Home Sweet Home.

I arrived at Regina International at 9:45am yesterday and was there until 9:40pm, when I caught a one hour flight to Calgary, where I twisted my ankle and waited about an hour and a quarter for my flight to Toronto. Seated in a middle seat between a snoring man and a baby (with the baby's year old cousin bouncing around and screaming in the seat ahead of me), I was content just to know that I was almost home. Upon arrival, found that my tripod had been badly beaten up and a couple minor pieces broken off. Sigh.

Six hours later, my drive picked me up. We got sushi.

Now, though... I'm finally at home. The joy in my dogs' eyes made everything instantly better. I love my boys!! Got some chores done, my hands dirty and the spa up and running, so it's been a good day at home so far.

This week I hope to book lots of work! I've already got leads on new vehicles, if you can believe it. Hoping to come across a vehicle somewhere in the prairies so that I don't have to make the long journey out there again!

My spirits are about 30% better than the 15% they were yesterday, so that's good news.

Anyway... Thanks so much for reading my blog. I promise you that as soon as I purchase a new car, my roadtrip will pick back up and this blog will recommence!

Thank you, thank you! And remember... If you donate $25 or more (either direct deposit through your online banking to thetravelingmodel@gmail.com or through PayPal), I will happily send you a signed artistic self-portrait taken during this trip! These exclusive images will not be released online until the new year!

Xo
Heather

And the curtain closes.

Well... that's all folks.

I was in a car accident today. I've hashed it over a million times today and am a total emotional wreck. I hope you won't mind if I don't go over details again right now. I'm 100% fine, only a tiny bruise, thank goodness. Could have been a lot worse. My car is a write-off.

It's safe to say that the trip has come to a screeching halt for the time being. I'm trying to find a reasonable car to purchase here in Regina or somewhere in Calgary so that I can just buy it, finish the trip, and get home.

For the time being, however, I'm in a hotel, still a bit shakey, trying to be strong. My flight leaves tomorrow at 11 and will get in in the early afternoon. I can't wait to be home. :(

Heather

Regina Vagina!

I left Winnipeg around 11 to seek out the life-sized dollhouse someone mentioned that I should find - what a cool place! It's an art project by a woman named Heather Benning (more information here) that basically transformed an abandoned farmhouse into a massive art piece. Very cool.

In Moosomin, Saskatchewan, I was booked for a five-hour photoshoot including three locations. What a cool place. Nothing but fields and chalk-flavoured gravel dust (I know this because as I followed the photographer's huge truck, the plumes of dust it left floated in through my car's ventilation.) Yum! What a GREAT photoshoot it was, I should mention. The photographer was new to photographing models, and yet he played it off as though he were a pro. Cool dude. Super easy to work with, super chill. Looking forward to the possibility of working with him again at the end of the trip!!

Anyway, as the sun went down, I pointed my car in the direction of Regina. After stopping briefly at a pie place a friend suggested I stuff myself at - which was closed for renovations/'For Sale' - I finally passed the sign welcoming me to the city at about 10pm! Not a single person over the age of 35 has been sighted yet. Unreal.

After my long day, I decided to hit up a bar here in town, which is where I type from currently. I'm at O'Hanlon's Pub with a pint of Rolling Rock. Breaking my 'no beer' rule for a night, so sue me!

ALSO. Has anyone realized that it is Alexander Keith's birthday?! This pub has one of those time clicker thingamabobbers and I am excited! Tonight I party down in Calgary to celebrate this important date. Whoopie!

Gonna down this pint, finish doing stuff on the computer and then hit the sack/back of my car. Womp womp. :)

Night!

Weinerpeg: Buttcrack of Canada REDEEMS ITSELF?!

Yesterday was fantastic! I woke up at about 4am, drove for a bit and stopped for gas only to find that the station would be closed for another two hours. Bugger. So, I stuck it out for a bit when a truck full of roofers pulled up and asked when the station would open. They were almost out of gas, so I checked my GPS for the next nearest gas station - 12 km away. They ran out of gas on the way there, I rescued them with a jerry-can and was on my way - with new friends. :) I'll try to remember to post the photo I took with 'Big Sexy' (haha) later.

I drove for eleven hours yesterday from Terrace Bay to Winnipeg with a stop or two along the way. Stopped at a lake that was created by a meteorite strike called West Hawk Lake for a quick dip (holy crap it was... chilly). Then, an hour later... I made it into Winnipeg!

I semi-lived here in Winnipeg (long story) last year with my then-boyfriend and didn't really get out much to see the city. My friend Tom, whom I met at a hostel in Vancouver this spring, was kind enough to host me and show me the city a little bit! I had a really great time and am raring to get back on the road.

Regina, here I come!

Also... I want to send a shout-out to those who have been kind enough to donate to me for this trip! I've got some self-portraits that I'm excited to send you already, and there are tons more to come! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Scrunched up.

That's what I am right now.

I travelled from noon until 8pm with two stops - one at the end of a country lane that continued for nearly an hour. At a certain point you're pretty invested and absolutely must find out what is at the end of the road.

An hour later, I found myself at a lackluster beach and turned around to follow the same road back. Thankfully, I saw a beautiful lake through the trees and grabbed my camera. A short jaunt into the forest, I came into the clearing and set up my tripod. Setting up the shot and getting a few photos of the foliage reflected in the water, I decided to get a couple of self-portraits here and of course, took some nude self-portraits. They are actually really nice, and I'm very excited to share them!

A couple more bookings have been made in Alberta and Saskatchewan (yay!) so I'm becoming more and more excited to get out there!

So, I've now found myself in Terrace Bay, about three hours outside of Thunder Bay. My 'bed' is set up in the back seat. My knees are practically at my chin as a result, but I'm warm, and that's merciful enough for me!

I've attached some photos of today's journey.

I've got a very early morning wake up call, so, until tomorrow... Bon nuit!

Long day.

Been driving ten hours now. A bit behind schedule due to a wee little health issue that forced us to stay in the GTA until the morning. All better, we headed out into the morning gloom.

When I say 'we', by the way, I mean one of my closest friends, Chris. He will periodically drop in on the roadtrip here and there so that I don't completely lose my mind. He heads back to Toronto tomorrow at noon, as I continue toward Thunder Bay and into Winnipeg by the third.

I have discovered that my highbeams are super crappy and need to be replaced. This means that we won't be driving through the night into Thunder Bay. I'm not too concerned - it's a very dangerous drive anyway due to wildlife collisions and I'd much prefer not to drive with that stress.

Driving through Muskoka earlier today, we nearly collided with a black bear and her two cubs. I saw them with enough notice that I was able to speed ahead of the cars surrounding me and blare my horn at them, sending them scuttling back into the forest. What a nightmare that could have been.

We are finally pulling into Sault Ste Marie. Going to enjoy our Saturday night and prepare for an early start!