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Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

The Vagabond Girl – My Story

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in Vagabond Top Story

In early 2012 I was gainfully employed with plans of working until I was 65, doing all the “right things” and trying to squirrel away savings for the future. I was so busy trying to stay abreast of everything that I not only thought life was passing me by in a blur, I knew it […]

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Obatanga Provincial Park Aug. 18, 2012

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Up at 8, and straight to the laundry which is a ½ km walk away. It sure feels good to have fresh sheets on my bed. I had an awesome shower too, the best one so far because of the decent pressure. This park is large – it has 9409 hectares and its park lakes […]

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Obatanga Provincial Park Aug. 17, 2012 (247 km)

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

A little boy snagged his lure (a plastic pretend lure) in the high branches of a tree at my campsite early this morning so I helped him to get it down by putting pressure on the lure from another direction. I talked to the little boy and his sister and they told me that their […]

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North West Ontario, Rainbow Falls Provincial Park Aug. 16, 2012 (173km)

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Another huge rainstorm last night with thunder and lightning. I started a conversation with a fellow from Oregon who said that he and his wife just spent six months working in Quebec. He said that the drive that I am on following the edge of Lake Superior is the prettiest part of the trip to […]

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North West Ontario, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park Aug. 15, 2012 (390 Km from Aaron Prov Park)

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

August 15th, North West Ontario, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park ($37.00 fee – it didn’t include power) I found it quite a boring drive from Aaron Park to Thunder Bay, scrubby forest on both sides of the road and an unbelievable amount of big trucks and construction slowdowns and stops – it all made for a […]

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Thunder Lake, Aaron Provincial Park, Ontario Aug. 13-14, 2012

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Thunder Lake, Aaron Provincial Park, Ontario ($32.00) August 13th I made it to Ontario! And am camped out alone on a narrow piece of land surrounded by the lake (An isthmus? Is this what we studied in geography? A more boring class couldn’t have been designed!). The campsites are lovely, private, forested sites. My initial […]

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Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Aug. 12, 2012

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

August 12th, Sunday, Ste. Anne, Manitoba, Lilac Resort $32.00 (Around 270km from Brandon) Mornings are the best! It means that one has survived the night with no exciting wake up calls. It means fresh ground coffee, and a whole new day of adventure waiting just outside my door. What will happen today, tonight, tomorrow? Next […]

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Brandon, Manitoba – Aug. 11, 2012

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

August 11th, Brandon, Manitoba – 432 km from Moose Jaw (Wal-Mart Parking Lot $0.00) Brandon Wheat Kings – those words stick together in my mind like peanut butter and jam.  The name of a junior hockey team based nearly 2,000 km from my home: I wonder how I know that piece of trivia? It was […]

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Moose Jaw Saskatchewan – Aug. 10, 2012

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Swift Current to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan 174km (38’C) Where to today? I couldn’t wait to get out of the Swift Current campground, King of Grunge, and travelling anywhere else sounded good. I am now in Moose Jaw, camped at River Park Campground, a private campground – they only take cash, $32.00 thank you, and they […]

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Swift Current, Saskatchewan and clanking noises – Aug. 9, 2012

Posted on September 21, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Aug. 9th Thursday – Swift Current Saskatchewan ($20.00 + tax) I am in SASKATCHEWAN,  the third province over from the west coast. I pulled in just before dark, and am now unbagging an instant caesar salad and singing along to John Lennon’s “Come together, gotta be free.” Yeah, right on! Strange words to that song, […]

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Waterton to Medicine Hat, Alberta, August 8, 2012

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Medicine Hat, Alberta, Wednesday, Aug. 8th I left Waterton with no regret while knowing that I was being unfair, I did not explore many of its most beautiful trails. The drive to my next city, Medicine Hat was about 300 km, and as I left the mountains behind, I was entranced by the beautiful colours and […]

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Hiking and bears – Waterton Lakes National Park – Aug. 7, 2012

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Tues, Aug. 7th Waterton Lakes National Park After the blissful start to a day of sunshine, coffee and breakfast the first thing on my agenda was to drive out to the Red Rock Parkway. It is fifteen miles through the Blakiston Valley, and follows an ancient bison trail. Along this route, there is a great […]

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Cranbrook to Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Monday August 6, 2012 – Cranbrook to Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta – 270 km Waterton Lakes National Park ($30.00) I camped in the Red Rock Canyon at Crandell Lake. It was the only place available as everything else was booked. There are mountains all around us and some have lovely red colours in the rock, hence the […]

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Fort Steele Aug. 5, 2012

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Sunday August 5th, Cranbrook A blazing hot sun – it went up to 90 degrees F today, and as I write in my journal this evening at 10:30 pm, the temperature has dropped all the way down to 82. Last night around midnight some people drove into the campground and cranked up their boom box. […]

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Rail trail to Kimberley Aug 4 2012

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Saturday August 4th Cranbrook I walked a good ways around Jim Smith Lake and wondered who he was. For breakfast, I cooked up blueberry pancakes with peaches. Then I read for a while and looking at the pine forest and breathing in the sweet air, I thought this moment, this experience is a pretty great […]

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Cranbrook, Jim Smith Provincial Park (Aug. 3, 2012)

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Cranbrook, Jim Smith Lake Prov Park The wind blew up last night, and it kept me awake. It was a short night because I wanted to be early at the Balfour ferry terminal, I had no idea whether or not there was a high demand for the crossing.  I was first in line! A true […]

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August 1 Kokanee Creek Provincial Park

