I'm not quite sure how I managed to summarise Vancouver so succinctly... and with only 2 photos! The rest of my Canada trip has been fantastic... in fact, I'm a little unsure how exactly to summarise how great the past 3 weeks have been. I will try... With the help of brief sentences, lots of links, and a few photos!
Canada is beautiful. Beautiful scenery. Beautiful people. I have met new friends, caught up with and reconnected with wonderful old ones. This second part has been doubly important for me- not only is it always good to catch up with friends but it was a timely reminder that with real, true and dear friends, it doesn't matter how much geographical or physical time passes- when your soul sings to the same tune, your beliefs lie in the same sphere, your heart laughs at the same tricks, you can always pick up that friendship again.
Having made a life in London for 2 and a half years, itself a city with a transient population of internationals and travellers, I now have friends spread wide around the world. At times this is hard, when that one person I need urgently to share my news with or crazy dance with, or d+m with over tea is far rather than near, however the past couple of weeks have reiterated how lucky I am to have these people in my life. In fact it is no coincidence that these people are my friends- travellers, adventurers, people wanting to explore the world- these are my peeps! To keep any or all of them cooped up in one spot would make them bored and also far less interesting to talk to!
So, this has been a little deep for a Canada summary but it does make my heart sing to think about the time I have had here.
As well as the social aspect, there has also been lots of Lucy time, which is great and something I was craving. I have had some interesting and inspiring chats whilst travelling via bus (interesting random on the Toronto-Orillia Greyhound), train (to Montreal, where I sat with the travelling hobo and swapped travel and eating tips- check her travel
blog!), canoe (
Call of The Wild trip in Algonquin Park, Ontario was amazing- old friends and new and some amazing time on the water), bike (see pic left- awesome Canada Day/Pride weekend ride in Toronto,
car (Road trips! Hello new Rocky Mountain Bear Crew!)... and also quite a bit of down time for writing and journalling, Lucy-style!
Journalling also crept in as a way to pass time and observe life whilst simultaneously trialling every cafe in the country...
Lapin presse for Grilled Cheese and coffee in Plateau Mont-Royal... Olde worlde charm with new world wholefood goodness at
Olive + Gourmando in Vieux Montreal... coffee and croissant at
Ezra's Pound in Toronto... Best bread (pic below) in the world from
St John's... oven fresh... warm... crusty... sourdough.... Baked deliciousness for post-hike refuels at
Wild Flower in Banff...
I have also managed to move my butt and run and hike (and canoe) in order to earn (some!) of the deliciusness... hilights were definitely Sulphur Mountain in Banff, Hiking part of the Sulphur Skyline from
Jasper and hiking up from Lake Louise past Mirror Lake to Lake Agnes Teahouse, which was still partially iced over and wintery (according to this Subtropical gal!)... It has also opened my eyese to the possibility of hikes (previously an old people sport!) back in Oz... lots to look forwrad to in this life- all of it to be shared with friends and good people, new and old!
L. x
I have had a 360degree life flip in the past few days. On Wednesday I was in bustling San Fransisco. On Thursday I was mid-air (yes the whole of Thursday!). I was back in Brisbane on Friday morning and spent the day washing, printing photos and catching up before packing again and setting off on a road trip on Friday night. Destination: Cunnamulla! Well close enough anyway, I have family with a property on the Warrego River and it is a super special place. Time there was spent fishing, eating, cooking (lots of cooking- I think we had 25 at meal times!), walking, talking, reading, running (a bit) and just being. Being amongst beautiful, dear family and friends. Being away from phone reception, email and work. And not just away... really far away. There is something so wonderful about being able to completely switch off and detatch from the real world. I need to remind myself to do it- to make the effort to do the 9(ish) hours drive each year- the reward is more than worth it.
