If you're just tuning in, we're bringing you daily updates from Senator Larry Campbell's travels across Canada with his dog, Sue, as they make their way to Ottawa to vote on an emergency bill this coming week. HERE is the intro and HERE is chapter 2. Today is chapter 3.
In our last update Larry called me and got me out of bed, but today I sat waiting by the phone for him to call, then finally rang him up.
He's been making really good time but saw his first car accident today, which I find incredible given that he's driven from here to Ontario.
A semi truck crashed somewhere in Ontario. Photo Larry CampbellThe best thing that happened to Larry yesterday is that somebody opened up their gas station for him.
He was "in the middle of nowhere" with only a quarter tank left, and pulled into a place that was a combination Indian restaurant and gas bar.
The sign on the door said CLOSED but a young Indo-Canadian man came out and opened up the bar and allowed him to fill up.
He said that the man told him his family had just bought the place a year previous, and that the restaurant was keeping the entire thing afloat. Now closed for obvious reasons, he's not sure what the future will bring.
That was the best thing that happened. The best thing he saw was one of the Great Lakes.
"I came around the corner and there was Lake Superior. It was in the afternoon and the sun was shining off of it and it was just breathtaking."
Larry and Sue bedded down in a motel in Thunder Bay, Ontario last night.
Larry Campbell's bluetick coonhound Sue stares out at him through a motel window in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Photo Larry CampbellIn a shocking turn of events, today I learned that the good senator is a big fan of Hawaiian pizza.
"I love Hawaiian pizza. It's the best," he told me, but that last night he was "feeling particularly patriotic" so he opted for Canadian pizza at a Pizza Hut takeout window. Think backbacon, mushrooms, etc.
By Larry's count he's only talked to 14 people on his trip so far, "And that's max."
The people he's met have all been "Really nice," and "They're all just just hanging on."
According to Larry there are two highways where he's at right now.
"One is the highway you drive on, and the other is the snowmobile highway."
Unlike the Lower Mainland, there's a ton of snow where he's at right now, and "there are just tracks everywhere" next to the highway.
As they headed off toward North Bay, Ontario today, on the actual highway, he told me that "It's a country and western day," and that they were listening to Garth Brooks.
A bluetick coondog named Sue. Photo Larry CampbellReaders, please know that I am doing my best to convince Larry to shoot some selfies. He is anti-selfie, which I can totally respect, but I know that you want to see photos of him and Sue together.
BONUS: Pat Tracy, former editor of the Burnaby Now newspaper, wanted me to ask Larry how long his trailer is.
"Oh, 16 feet."
Email me any questions you might have for Larry: [email protected].
Tomorrow Larry expects to be in Ottawa, and after a few days will be making his way back and he promises to send me a lot more photos as he's going to take more time.
