to Seattle I was fairly sure I had died on a mountain pass and ended up in heaven. Seattle is everything I could want in a city, only better. The Pike Place market was outstanding, and everywhere you went there was history, scores of local restaurants and tiny shops. There were houses, apartments, and condos, clubs and breakfast places and specialty ice cream shops. As a city planning geek, I was amazed.

After working together on Four Little Pots all spring Moorea and I finally met! She pulled Mister and I out of Capitol Hill and into a great vegetarian breakfast place that made up for all the lacklustre veg food in the mid west. Seattle completely won my heart, and the next chance I get to explore it more I’ll be there!

{In Seattle I recommend: Maximus / Minimus for vegan pulled pork, Le Pichet for perfect French food & ambiance, Molly Moon’s Handmade Ice Cream for an otherworldly ice cream experience &  Hopvine Pub for the best salsa & hummus I’ve had in a very long time.}

The only negative was that the pace of this trip wore me out- we were spending one full day in a place, then driving to the next & repeating the process. After a week of constant exploring, walking and dining out we were done! But getting into Vancouver was the perfect homecoming. We met up with old friends for lunch & dinner, and then curled up with wine in the hotel lounge and slept in late the next morning.

We walked for six hours, had lunch with my bloggy friend Hillary, did the art gallery and dodged bouts of rain. And we even went to a shop that had ripped me off the last time I was in Vancouver and got money back for the purchase I’d made six months before, returned to them by mail & that they then refused to refund me for!! Total vindication! We rode the sky train, ate great Indian Food, and rested up. On a rainy Vancouver day, there’s nothing more I’d like to do.

{In Vancouver I recommend: Finch’s for fantastic baguettes in a perfectly styled hipster tea shop & Steamworks for yam fries.}

We had to cut a lot off the end of the trip- there were people I wanted to meet and places we had been planning to explore but with barely 24 hours in a city we were really limited. The weather became grey on the drive home, and we were met by snow in Calgary! Without warm clothes and with a fourteen hour drive from home we made the decision to leave the day after we arrived.

All in all, the trip was amazing. There were great meals, invented in jokes, and so much laughing that as corny as it sounds, the driving really was the best part. Being away crystalized a lot for me: from how much fun it is to moonlight as a nomad, to how much I adore The Little House, and what I need to be happy.

We’ve suffered a lot of rain since we came home and our basement is flooded, but I’m so happy to be here again I don’t even care. After a cooking & baking binge we have home made salsa, apple muffins & granola in the kitchen, puppies milling around my feet and family & friends close by. Everything I need is right here… including a shop vac and dehumidifier – and if that’s not romance, I’m not sure what is.