The Great Outdoors Eh!

CHALLENGE  ACCOMPLISHMENT # 7

THE RESOLUTION: Something New

CHALLENGE  ACCOMPLISHMENT # 1

THE RESOLUTION: Travel Stories

One of the funniest inquiries I get when I’m traveling around the world questions what Canadians could possibly do for fun when we live on a sheet of ice surrounded by hostile polar bears that want to eat our penguins!

While the stereotypes of the Great North can be downright hilarious and generally overindulged, most are seriously wrong. Yes, winters can be cold. Polar bears do roam in the upper corners of our great country, but the chances of your average Canadian running into one in their entire lifetime are, well, zero! Dog sledding is pretty much reserved for extra-curricular activity and (sadly) we have no penguins.

What we do have in extreme and stunning overabundance is the great outdoors. Mountains and valleys teeming with nature and wildlife. Lakes larger than countries and rivers that could could cut across continents. With the thawing of Spring city Canadians mass exodus to the wilderness in their short-shorts and sunglasses before the snow even gets a chance to melt. Every weekend families escape on all terrain vehicles to cottages, trailers and campsites dotted all across the vast and remote spaces populated only by deer, elk, moose, bears, wolves and an array of bird and water dwelling folk. 

Chris, Jess and baby Dan on the way

As the city temperatures in Southern Ontario roast the citizens with more than 40 degrees of heat and humidity, my friends Jess, Chris, April and I enjoy the subtle licking from the flames on this cool summer night ‘up North’. The breeze is crisp as it flows from Lake Bernard. We are hardly 15 miles from Ontario’s famous Algonquin Park. A legend amongst Canadian parks being the oldest (established in 1893)and one of the largest. With over 2,400 lakes and 1,200km of dream worthy rivers, there will always be a trail to explore whether you are hiking, climbing, paddling, or cycling. 

For us city folk, the quiet and absolute stillness of a canoe ride down the river can be a dominating factor. Of course a disturbance in the peace up here is not accompanied by the anxiety of the suburbs but by the joy and excitement of nearby wildlife. There is even the chance of encounter with other humans; this of course is met with absurdly polite greetings before continuing on our way. We are still in Canada afterall :) 

One woman. One year. 103 down. 66 to go.