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

August 1st 2012  – Kokanee Creek Provincial Park It was hard to leave Christina Lake because I had had so much fun there, but I needed to get my trailer fixed. With some persuasion I had arranged an appointment in Trail. My neighbour who looked like he was cruising 90 helped guide me out of the […]

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July 31st 2012 Biking the rail trail Paulson Road to Christina Lake

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

July 31st. 10:30pm 77’ inside the trailer What a month it has been. And I don’t remember when I have had a happier July. Today I went biking with Jean, Gord, and their daughter Jennifer who is a professional off road biker. She likes the downhill runs at Whistler –downhill at speed, rocks, and tight […]

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Christina Lake, BC. July 28, 2012

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

July 28th Saturday Christina Lake – 157 km from Osoyoos, 606 km from home I stayed in the slow lane on the big climb out of Osoyoos this morning to conserve gas except when I had to pull around a semi-trailer, some of whom who were going so slow that they looked like they were […]

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North to Penticton Friday July 27, 2012

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

The weather forecast for today said it was going to be brutally hot so I decided to take an air-conditioned trip to Penticton.It was a gorgeous drive, around 60km, through Oliver and past the beautiful Skaha Lake, the rich green of orchards and vineyards, and Okanagan Lake. It was like going home for me because […]

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Manning Park to Osoyoos July 26 2012

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

July 26 Thursday – Manning Park to Osoyoos This morning I opened my eyes, and six inches away were Baloo’s unblinking liquid brown eyes staring at me. I guess my new alarm clock was telling me it’s time to get up. I made coffee with my new bod, which is fast and easy. Just boil […]

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Manning Park, Hampton Campground, July 25, 2012

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Manning Park, Hampton Campground, July 25, 2012 If you leave this morning remember why you’re going on the trip – to get some much needed rest, to de-stress, to see beautiful nature and to have fun! So if something is happening that is stopping you from that, then stop and refocus! I believe you will […]

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Camping in Zeller’s parking lot – Chilliwack – July 24, 2012

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Tuesday, July 24, 2012 – Camping in Zeller’s parking lot So that’s how I ended up on my first real day of travel on the mainland, 75km from my starting point in Surrey, sitting last night in the hot and deserted Zeller’s parking lot having a power picnic that consisted of lukewarm root beer and […]

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A Big Challenge – July 23, 2012

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

July 23, 2012 A big Challenge As I turned the ignition key, the engine responded with that noise telling you and everyone else listening, it just doesn’t feel like starting so early in the morning. The noise was so loud; I hated to think of what my fellow campers were calling me right at this […]

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Off to the Ferry at Swartz Bay

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

My journey east has begun! I carefully hooked up my trailer at Oceanside RV Park and after a walk to the beach, headed out early to my hometown of Sidney to pick up a coffee before catching the ferry. I was also returning a cooking grate to the hardware store and hoping that I wouldn’t […]

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Backing up – it’s not as easy as it looks

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

I did it. I packed up all my goodies, stowed everything away, followed my step by step “Pack up the trailer” instructions that I had written out, took several deep breaths, and then started driving around the campground, and practiced backing up the trailer. Having never done this before I realized right away that it’s […]

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Is it time to leave Fairy Lake?

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

Is it time to leave Fairy Lake? Or should I just think about it? July 10, 2012 Camping hint 101: put away chairs at night or fold up – else you get a wet bum in the morning Last night as I sat beside the fire and listened to the light breeze in the treetops, […]

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Fairy Lake Blueberry pancakes and my new inverter

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

FAIRY LAKE Sunday, July 8 Blueberry pancakes for breakfast with maple syrup and butter, and orange juice, yum! I have a warm camp fire burning to keep me warm because the fog is still in and it is cool. I can’t even see across the lake this morning. As the sun came up and burned […]

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The day I fell in love with my 14 foot travel trailer

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

July 9, 2012 When I look at my shiny little trailer I can’t really believe it is mine. I had done so much searching of ads online and studying articles on what to buy. First I thought of a truck and camper, but I didn’t like how it couldn’t be left behind, I couldn’t set […]

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Emails home – it’s so much fun to use my new camping supplies!

Posted on November 14, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

July 8, 2012 I love cooking with my new stove and dishes! I found out from the park ranger that I can stay here for 14 days, and I just might do that! I have the best campsite at Fairy Lake, #20, the sun warms me up in the morning, and I can walk right […]

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Baloo – my navigator

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in all posts, Meditative Reflections and Photos, The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

“Baloo”, said the vet “is a mix of lab and shepherd, and who knows what else. If you are interested it’s possible to do a DNA search.” “Are you kidding” I responded, “I just wanted to know the major parts of this Heinz 57 creation because people are always asking me “What’s he made of?” […]

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Heading down the road to who knows where?

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

July 7, 2012 It’s late on Saturday afternoon, and I decided it was time to go out exploring. First, I drove to Lizard Lake campground and found out that what used to be a Texas Mickey challenge for young Port Renfrew teenagers is now a well-marked trail all around the lake. We set off into […]

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Relaxing at Fairy Lake

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

July 7, 2012 morning I closed up my computer and ate some Hawkins cheezies, simply the best junk food going when I am feeling frustrated. Next on the task list was the job of applying an invisible shield to my cell phone to protect the screen. The instructions said to use water, and a squeegee. […]

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The Vagabond Girl – My 43,000 km trip in a 14 Foot Trailer with a dog named Baloo

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Janice Henshaw in The Vagabond Girl - Travel Stories

In July 2012 I set out on a trip. I drove my Dad’s old diesel pickup and towed a small 14′ trailer. My dog Baloo sat in the co-pilot seat and acted as navigator. He never disagreed with any of my ideas. Nor did he argue when I changed direction, got lost, or was late […]

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