We were advised our RV motorhome may still be “winterised”. Coming from Downunder where snow is a foreign word, instead replaced with words like red dust and flies, even Google couldn’t help to explain what “winterised” meant. But whatever it means, one thing is certain, our van’s central heater has become our best friend….
We knew it wasn’t going to be the warmest season crossing Canada. So it was no real surprise being greeted with grey clouds, cold and rain for the first couple days as we started our journey east.
Of course we all know those dull grey, dark wet days are a necessity. It’s interesting how close nature is to human nature. Mark Manson’s popular F-Bomb book, as I call it, (“The subtle art of not giving a F*ck”) draws a similar comparison. Despite his excellent book being planted with more f-bombs than a Cambodian war zone, the point is, down days are an important part of life to move forward. “Everything worthwhile in life is won through surmounting the associated negative experience”, he states.
The problem we face though, particularly with social media, he goes on to say, is that everyone else is “living totally happy and having amazing [f-bombing] lives, and it’s impossible to not feel like there’s something wrong with you.”
My partner Bron and I can relate to this. We both lost our life long spouses to cancer, as it turns out, within three weeks of each other. (In fact they each died eight days from our respective wedding anniversaries!) It was a dark period to go through. And of course, meanwhile everyone else was living “perfect” lives. But despite this dark period, the bottom line is our spouse’s journeys came to an abrupt end. Ours is still continuing. So here we are.. on a Canadian Roadie, along with its grey skies, wet and foggy road conditions.
But we were in good hands. Thanks to our brand new, only 10kms on the clock, Ford F350 turbo diesel four wheel drive, carrying our home on wheels. Powering our way through the Rockies, despite the wettest conditions it could throw at us. This grunt machine is so big I can’t even see inside the engine without standing on a box. It was an exciting and fun challenge. It also meant we had to use our imagination to finish off the top of the mountain tops, the part where the low clouds and mist were concealing.
But then it all magically changed. It’s as if nature is an artist. Where it needs the time, so when it pulls back its clouds, it can reveal its true magical talent. Its canvas landscape that shines with lushness and colorful vibrancy that create absolutely stunning beautiful glorious days.
And that’s exactly what we experienced. We could see it slowly appearing at night and by morning, it was literally as if the curtains had been pulled back. Overnighting at Lake Louise near Banff in the heart of the Rockie Mountains, waking to a morning where appeared nature in all its magnificent radiant majesty. I’ll let the pictures share the rest of the story….
Sponsor: This blog is brought to you courtesy of The Bank of Montreal, Drumheller (The Dinosaur Town)’s free internet whilst parked outside their building!!…. given T-Mobile’s amazing lack of service….
VIDEOS…
Canadian Roadie Day 1… Travelling in style at backpacker rates!
The big question is, who has the longest one….?
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