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Yes, the first big driving chunk of our journey back east is (finally) over. We are now settling into our home until Saturday: a Holiday Inn in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Cassandra has gone to sleep, the boys are down the street at a Boston Pizza, and Natalie and I are watching how doughnuts are made at "The Donut Plant" in New York City. Considering my dinner for the past two nights has consisted of two hamburger buns with Nutella, watching blue and sprinkly squares of dough moving on a conveyor belt under a fountain of white powder is a rather torturous experience.

THUSLY. I will force myself to look away from the TV and tell you some road stories.

From Victoria, to Kelowna, to Calgary, to Regina, to Winnipeg, we've passed through some time zones and made it halfway across the country in FOUR days. That's nearly 2,500 kilometres in 96 hours people, which makes for eight-hour + days in the car. What do we do to pass the time, you ask? Here is a small collection of activities that have helped make the flat fields of the Prairies fly by.

First, we have the Yellow Car Game.

This game was introduced by a former team member two summers ago, but due to its addicting, entertaining and extremely competitive nature, it's become a signature activity of the Maple Lodge Farms Special Events team. Basically, when you see a yellow car while driving, whether it be on the highway, in a parking lot, or on a billboard, you yell out "YELLOW CAR" before anyone else does. The goal is to rack up as many points as possible before reaching your destination. But hang on now. It's not as easy as you may think. Taxis don't count, nor do Jeeps or vans, and if a yellow car is plateless at a dealership, consider it purple. Motorcycles are fair game however, at three points each, while convertibles and Bugs are worth two. Plus, yellow limos are worth about 34958762356 points due to their rarity. Never seen one? Well I can tell you right now they exist. Grant spotted one here in Winnipeg a few weeks ago and has therefore earned the title of Yellow Car Champion For All Eternity.

Second, we have How I Met Your Mother.

This five-year-old American sitcom features narrated stories by a man in the year 2030 as he recounts experiences to his kids that lead him to meet their mother. Grant is not only the Yellow Car Champion For All Eternity, he is also How I Met Your Mother's Biggest Fan. So naturally, we break out the box set now and then on the laptop in the Showtruck and bask in the comedic adventures of Ted Moseby. Let me tell you, it's LEGEND...wait for it....DARY.

And lastly, we have the Ancient Japanese Art of Knapping (silent K).

A practise characterized by closed eyes and a relaxed physical and mental state, the art of Knapping is known for its beneficial effects on mental alertness, overall stamina, and of course its ability to magically condense the travel time of any road trip. Of everyone on the team, Natalie is the Knapping Sensai since she practises this art pretty much on the daily.

AH! Just look at that technique! We're all picking it up slowly and learning by example, however. Everyone that is, except Grant. He is too much in tune with the Tibetan theology of the Waking Life.

And there you have it. Three activites that have aided our travels not just to Winnipeg, but to all our destinations in the True North.

Anyway, since there's no dessert menu in this hotel room, I decided to order a pillow instead. I just requested a "Firm Down" pillow from the front desk, and the description on the "Pillow Menu" sitting here on the bedside table reads:

For side sleepers who desire both support and the luxurious feel of down filling.

I can't say I know what "down filling" is, but it's not every day you get to order a sleeping utensil simply by dialing "2."

Looks like it's going to be a bon soir.