In a previous life I thought I was a pretty casual person when it came to planning things. “I can totally go with the flow, plans-schmans!” Not so much, turns out I like to have a rough idea what’s on the agenda and then fill it in with things. This was the perfect time to challenge that process. I had no control over the where, when and how. I simply had to sit and stare out of the window, soaking up the views. First up Tim has a surprise for me in the way of the Sea to Sky Gondola, a little north of Vancouver. 
Stunning. There is a suspension bridge that I hobbled over (I LOVE bridges, especially ones that aren’t fixed and move around a lot – I’m a product of the high-ropes course environment I grew up with). There is a look out that we ‘hike’ to (read: slowly shuffle) and the rain sets in. A little rain at the end of my Vancouver weekend is totally appropriate, very happy it didn’t happen the day prior. We descend and continue on the road towards Whistler where I ask if we can call in as I’ve never been and it seems like an Australian right of passage to achieve if you’ve ever spent any time in Canada. Can check it off my list (for the record, I went to the Shopper’s Drug-mart for anti-inflammatories and Starbucks for Green tea. Was served by Australians in both. May need a more in-depth review in the future, I’m okay with it for right now).
A few highlights of the first couple of days:
Bitchin’ Food – we called in due to the highway closure and stayed for the burgers; 
The vast beauty of the Rockies and how the landscape alters so quickly between dense pine forest and arid rocky outcrops; 
Meeting the little bro – Jeff (and Alicia);
Bear Creek Campground – because sometimes you need a bathroom in the middle of the night, even better when it’s next to a gigantic lake that you can splash in (briefly as it was very cold!);
Vernon – for the Red Robin burger experience and Tim’s opportunity to fall from the sky (which strangely makes him really calm).
To Tim’s credit, he played tourist with me very well. There was many a pull over to take photos, absorb the surroundings, and stick my swollen ankle in a creek to try and do some on-the-road first aid. There was also a brief testing of a swing set at the back of a gas station – wooden and creaky, seemed to hold together alright though. Subsequently, a trip that you could do easily in 5-6 hours took us 3 days. Rolling over and waking up to the sight and smell of pine trees, the cleanness of the water, the lack of walls surrounding you – I have a gypsy heart for certain. I was able to relinquish the torrent of questions inside my head, where we had to be when, and replace them with statements about how gorgeous the surroundings were. Since leaving Australia on the 18th of April, this was the first time I could allow myself to sink back and unwind. There was no plane to catch, no plan to be made, no training to be done. Limited access to the world via mobile devices and an travelling buddy sitting next to me. Life is good!
Highlights from the last couple of days:
Catching up with Cam for breakfast in Pentiction; 
Meeting Vera – Tim’s worldly Grandma, who has circled the world 14 times and has the stories to prove it;
Hanging out with Tim’s family and friends in Trail – Silver City Days happened to be on, including fireworks. I love fireworks!! 
Swimming in Christina Lake – I was the only person in the lake, it was cold. I have a strange kind of FOMO when it comes to swimming in bodies of water – I know I’ll regret it later if I don’t suck it up and get in! 
Phil taking us up for a cruise above the Kootenay’s – I couldn’t speak for the first 20 minutes of this flight. There are no words in which to describe the raw beauty and power of the mountains and the lushness of the valley’s they surround. I thought I was going to burst with happiness; 
Sitting and talking mental health approaches with Renae followed by a tour of the wine cellar by Phil – wonderful people to spend a weekend with!
Making a snowball – well, it was likely more an ice ball, but I’ll take what I can get!
Taking a detour to Kimberly for lunch on the way home – a somewhat random Bavarian village like atmosphere nestled amongst the ski slopes. If you go, get the Peanut butter and Bacon Bratwurst and let me know your thoughts!
Granted, a week in a van is probably not the ideal recommendation post marathon recovery for most. In my case it was the perfect modality to enforce stillness while making the most of opportunities to stretch. I am beyond grateful that I got to have this week on the road, reconnecting with my love of all things mountainous and outdoorsy. A huge thank you to Tim for letting me tag along on his BC tour and showing me parts of his world. Total alignment with my #recklessabandontour and reinforcing that it’s the journey and rather than the destination.
Happy Wandering
Hx