I Bought a GPS System!

On Friday of this past week, my husband and I went to FutureShop to purchase a GPS system.  We didn’t know what to expect so we browsed around the GPS section playing with the various GPSes (is that a word?!) until help finally arrived to take us out of our navigational misery!

After much discussion, we finally settled on one - the TomTom One XL.  It’s normally $499 but we got it on sale for $399 - a cool hundred bucks off.   Here is a description of the system from the TomTom website:

The TomTom ONE XL has everything you need to make your trip safer, more relaxed and more fun.

At its heart lies TomTom’s award-winning plug-and-go navigation software, but the new 4.3” wide high-quality touchscreen makes navigating even easier.

Your ONE XL has a pre-installed database of safety camera locations in the UK. This database is fully integrated in your ONE XL navigation software and alerts to warn you when there is a fixed safety camera on your route.

There’s a large choice of route options and to make your trip complete, thousands of useful and fun Points of Interest pre-installed for on the way.

In other words, the TomTom ONE XL makes getting there better than ever.

We tested it out this weekend by going to Algonquin Park (middle of nowhere) and Kingston (on the highway) and it worked great in both areas!  It only miscalculated where we were by a couple of meters once on our way out to Algonquin Park.  It knew which road we were on but couldn’t really tell precisely where we were due to us being in the middle of the mountains.

I also downloaded a bunch of different voices from the internet but we settled on the voice of Lori, an American girl.  So, we’ve been calling our TomTom Lori.  We thank Lori for giving us directions when we are lost and Stevie blows kisses to her because she’s taken him from directionally challenged to navigationally perfect.

Can’t wait to see what she’ll help us with across the USA in April.  We can hardly wait for our trip…  The next piece of technology we need to get is a wireless internet card that will work across Canada and the US…  hopefully from the car!

Technorati Tags: GPS, GPS unit, GPS navigational system, GPS system, TomTom, TomTom One XL

Quick Jaunt to Kingston, Ontario

Today, Sunday August 26, Stevie and I decided to head down to Kingston, Ontario for a shopping trip!  We left around noon and headed down Highway 15 to the town I used to live in.  I went to college here and I really enjoyed my time here so it was good to go back to visit.

Here is Princess Street…  Basically the downtown core of Kingston.  There is some great shopping here and lots to see and do.  It leads down to the St. Lawrence River and there are some great views there.

Here’s ME! :)  Hanging out by the fountain.  I just bought this hat - isn’t it cute??

Here’s me & Stevie.  I caught Stevie off guard a bit so he’s not really smiling but it’s still a cute picture

Here are some ducks in the water… They were cute but I had no food to give them.

The boats down by the water here are gorgeous!!

Beautiful downtown Kingston…

A bridge on our way back to Highway 401…

The beautiful sky on the way home from Kingston.

Technorati Tags: Kingston, Ontario, Kingston travel, Kingston tourism, Ontario travel, Ontario tourism, St. Lawrence River, Ontario rivers, downtown Kingston, Kingston shopping, The Traveling VA

A Hike in Algonquin Park

Today, August 25, my husband and I (and our two dogs - Summer and Molly) headed out on a 200 km tour to Algonquin Park to go for a hike.  Algonquin Park is one of Ontario’s largest provincial parks and it boasts beautiful scenery along a 50km stretch of highway.  I’ve driven through Algonquin Park many times but never stopped to hike so this morning we set out on our way to do just that!

Here are some photos from our trip…

See how giant these trees are?  Steve stood beside one so we could get the full visual appeal.  Oh, and this begs an interesting story…  See the way my husband is dressed?  American Eagle t-shirt, American Eagle shorts, American Eagle sandals (yes, SANDALS on a hike!) and my Nike hat (his hair was gelled before he put my hat on)…  So… THIS is how my lumberjack husband dressed for a hike.  And people wonder why I call him my metro-sexual lumberjack husband…  Oy vey.

Some of the gorgeous white pine in the park.  We took a trail called the “Big Pines” trail and along it, we learned about lumberjacking in the park as well as what it was like to do that job back in the 1800s.  It was neat for my hubby to see what it was like.  The trees you see here are the average size of trees that my husband falls (technical term for cuts down and lets land in the forest)…

Me (and Summer and Molly!  It’s kinda like a Where’s Waldo?) standing beside THE biggest white pine in Algonquin Park.  I have my hood up because it was raining.  It didn’t stop us though - in fact, Steve said it added to the atmosphere…  I thought it made it downright SPOOKY!

