Dot Homecoming

Dot - Operation Homecoming - 3	Bob Bogash

There are 379 currently active fires, with 156 being "Out of Control."
There are also innumerable Evacuation Orders.

With a deep breath, it seems our planned routing across Canada was severely impacted - more like eliminated. There are no "alternate routes." What to do now? We don't leave for 2 1/2 weeks, maybe conditions will improve? Unlikely - the conditions are more likely to deteriorate further. Slide the schedule? With so many balls in the air, and arrangements at the far end set in concrete, that seemed a tough one. History proves the fires don't usually subside until the onset of winter rains and snow. That's not a good driving situation either.

It seemed my only recourse was to shift the cross-country drive to the USA. I didn't do that originally because of the risk associated with moving the casket across the border after having driven 3500 miles. I had the border crossing near Vancouver all arranged and expected no problems. And if there were problems, I could retreat a short distance close to home while they were worked out.

Sunday morning, I decided to switch to a USA drive. We could cross the border at numerous locations - Sweetgrass, Montana (on the east side of the Rockies), St. Saint Marie, Detroit. I decided on Calais, Maine / St. Stephen, New Brunswick. We had crossed there before; it's a very small crossing point.

After a huge flurry of phone calls to U.S. and Canadian Customs at that location, and three more funeral homes (now up to eight (8), it seemed I had the crossing arranged. Funeral homes on both sides of the border volunteered to stand by for my crossing in case there was a problem. I arranged the changes with the local funeral home, cancelled out our storage arrangements with the B.C. funeral home, and cancelled a series of motel reservations. We're go for the USA routing with the crossing in Maine.

Currently, I'm going through the same detailed routing exercise for the new route - stage lengths and motels, etc. There are two Northern routes - I-90 and I-94, and a route further south - I-80. I've driven every one of them!

The northern U.S. is having the same fire issues as Canada - I decided on the I-80 route.

Right now, Monday is the Big Day and I'm plenty nervous about it. Fingers (and toes) are crossed. I can use all the fingers I can muster, so please cross yours as well. Hopefully, Dot's casket will be in good condition and we can proceed. But, Hope is not a Plan. If it's a Go, I will be like Apollo 11 - heading for the Moon. I will keep you advised.