... on the road again, for the third time, for the second time

So, I have decided that I should explain what exactly was up with the car so that those who are mechanically inclined don't totally freak out with us continuing to drive a car who's engine overheated. Because normally when an engine overheats, its dead. That is what happened to the van on the way up; it overheated and the engine cracked. This time however, the engine was not in that bad shape. The scenario was this: for some reason or other, the electrical system on the car blinked just long enough that the control for the fan blew out. Fans stop working, engine heat rockets up, Hannah sees the gauge go up, everybody pulls over. The end. The nice mechanics who pulled over to help us suggested that by leaving the hood open a little, the air flowing through would keep the engine cool, which it did. Which the people in the car didn't realize, leading to a long stretch of us following Bill at 35 on the shoulder of the road. We still made it to Manitoba in good time (once that slow-driving thing was remedied... though it wasn't just the fault of the people in the car. We were being cautious in general).

So, the drive yesterday. We had about an extra hour of time to make up - which we didn't - and two cars to fix. Did I mention that the brakes on the van needed work?? ;o) We were blessed that on the drive down to Winnipeg we were able to stop at a random auto-wreckers in Minnedosa and fix up the car and then found a GM dealer in Portage la Prairie who not only got us in to fix the van as soon as we got there, but also had it fixed up in 25 minutes. Well taken care of, we are. Thus were we able to continue on in our otherwise uneventful journey. Yes, the breakdown has really been the most standout part of the trip back thus far, and we have managed not to kill each other yet. Yet. We haven't been able to switch people up in vehicles, so that means that we have spent the last three days in a small, enclosed, slightly claustrophobic space with the same people. The car has been doing pretty well, amusing themselves with little games and Sarah's insane ability to rack up the Clumsiness Points. Last night we in the van were finally able to hit on one activity we could all agree on: comedy. With two laptops, something like five mp3 players/iPods and a number of CD's, there was plenty of Bill Enghart, Steven Wright and Jim Carrey to go around. For hours. It was awesome! Hopefully that positive energy carries over today...
So we did finally make it to Thunder Bay. At one in the morning. But it wasn't that bad sleeping on that church floor, and we are raring to get to Bruce Mines.

As I'm typing this, we are held up in a huge traffic line waiting for construction.

Its good to be back in Ontario.

- Mike
Dei Gratia

... the breakdown, part 2

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is correct. In sadistic symmetry, our beloved Mailun has broken down. Not just in a regular breakdown, however; the engine overheated much in the same fashion the van did on the way up. Not all is bad, however. Hannah, our brilliant driver at the time, was watching her gauges and caught the temperature red-lining within instants. Thus was disaster averted. Also luckily - or more accurately, thanks to God - a pair of mechanics stopped to help and assess the situation. So, with the situation safe and under control, we have bravely limped our way into Manitoba! Not quite to the location we were hoping to reach, but not that far off distance wise. It was a long day of driving today, and will be another long haul tomorrow from our current location in Russell, Manitoba to Thunderbay, Ontario - yet we will make it.
Keep praying for our safety and that we will make it home in good time with no more car issues. To those praying for us; your support is felt and appreciated by the entire team!

- Mike
Dei Gratia

... going, going

GONE.

So, after three months here in Fort MAc, we are headed back to Ontario! That's right, we have commenced our fantastical five day journey back home.
Leaving was... well, difficult. There are a lot of really cool people in Fort McMurray that we have built relationships with and area going to miss greatly. People like Kayla, Genevieve, all the kids, Brandon, Brandon, Brandon (we met a LOT of Brandons...), and Daniel and Danielle. We will miss them all. Thursday and Friday were our goodbye days, first having a thank-you dinner with the people who sponsored us and then a huge party with the kids and all our friends. It was amazing, tearful and poignant. I don't think we will ever lose that little bit of Fort Mac left with us.
Our driving so far has been uneventful; no car breakdowns, no uber traffic. The U-haul proved to be a little more challenging to ring than we first thought, but we are getting along well with it. We have already crossed over into Saskatchewan and are ready to haul over to Manitoba.
So, tha;s all for now. Keep praying for us, and we'll be home soon!
- Mike
Dei Gratia