Some crazy roots growing out of the tree.  This is one of my favorite photos from the day!  I love the harshness of the rocks against the roots.

Here’s one of the openings on the trail.  It was nice to see the mountains in back with the mist floating off of them.  We looked for moose but didn’t see any (it’s a regular occurrence in Algonquin Park to see moose…)

This is Stevie after our hike in the rain…  What a cutie!!

Here’s Molly after the hike in the rain.  She loves the outdoors.  Normally she’d be sleeping at this point but since we introduced Summer to the family, Summer now takes up the whole backseat…  It’s crazy since Summer is so much smaller!

Here’s me post-trip at the Tim Hortons drive thru…  Do you notice how every non-glamorous shot of me is in black and white?  Yes, I do believe that black and white lessens the shock factor of seeing me with no makeup on! haha…

Here’s Summer girl in all her beauty…  Do you notice her ear?  It’s missing the tip…  At birth, Summer was the first puppy to come out and when her momma was doing her newborn thing, she bit a piece of Summer’s ear off.  The breeder asked us if we still wanted her…  Of course we did!  We’re not perfect so why should our dogs be?

Heehee… I couldn’t resist posting this photo.  We stopped in Wilno, Canada’s first Polish settlement, for a photo and the dogs watched on.  Blaskie, for those that don’t know, is a Polish name and Steve’s ancestors are Polish.  They actually (some of them) speak Polish and have taught me some indecent words

Here’s my Polish prince at the historical plaque…

Technorati Tags: Algonquin Park, Big Pines walking tour, Big Pines hike, hiking in Algonquin Park, Wilno, Polish, Poland, Polish settlement, Canada, Canada travel, provincial park, Algonquin, The Traveling VA, Erin Blaskie, Steve Blaskie

Do You Know About GPS Navigation Systems? If So, HELP!

For our Cross-USA trip, I have decided that we absolutely need a GPS navigation system.  As I know nothing about these systems, I am calling out for your help on deciding which to buy!  Here are some things I need to consider:

• I live in Canada so I need to be able to either (a) purchase the product locally or (b) purchase it online from a retailer that will not charge me hundreds of dollars in customs duty.
• I want a system that I can purchase USA maps for (do you purchase the maps?!  Download them?!)
• I want a system that talks to me…  I’m thinking something like, “Turn left at stop sign ahead.”

I have looked at Futureshop and they have TomToms, Pioneer systems, Escorts, Garmins, LGs… *sigh*  Stores should have ONE choice for EVERY product.  Yes, that would be boring but it would make my decisions easier!

So, where are my techno-geeks?  Generally, that is what I am but since this falls out of my general geeky knowledge base, I need your help.  Let me know if you use a GPS currently and what you like about it.  Also, tell me which GPS systems I should steer clear of.

PS - If you own a GPS Navigation System company and want to send me one for free, I’ll review it on the blog… I promise… :)  Email me and I’ll give you my physical mailing address.  (What? Are you reading this and think it’s shameless?  It is!)

Technorati Tags: GPS, GPS Navigation System, GPS system, navigation system, navigation systems, TomTom, Pioneer, Escort, Garmin, LG, Futureshop, FutureShop, techno-geek, techno geek, geek, Cross-USA trip

Entering the USA - Everything I Need to Know…

In planning this trip, one of the most important things is making sure we’re all able and ready to enter the US.  If you are a Canadian citizen looking to travel to the US, here are some important details for you to note.

From the US Customs and Border Patrol website:

Entry of Citizens of Canada

Citizens of Canada are exempt from the visa and passport requirement of Immigration and Nationality Act (section 212(a)(7).) To enter the United States, a Canadian citizen must be able to establish both identity and citizenship. Documents that may establish citizenship are:

• Birth certificate
• Citizenship certificate
• Passport.

Although a CBP officer may accept an oral declaration of citizenship, it is recommended that a Canadian citizen carry a document that establishes citizenship. Under current procedures, all travelers may be required to present photo-identification.

NOTE: A Canadian citizen arriving from outside the Western Hemisphere is required to present a passport. Canadian citizens classified as Treaty Trader, Treaty Investor, or Fiancé(e) require a visa.

I also just called down to the US border office at Alexandria Bay and the gentleman I spoke to said all is okay.  So long as it’s a vacation (which it is), I can still manage my business while I am away - checking in with my assistant, etc.  So, we’re good!

