Road Trip

This week Greg and I have decided to plunge head first into planning our summer vacation. Our plan is to take a road trip from Edmonton to Vancouver Island. Greg grew up in Qualicum Beach and Victoria, so I am looking forward to checking out the places where he spent his early years.

As for specifics, we know the dates (June 26-July 12), definite pit stops (Calgary, Radium Hot Springs, Vancouver) and must-have meal locations (Shima on Denman in Vancouver for sushi and Bibo in Nelson to check out Culina's BC sister). We're mixing camping with hotels like the Empress in Victoria and on-the-beach hospitality suites like The Captain's Inn in Qualicum. I'm hoping to take in some hiking and campfires, the Calgary Stampede and Canada Day in Vancouver with the Robson Street festival and fireworks in Burrard Inlet. I'd also like to head to Seattle for a day trip if possible. Beyond these broad strokes, we're still in the planning phase.

Image via Sasuke GR.

Jasper

Greg and I are off early tomorrow morning on an impromptu road trip to Jasper for the long weekend. We debated tents and backpacks and coolers and Coleman stoves; the low temps and possible flurries made a hotel more attractive. A fire ban banished dreams of teaching Greg to love marshmallows. We'll have a fantastic time nonetheless relaxing at the hot springs, drinking in the mountain air, taking day hikes and eating delicious dinners.

Merry wishes for a happy and safe long weekend.

Image via Ynusfogan Jack.

Car Show

Last evening, after munching on a sushi dinner at City Centre, Greg, Patrick and I took the LRT to the Edmonton Car Show. It was my first time ever attending a car show. Organized by company, a car show is a great opportunity to cut down on showroom shopping and see all new models in one stop. Seeing the cars adjacent to each other in a relatively neutral environment (meaning you're not swayed by the fact that the BMW dealership is swankier than the GM, or has glossier commercials) made me see similarities between brands that I hadn't noticed before.

In thinking about the range of vehicles showcased - everything from a Smart Car to a Hummer - a few models stand out in my mind. To note, I am the furthest thing from a car buff. I purchased my current vehicle on a whim after declaring that I wanted a fully-loaded model and that colour was very important (yet I somehow ended up buying a purple car even though I had always planned on purchasing black). Car browsing is interesting for me because it forces me to think about how I want to live my life; transportation is a key component of those considerations.

While working in St. John's, a number of my co-workers debated the practicality and styling of a van. Vans are a contentious issue. Those in favour cited the ability to move lots of kids, toys, snow blowers etc. around easily as a key benefit. Others claimed their wheels were not vans (the model in question was the Mazda 5). Two stylish new alternatives to a family mini van were present - the Nissan Cube and the Ford Flex. Both are more visually interesting than a van, but are not overwhelming in size like a SUV. If you're moving kids to soccer practice or planning a family road trip, either of these vehicles might fit the bill.

The Nissan Cube

The Ford Flex

Greg and I both prefer a wagon over a van or a SUV. Unfortunately not many companies are producing wagons these days. Our two top contenders are the Volkswagen Jetta Wagon (Diesel) and the Audi A3. We also liked the Volvo V50.

The Volkswagen Jetta Wagon

The Audi A3

Most upsetting, Mazda has remodeled the 3 for 2010. Coincidentally, I read an article this week that said a car looses value when a new model of the vehicle is released. If, for some reason, the newer version is less popular than the older version, value may not decrease, through this usually is not the case. Thankfully I don't have (too much) buyer's remorse about my current ride.

Photos are from various sources: Nissan Cube from Auto Net, Ford Flex from German Car Zone, Volkswagen Jetta Wagon from Motor Trend and Audi A3 from Auto Rola.

Antique Autos

We are (very unnecessarily) a two car family. Greg's office is five blocks from our building, while I work only a six minute subway journey from home. There are two grocery stores within one block of our apartment. Most of our friends and social activities are easily accessible by foot or train. Greg and I drive to the supermarket on Mondays, and I take my car for a spin every Thursday to ballet. We take advantage of the cars every few weekends when we trek to Calgary or the mountains. Otherwise my car rests in the garage a lot more than when I was living in St. John's. I have filled up my car no more than five times in the past six months.

When considering our predicament with this cash outlay for transportation that is rarely used to transport us anywhere, Greg contemplates selling his car. A few days ago we considered what options the sale of the car might open up; one of our brainstormed ideas was an antique auto. Greg has had a long-standing interest in the autos of yesteryear, while I am more swept away in the idea of wearing a silk bandana and eating an ice cream cone while cruising about town on a warm summer evening.

I am sure this car would be next to impossible to find, but if it was up to me, we would buy a Fiat Jolly. Isn't this the cutest car you've ever seen?

Greg's pick is more masculine and sporty - a 1972 Porsche.

Sure this is a pipe dream, but it is fun to think about all of life's possibilities.