If you read the last blog entry, I slept in a church: Saint Ann’s in Lytton.

I woke up today quite early. The back of the church (where I slept) didn’t look scary now because the daylight seeped into the inside.

As if yesterday wasn’t enough for bad luck, another thing happened to me again today. Lytton’s visitor info center was beside the church, so I decided to go there and check it out; see if I could get some ideas on how to transport my stuff. I opened the church door and didn’t really worry about it because if I was able to open it from the outside last night, then I should be able to get inside again when I come back, right?? WRONG!

I found out that the visitor info center wasn’t open yet, so I just walked back to the church to get my stuff and get going from there. Yeah, well, so much for that. I tried to turn the knob, but it didn't budge at all. I tried again, still no. That’s when I realized that I just locked myself outside...with all of my stuff inside! I tried to go around the church and tried every door, no luck! I started to panic because it was still early and I didn’t see anybody who could help me out. So, I walked around the town and, thankfully, I found a mini-restaurant. I told everyone there about my problem, and because the small town people are really nice, they helped me out. The lady there called two people in the town whom she thought would have a key to the church. Luckily, one of them said that she’ll be right out. So, I walked back to the church and waited for the lady. After 10 minutes or so, she came and I was so grateful. I told her about what happened to me yesterday and I also told her about my problem of transporting my stuff. So, (if you read my daily skating blog for today), that was when I was introduced to Sheila from the postal office who lives in Lillooet. Sheila would take my stuff to Father Bob’s place where I was hoping to end up today.

As your reading this blog, I assume that you’ve also read the “daily skating” blog for today.

After Clint and his friend dropped me off in Cache Creek to catch the bus there to Lytton, I went to a deli there where I had something to eat (thanks to Clint’s friend!). The lady who worked in the deli was very nice and she said that she was from Abbottsford. After having my late lunch, I went to the Greyhound bus depot to get a ticket to Lytton. Then, I went to a Royal Bank there; I told the bank teller that it felt strange to me to see an RBC branch is such a small town. She even told me that that RBC branch there has been there for decades!

I was able to charge my iPhone at the bus depot; my iPhone gets low-bat because I constantly use its GPS as I skate from one city to another. I was glad to get a telephone signal there, too, so I was able to call home and work. When I saw my bus arrive, I thanked the lady who worked at the ticket depot; earlier, she took my stuff in her booth when I went to the bank.

OK, here comes the scary part...Are you ready??

OK, so I came to the bus and I didn’t see the driver. So, I just went on the bus with all of my stuff without telling the driver—first big mistake! I went to sit down at the back of the bus—second big mistake! I was very tired, so I decided to take a nap—third big mistake! So, there I was (such an ignorant city boy) on a Greyhound bus. I thought that I could just sit back, relax, watch the view, and maybe fall asleep because, hey, when the bus gets to Lytton, somebody will just wake me up, right? ‘Cause everyone, like me, is also going to Lytton, right?? ‘Cause this Greyhound bus is only going to Lytton, right???

WRONG...!!!

Boy, have I got a lot of fun things to share to ya, today! :D As you probably already know, Father Domingo gave me a place to stay, yesterday, in his rectory that is just beside the Sacred Heart church. Just before the church service ended today, he invited me up on the podium to speak to the congregation. Man, I was so nervous! There were a lot of people! Even though I planned to spread the word on child care everywhere, I never expected myself to actually speak to a group of religious people. Fortunately, as soon as I started speaking, the right words just came to me. I emphasized to the people that child care is not just a secular issue; it’s an issue for everyone, no matter if you’re an atheist, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, etc. We all have to support child care.

After the church service, Father and I left for Logan Lake, where he also celebrated Mass. He invited me again to speak to the church-goers in Logan Lake. This time, I was no longer as nervous as I was in the church in Merritt. At both churches, I was able to make the people laugh a bit and they generously applauded when I finished talking. It was very interesting in Logan Lake though because there was a VIP who belongs to that church. She used to be the mayor of Logan Lake, and now she is running for MLA. We chatted for a bit. Her husband was nice enough to offer me a place to stay for tonight. But, because he and his wife won’t be around tonight, he introduced me to another family who would love to take me in their home. That was the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my journey, so far! :D

I wanted to wake up early today (at 5), so I could arrive early in Merritt. But, I woke up at 6 o’clock and I left at past 7. I was able to sort out my backpack though. I had a bad feeling about it because I knew that it was really HEAVY! Nevertheless, I skated with it from Princeton to Merritt. Yesterday, I did go to Princeton’s postal office to ask if I could ship my stuff, so I wouldn’t have to skate with it, but it takes a long time to get my stuff in the cities ahead. I also tried to ask Greyhound, but there was no luck.

Anyway, I was taken to Princeton, yesterday, by my mom, aunt, and family friend. It was a good, scenic 3 hour drive. We talked about all sorts of things. When we got to Princeton, I checked in to Ponderosa Motel. We got there at 3, and a Princeton reporter was gonna interview me at 3:30. My company left with a heavy heart, especially my mom who was almost inconsolable. She gave me and birthday card with a little bit of money. I felt sorry for my mom, because even though I know that I would be ok, I’m sure it’s a lot harder for a parent to believe that—especially if your son is going to inline skate around a mountainous province with no escort vehicle! Poor mom...