Vancouver -> Saskatchewan

This leg of my journey started in Vancouver at 6:20am on Thursday 7/19, and ends in Winnipeg at 8:30pm on Friday 7/20.

Left the Cambie a little later than I'd originally planned so I had to hustle on Cordova street to the main city transit station that could take me to the Greyhound, I realized that my suitcase started feeling heavier and heavier. Wouldn't you know it, the wheels were already worn down from my trip so far – cheap piece of crap! But I had a bus to catch so there was nothing to do but drag the dead weight and sweat bullets.

I got to the Greyhound station just as the bus was pulling out. The woman at the counter helpfully informed me that one should always be a half an hour early. When I asked if my bus was here she said she did not know. Thanks lady!

The driver saw me run out and gladly let me aboard. I was off! For some leg of the trip through British Colombia I sat beside an elderly woman returning to her home in Salmon Arm, BC. She shared chocolate, raspberries, and even gave me her pillow when I kept dozing off. We exchanged the occasional word, but it seemed both of us were more content to read. Other than this, it has been a very quiet and reflective leg of the trip. While I could have forged conversation with a few people I found interesting, I didn't feel the need. I've been going back and forth between The Lean Startup and My Country – a book my Grandfather let me borrow before he passed away about old tales of Canada.

The Greyhound bus I'd taken through California to Seattle was dodgy in interior and patronage, but the Canadian buses so far have been miles better.

On British Colombia: I'm sorry, but the grass is greener. At least during this season. I have never seen so many trees in my life. I've never gasped out loud at natures spectacle before. It was hard to get anything done because I just wanted to stare out the window the whole ride at the lush meadows, sparkling water, towering rockies, trees and more trees, and the occasional animal. If nothing else, my trip is already worth it just to have driven that route.

We hit the national park in Banff, Alberta around 9pm and it didn't get dark until a little after 10 so I was able to see a little bit of this province. Other than a short stop-over in Calgary there isn't anything to note except a guy sat next to me that gave me the creeps. There were plenty of spots still totally empty in the back when he had filed in. Clearly, he thought we were going to chat. I decided regardless, I was moving at the rest stop because I needed sleep and I didn't feel at all comfortable sitting next to this guy, much less sleeping next to him. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt as I read my book, but as he chuckled to himself while playing connect four or something stupid on his phone he kept glancing over at me. I almost wished he would have tried something so I could publicly embarrass him with a talking to – it was dead quiet because people were trying to sleep and it would have been too easy. Did I mention I realized how dumb it would have been to try crossing the boarder with a pocket knife and peper spray when it's against the rules to cary it on the Greyhound? I had to throw them out before crossing at a rest stop. I decided it was just best to go find a nice looking lady to sit with (all empty spots were taken by now) and avoid any confrontation altogether.

Saskatchewan is all flat and fields, marshes, baby ducks, and rolls of hay. Hopefully just in an attempt to break monotony, the driver rubber necked and informed us all to look out to the left at an upsidown RV and a bike in front of it. I didn't see carnage so I hope the bike just fell from the RV.

I just have to say, this is actually really pleasant and I don't mind traveling this way. Sure, you're on the road a lot and your butt kind of hurts if you don't shift around a bit. I basically change and shower every other day, but it's not like I'm breaking a sweat. I'm not paying for a bed to sleep in, or eating out. It's a frugal and relaxing way to see Canada. It helps, I'm sure, that I'm an easy-going-let-the-wind-take-me kind of traveler. Anyway, I was worried this was a hairbrained idea that I was going to regret after day one, so it's terrific that it's the opposite.