On The Road Again

Well. I'm back baby and surely, it’s time for an adventure. After another season, feeling overwhelmingly blessed with the amount of snow and time I got in riding this year. After working my little bum off slinging coffees, tutoring, and babysitting. After so much waiting and preparation, googling and researching. I am so jazzed that we are now embarking on our road trip around Canada, Of course, in honoring the 150^th year of confederation.Way back in the beginning of the year, while trying to figure out what sort of trip to embark on. We were trying to figure out a way to go on a trip while also honouring Yoshiko’s two-year visa. We came up with the idea that seemed to fit perfectly, an Australian who will get the ultimate Canadian experience, and a Canadian who has never really travelled passed Manitoba other than a trip to the big 6 (aka Toronto.) We have two Australian “mates” Ollie and Connor, who are coming along for the ride (literally.)

Our original plan was to head up northern BC to Haida Gwaii, we embarked June 1^st and headed toward Nelson. We loaded up the truck and instantly we were worried about the amount of stuff there was…we had a lot of shit! All the boys were worried that I was bringing my whole wardrobe and to prove them wrong I repacked and cut my clothes down by half... and repacked AGAIN and cut that down by half .One hot tip from our previous Aussie road trip: Never bring anything white it will either go straight to the garbage, or become a future dishcloth. We somehow played a level expert game of "tetris version pack the car" fit it all in and hit the road. Little did we know that mother nature was not going to let us off easy. Our first night was beautifully spent in torrential downpour. Thankfully we had gotten the tents up while there was a break in the rain, but we were starving and cooking was so frustrating it was comical. Maybe more comical if I didn’t turn into a rabid dog when I get hungry. We tried to make a curry but forgot to buy some coconut milk to thin the paste out. The pot was lined with a thick crusty layer of curry paste that so nicely lined the still hard potato’s. We all ate it in the truck out of the pot and went to bed, completely soaked to the core and so very cold. Of course waking up the next day to sunshine and getting to really see the amazing first campsite made it all seem pretty worthwhile. Thank-you Slocan valley.

 Probably where all the forest fairies live

 Connors's rock throne

After that we had a few ferry's to take and a few ski towns to consider living in and we were well on our way to an amazing park. One that I feel gets over looked often thanks to it's brothers Banff and Jasper. Well's Gray Provincial Park, home to a lava paved land with over 21 waterfalls, so many trails that you rarely see another person on. Home to the most mosquito's infested land that I have had the pleasure of staying. With it's rolling valleys and peaks, i suggest making it a top spot to visit, if you can handle all the meesqities.

 I go loco over lupin's, i love that they naturally pop up everywhere this time of year.

 Breakfast time, my birthday present to myself was this camp stove toaster, dream do come true

 Helmlecken Falls. Canada's fourth biggest waterfall.

 We went on the hike in search of the mystery "Dragons Tongue" turned out to be a little bit of ground with some lava rocks

 WART FROG

 A part of me just wanted to rip a leaf off and use it to drink rain with.

Baileys chute. Wells Gray area and a lot of the area we passed on the way north, was flooded. The highest water in 50 years. All the waterfalls and rivers were overly impressive.

And then, life comes around and reminds you that it makes the rules and not you. Yoshi and I had to end our trip there for the rest of the month. It’s been a really difficult time, and we are abundantly grateful to all our amazing family and friends for their support and all the love that has filled our hearts back up. That all being said, we are continuing the trip with the plans tweaked a bit. We are heading out east, then finishing the trip with the cherry up top: The Yukon.  It feels like more than ever we need this trip.

 One of our farewell dinners, tuna <3 Felt a lot better than the A&W and plane food on the way over.. yikes

 One of my favorite things about Australia is that there is so much growth all year around. Being able to eat from your garden yearly must feel so wholesome.

 Just some snapshots of Yoshi's parents Dave and Regina's glorious plants and garden, and of course their pets. Jimmy and mum

Last but not least. Our beautiful, kind, best friends. Even though we are on polar opposites of the world, you can't compare to a friendship like the ones we have with many of these amazing people.

 I hope everybody enjoys celebrating tomorrow with fireworks, maple syrup, buying a pet beaver and all that classy Canadian stuff we know and love. Happy 150^th Canada, I am so grateful to call such a diverse and special country my home.