This post is Part 4 of Our Long Way Home.
You can find the prologue, and Part 1 – 3, here: http://homesteademporium.wordpress.com/category/our-long-way-home/ 

Our Long Way Home – Part 4

Sunday morning Graydon (dh), Julia (12), and Elsa (14) headed out to church. By this time, there was still SO much cleaning left to do, and I was SO emotionally, and physically spent, that I honestly couldn’t even handle the thought of any more good bye’s after church. I had said goodbye to those closest to us the day before, when they had been by to help clean, and they had said they would understand if I couldn’t make it to church the following day. Shaylah felt the same as me, and stayed home to help continue with the cleaning.

Graydon, on the other hand, had been away from our church for months and it was a great time for him to get to see everyone before we left the Island. They had a real nice potluck lunch afterward.

We tried hard to get things done before we had to leave a little later that afternoon. The list of what still needed to be done seemed ENDLESS and completely daunting! Graydon and the girls came home and we all continued to work. Graydon still had lots to do, and time just kept on ticking away! We finally finished loading all the last of our belongings into the two trailers each of us would tow the 2000 km to the prairies.

Our plan was to catch the 5:00 ferry, but it was quickly becoming clear that it just wasn’t going to happen. Our pastor and his wife showed up mid afternoon, and jumped in to help with the last of the cleaning. We were so thankful for the extra hands, and their thoughtfulness.

Finally, we loaded up our 2 cats, 2 birds, and 4 dogs into my suv at about 5:00 and we pulled out of the driveway. Graydon and one of the girls in his truck with his work trailer behind him, me in my suv with the other two girls and a large uhaul behind me.

Have I mentioned I’ve never towed a large trailer before? Great time for a first time right?

Just before we pulled out, Graydon had hooked up the trailer so I could drive it and practice backing up and turning at the dead end down the road. I felt fairly confident that I’d do ok, and we were off!

We made a quick pit stop to one of our neighbours who we hadn’t had the chance to say goodbye to yet. Chatted for a bit, and then were on our way!

We made it in time to catch the 8:15 ferry. Later then we expected, but at least we made it!

On the ferry we took turns staying with vehicles & pets, and wandering around.

Goodbye west coast. It’s prairies, or bust, from here.