Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver.
Gilles VIGNEAULT


Day 8

am

pm (very cold)

Rides = 3
Arrival = Ottawa
km travelled = 203
$ spent = $33.00 (knife, camping equipment, Youth Hostel)
Time passed on the road = 9 am 2 pm
km walked = 11





It is freezing out here. I am dressed for winter: t-shirt, plaid shirt, sweater, jean jacket, scarf, and I am shivering. There is a big wind from the north. It feels that it could snow... I have been walking for the last few hours. Highway 40 is under construction and the road is actually lower than the shoulder! The cars looks like little Hot Wheels on a plastic track. Even if there were drivers who wanted to stop, they would not be able to. So I walk and I walk with the wind in my face. I ended up stopping in a shopping centre in Dorval to get a coffee and to get warm.

Three rides later I am in Ottawa. During my walk I decided to go through the States instead of taking the Canadian route. Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and then back to Canada, Winnipeg bound. There are few reasons for this, the weather is probably the biggest one. I would obviously like to be warmer. But I am also having seconds thoughts about going via the rugged Canadian Shield route, and the especially evil place called WAWA. This town is internationally renowned to be a very bad spot to hitch hike. I have heard that if you get stuck there it could take days to get a ride out. The origin for all of this bad karma is rumoured to be a murder that took place 10 years ago. Back then, a hitch hiker got a lift with a local resident and slit the driver's throat before fleeing with his car. This was enough to scare people for a while.

Today I bought a bunch a stuff for my trip and I blew my budget. I spent $33.00! I got a knife and some plastic tubes to fill with food, like peanut butter and honey. I also got a tuque, a Youth Hostel membership and some free maps.

-Daniel





mister
dugas

www.dandatadugas.com