Page 16 of The Trip of a Lifetime

ERIN

Carol and Jack dropped them off at a service station with tickets booked for the ferry leaving the next day. They swapped phone numbers with them and promised to keep in touch.

‘I feel like we helped you win,’ Carol said, and Jack laughed.

‘We helped them cover 120 kilometres of about 8,000. I’m not sure we did much.’

‘Well, we are very grateful,’ Martha said before they drove away.

Erin looked around at the faces of the people coming and going from the service station shop and half expected to see her fellow contestants but, of course, there wasn’t anyone she knew.

‘Don’t forget,’ Martha said when Erin mentioned this. ‘There are lots of different options. Some may have got the ferry to Vancouver Island and done an island hop. Some may have splurged on public transport and will spend hours, days even, waiting for connections. The chances of seeing anyone until we get to Prince Rupert is slim to none.’

Erin was feeling positive again after the shaky start. Racing with her grandmother was proving to be fun so far but she had to push the thought of seeing Sam at the ferry port to the back of her mind. She toyed with the idea of telling Martha about Sam but decided against it. How could she find the words to explain how she’d made Martha sound like a bit of a joke.

My grandmother was tricked by a man who’d seduced her and she missed her train, she’s holding onto a five-decade old grudge, she’s not as adventurous as she used to be.

Erin swallowed down the shame. For now, only positivity was needed and a confession from her would not help anyone.

‘I need to get inside and wash my hands,’ Erin said. ‘They’re covered in King slobber.’

‘I’ll leave you to it for a bit and catch up with Cally,’ Noah said. ‘Don’t leave without me.’

They used the facilities and then went to buy something to eat. Everything was so expensive and Erin couldn’t bear to part with their limited cash for a nice lunch.

‘How about we buy a couple of packets of cheap crackers and biscuits and then we can nibble on the go. I’m not all that hungry to be honest. I filled up with the free breakfast at the hotel this morning. We should have thought to grab some things from the buffet.’

‘Agreed about the crackers and biscuits,’ Martha said. ‘Let’s see how much further we can get today and then hopefully we can find a hostel or a cheap motel that might provide a meal later on.’

‘It’s so weird not knowing whether we have a bed for the night,’ Erin said.

‘We could stay here tonight if you’re more comfortable. At least we know there are options. What do you think?’

‘No, I’d like to get further. That ferry is a long way off and I want to be on it when it sails.’

‘That’s my girl,’ Martha said, and she had an expression on her face that meant she was thinking about Clare. Erin could always tell. It was in that slightly misty-eyed look of hers.

It took an hour to get a lift in the end. They took it in turns to approach people filling up with fuel to see who was going north and who might be happy to take them. A man called Logan with a small truck offered for them to ride in his cab with him if they pitched in a few dollars for fuel.

‘I’m going to Cache Creek,’ he said. ‘It’s lonely driving on my own. I’d enjoy the company.’

Martha got out the map and got him to locate the place. It was a three-hour drive and would get them 216 kilometres closer to Prince Rupert.

‘I have a friend who runs a hostel. I can drop you there if you like,’ Logan said.

‘That would be great,’ said Erin. ‘Are all Canadians this lovely?’

‘Most,’ he said. ‘I’d give the bears a wide berth, though.’

He chuckled as he helped them load their bags into the back of his truck and the two women climbed into the seats behind him. Noah climbed into the passenger seat.

‘Is this okay?’ he asked Logan. ‘I can get some footage of the journey.’

‘All good, man,’ Logan said.

It was three o’clock as they pulled away from the service station and Erin grinned as she turned to Martha.

‘This is actually turning out to be a lot of fun,’ she said.