Now… about our puppies.  I need to check to see what the rules are there!

Here are the guidelines:

• Pets must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate that was obtained at least 30 days prior but not over 1 year before date of departure.

Hmm… I think that is it!  I’ll probably call down to the customs office about this too just to be sure my girl’s won’t be excluded from the US!

Technorati Tags: Traveling to the US from Canada, customs guidelines, border guidelines, border patrol, customs and borders, bringing dogs to the US, travel to the US

My Anthem…

Lyrics for “The Long Way Around” by the Dixie Chicks

My friends from high school
Married their high school boyfriends
Moved into houses in the same ZIP codes
Where their parents live

But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow

I hit the highway in a pink RV with stars on the ceiling
Lived like a gypsy
Six strong hands on the steering wheel

I’ve been a long time gone now
Maybe someday, someday I’m gonna settle down
But I’ve always found my way somehow

By taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around

I met the queen of whatever
Drank with the Irish and smoked with the hippies
Moved with the shakers
Wouldn’t kiss all the asses that they told me to

No I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow

It’s been two long years now
Since the top of the world came crashing down
And I’m getting’ it back on the road now

But I’m taking the long way
Taking the long way around
I’m taking the long way
Taking the long way around
The long
The long way around

Well, I fought with a stranger and I met myself
I opened my mouth and I heard myself
It can get pretty lonely when you show yourself
Guess I could have made it easier on myself

But I, I could never follow
No I, I could never follow

Well, I never seem to do it like anybody else
Maybe someday, someday I’m gonna settle down
If you ever want to find me I can still be found

Taking the long way
Taking the long way around
Taking the long way
Taking the long way around

Technorati Tags: The Long Way Around, Long Way Around, Taking the Long Way Around, Dixie Chicks, The Dixie Chicks, Dixie Chicks video, Dixie Chicks music, Cross-USA Trip, Erin Blaskie, personal anthem

Can’t Spell Traveling (Americans!) or Travelling (Canadians!)?

I’ve just registered additional domain names to make this super simple for people to remember.  Here they are:

www.thetravelingva.com (original)
www.thetravellingva.com (for my Canadian friends)
www.crosstheus.com
www.crosstheusa.com
www.crossunitedstates.com
www.crossusatrip.com

Now go forth and remember what you will!

PS - Thanks to all the recent comments on the latest Cross-USA trip…  Miss it due to all of the Montreal photos and updates?  Catch it here.

Ciao!

Technorati Tags: Cross-USA Trip, The Traveling VA, The Travelling VA, Erin Blaskie, virtual assistant, virtual assistance

Old Montreal in Montreal, Quebec

Old Montreal is one of the nicest parts of Montreal and I highly recommend you visit that part of Montreal if ever you get a chance to go there. The area is lined with beautiful shops and very old buildings. The Notre Dame Basilica is down in that area as is City Hall.

Here is Trina and I at breakfast at Chez Suzette’s in Old Montreal. We each had a crepe and it was absolutely delicious! We had great service here:

Here is Trina standing next to the St. Lawrence River:

Here I am standing next to the St. Lawrence River:

Here is Trina outside of the oldest building in Montreal. This is also the original cobblestone road:

An old street clock:

Here is a busy, bustling street in the heart of Old Montreal:

Gorgeous architecture makes visiting this area so worth it!:

Technorati Tags: Old Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Chez Suzette, cobblestone road

Chez Cora’s Restaurant for Breakfast in Montreal, Quebec

Trina and I awoke Sunday morning with a need for a restaurant for breakfast!  We headed out on foot searching for a Chez Cora’s restaurant.  Trina promised it would be the best breakfast I would ever eat and I was NOT disappointed.  I had the waffle and custard with the strawberries, kiwis, bananas and strawberry coulis and Trina did too!  It was DELICIOUS!

Here is me at the restaurant:

Here is the courtyard right outside of the window at our table:

Technorati Tags: Chez Cora’s, Cora’s, Cora’s restaurant, Montreal restaurant, Montreal for breakfast

Notre-Dame Basilica in Montréal, Quebec

Trina and I visited the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, Quebec to view the beautiful architecture.  Here are some of our favorite photos from that visit.

Here is the outside of this stunning Church:

The main area of the Church:

Some beautiful candles inside of the Church:

Technorati Tags: Basilica, Notre-Dame Basilica in Montréal, Quebec, Notre Dame, Montreal, Notre Dame Basilica

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