Reality - we were so tired, the girls were still sleeping at 10am. I only got up because I *had* to go get the car before check out time. By the time I was ready to go, the next shuttle bus back to the airport was 11.30am. So I got everything packed, and told the girls if I'm not back by 11.50am, take all the bags downstairs and wait for me - so at least we could look like we were leaving prior to checkout!
I had a lovely trip to the airport on the shuttle with a jovial group of american pilots, who were keeping me talking, just to hear my accent. Which was a bit of a shame, because I was trying to keep *them* talking, particularly the gorgeous southern pilot with yummy blue eyes, so I could hear HIS accent! LOL He gave me lots of tips of driving on the right side of the road, including the gem - rent the biggest truck they possibly have, and then it won't matter which side of the road I'm on, I can be sure noone is going to mess with me!
I check in with the rental company (no big trucks, what a shame) and ended up being suckered into the upsell of upgrading my car. The selling point - for me at least - was the prediction of a "big" snow storm coming through on Wednesday, and that I would be better off with a car that was better equiped for the weather conditions. I had the choice of a 4WD or a car with snow tyres. The price difference between the two was minimal. However, the price difference between the 4WD and the car I had originally booked was not so minimal - there blew my budget! In hindsight - was probably the best idea to go for the 4WD anyway, as the bags took up so much room, i'm not sure we would have fit into the mid-sized car I had booked. Besides, its lovely to drive!
I was given the instructions on how to get back to the hotel - very easy apparently. Just follow the road out, when I see Tim Hortons turn left, and follow that road to the hotel. Easy peasy! So I made my way tentatively out of the airport, hoping that there would be no other traffic to contend with until I had my bearings! I was driving along, starting to get the hang of things, hmmm....not so bad this driving on the wrong side business! I went around the bend and there it was....Tim Hortons! Crap, I have to turn left, turn left! I flicked the indicator on, only to find the window wipers going frantically instead. Crap crap crap, I quickly turn left, just as I figure out that the indicator is now on the *other* side of the steering wheel! After my moment of panic, I calm myself down, thank the lord that there was no traffic in my way and look about me - hmm...this isn't a road.....oh bugger! In my hast to 'turn left at Tim Hortons', I had actually turned left INTO Tim Hortons. Ugh! This is going to be a stressful trip I see.
So I casually drive the car around the car park, because that was the plan all along, right?? :) I turn back out onto the street, and then turn left at the street just ever so slightly beyond Tim Hortons! I finally make my way back to the hotel in one piece to find the girls patiently waiting for me to arrive back. The darlings had managed to bring everything downstairs - yippee - I got out of carrying the bags! We got the car loaded up, fired up the GPS with the address for Truro, and we were on our way!
The drive was surprisingly easy - one very long straight road, minimal traffic, and the traffic that there was on the road was good enough to pass me by.
Finally, after a very uneventful 40 minutes, we arrived at our turn off .......
Of course, this now involved having to maneouver off the highway, and deal with traffic! Eeek!!!! Thankfully, I managed to negotiate my way through the little town of Truro, and safely find the hotel. Ok, thats a lie. I managed to negotiate my way without causing an accident through Truro, and I found the hotel as I was driving past it! It's very hard trying to concentrate on the road, and look at the GPS AND look at your bearings around you! Oh, plus have two little voices next to you going SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!
So a slight detour around the block, and we made our way back to the hotel, and this time turned in to park! All checked in and up to our room - our nice warm room! We have arrived!!!!
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