The day finally arrived. The day to head out. The day to leave what I called home for 18 years. I didn’t cry. I couldn’t. I had to look forward not back. One last look of the road, Mill Road, Holt, East Gwillimbury. Seven and I will miss you.

The night before I hardly slept. I had a long journey ahead and it was something that I had never done before. I was as nervous as hell. I hate highways and here I was about to embark on a 4500km road trip. Crazy. Absolutely insane. Finally when Seven saw his bed, toys and food bowls, he knew he was coming too. One last look. One last phone call. Door locked. Shaking like a leaf, I buckled up, started the car and made that one last drive up the hill. Holy shit Steph what have you done?

As I said I hate highways so I flatly refused to take the 401 to Sarnia. Thought I would take it easy for the first few hours. All was good until construction around Stratford, Ontario. In Ontario and most of Canada there are two seasons on the road – construction or snow.  A mere 2 hours into my trip I am lost. Great start. And it won’t be the last time as you will see. Back on track and here I am on the 401, the road I did not want to be on. Have to make up time now, so the highway was the only answer. Amazingly the road was not busy then the bridge to the USA and traffic came to a halt, I had heard stories of line-ups for hours. This was a breeze and only took half an hour to get to the check point.

Passport, papers for the dog. Did I have it all? Yes of course. When travelling solo, you check and recheck and check again. US customs. Where you headed miss he asks while looking at my passport and the interior of the car. Mexico, I say. I see you have a dog, can you open the door please ma’am. Here a lump came in my throat as Seven does not fair well with strangers as I told you. Seven looked at him and froze. He closed the door. Do you have dog food? Yes. May I see it. Well that was kind of awkward but I dragged his bag of food for mr. customs officer to look at. What’s in it? Shit man it’s dog food I felt like saying. I said I think it’s made in the US and he says well it’s got French on the package so I doubt it. It has lamb in it. That is not allowed. Oh great I am thinking. Make sure you leave none in the US, take it all to Mexico. Seriously dude? And with that we were now in the US and motoring to our first stop at the Red Roof Inn Coldwater, Michigan.

By the time we arrived at the hotel after getting lost again exhausted and starving. Seven was also totally confused.  Ordered pizza, turned on the TV, took Seven for a pee and tried to settle down for a good nights sleep. This was a whole new thing for Seven and I, being on a leash. Try telling a dog who has had free roam of 200 acres to suddenly be told hey it’s pee time, lets go. He was not amused.

The end of day one.