A girl walks into a Colorado gas station and asks the four employees working, "so, this might be a weird question, but I was just wondering if any of you happen to know the score of the hockey game?"
"No. But we can look it up... oh, the game is over. We lost 1-0."
*Awkward pause*
*Fist pump* "YESSSSSSSS, WE WON!"
"YOU WON?! OHHH You're Canadian?"
I wasn't trying to gloat or rub it in the faces of these American gas station attendants but the fact that they didn't even know the score made me come to the conclusion that they probably didn't really care that much to begin with.
I had unintentionally made plans for Friday, February 21st to be a travel day from Avon, Colorado to Albuquerque, New Mexico. I had my sights set on the sunshine and warm temperatures that New Mexico would bring and it was then that I dreadfully realized, I'm going to miss the hockey game! I pleaded with friends on Facebook to text me updates - which some actually did (thanks Danelle, Courtney and Amol!). At least I was covered in that regard. Or was I?
Did you know that majority of the eight hour drive from Avon, Colorado to Albuquerque, New Mexico actually has extremely spotty cell reception. Therefore, all these excited text messages my friends were sending to inform me that Canada was up 1-0 and that Carey Price had made another amazing save were not coming through. It was pure panic mode. What was I going to do?
Every ten minutes or so I would frantically scan every single radio station - AM and FM in a last hope that one of these would provide some stress relief and update me on the game. No such luck. Not a single one. There were sermons being read and scripture being quoted. There were the oldies and the top forty. There were even every single update on local highschool athletics being reported. But not a single syllable being uttered on what was clearly the most important sporting event happening that day - the Canada vs USA ("loser gets Bieber") game! It was torture. I knew that if I had been driving North of the border I would have had to try to find a station that wasn't giving up-to-the-minute updates on that hockey game.
It was then that I came to a small town. One so small I don't think I ever knew it's name. But it was there that I ventured into that gas station. Nervous, anxious, of what I was going to find out.
The game is over. We lost 1-0.
And it was music to my ears.
Just incase you've been hiding under a rock for the past twelve hours, Team Canada men's hockey team went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal defeating Sweden 3-0 this morning. And right now, twelve hours later, the only country in the world that changes it's liquor laws for a hockey game, the entire nation is fast asleep, dreaming dreams of gold in South Korea in 2018.
Congrats to all Olympic athletes of the 2014 games and good luck to all Paralympic athletes that are yet to compete!
To all Canadian athletes (not just the hockey players): We are winter. YOU, are winter.
Sunday, 23 February 2014
Saturday, 15 February 2014
Ask And You Shall Receive...
No sooner than I had sent out positive vibes into the universe asking for good people, good hosts, was it that I stumbled through the front door at Candy and John's place in Laramie, WY. You might be asking yourself where Laramie is. It's just slightly West of Cheyenne, which just so happens to be the capital of Wyoming.
When I arrived, Candy gave me a quick tour of the place, some quick intros to the furbabies of the house - Suda, Baxter, Toby and Maggie (but she was hiding somewhere). We piled into Candy's SUV and headed to Walmart. Bought some groceries for dinner and then headed to the fire hall - that's right ladies, I said FIRE HALL, to meet John, Candy's husband, and make dinner since he was finishing up a twenty-four hour shift.
Everything we did within the first few hours of meeting may sound menial to some. Nothing special, right? A trip to get groceries, play with animals, dinner. Except here's the amazing part - I felt like I was hanging out with the personality doppelgangers of Brenda and Austin from Montana. I promise I am not making this up for entertainments sake. Candy and John, just like Brenda and Austin, are the definition of kindness and hospitality. I could not have been more grateful to be accepted into their home.
Faith in humanity: restored.
I only spent two nights in Laramie with Candy and John. So what have I been up to for the rest of the week. Let me start from the beginning so this story makes sense...
Back in July when I told all my friends about this crazy gypsy adventure I was planning, many of them got in contact with friends and family around the continent to see if any of them would be willing to put me up for a few nights if/when I made it to their area. Back in August, my friend Stacey got in touch with her friend Edith - whom lives in Golden, CO with her family and without hesitation Edith said, "no problem." Now, anyone who's anyone knows that plans, life, things can change from August to February so when I sent Edith a message on Facebook six months after we had originally spoken to see if she would still be up for letting this stranger crash at her place - her home, where her one and a half year old son, and four year old daughter live. Would her family still be okay with this stranger crashing in their spare room whom they can put their trust in on the word of someone else?
No problem.
If you know me, you know I love kids. I'm almost fairy certain that I get along better with children than I do with most adults. For those of you that don't know me, if you read any of my post inspired by my visit to Disney World, you can easily deduce that I am pretty much a five year old trapped in a twenty-five year olds' body. Being around a family and these little munchkins the last few days has been refreshing. Believe it or not, visiting places such as the aquarium or going on a candy factory tour are that much more exciting when you're allowed to act five because you're surrounded by children. I'd often catch myself letting out a few ohhhhh's and ahhhhh's at something interesting to get a reaction from the kids, but in reality it was completely for my benefit.
As this adventure continues I wanted to take a moment to pass on a lesson I learnt from a four and one-and-a-half year old: it is one hundred percent acceptable for a twenty-five year old (or thirty, or fourty, or fifty, etc) to act like a child.
And on that note, I'm off to Dinosaur Ridge tomorrow.
Because dinosaurs are cool at any age.
When I arrived, Candy gave me a quick tour of the place, some quick intros to the furbabies of the house - Suda, Baxter, Toby and Maggie (but she was hiding somewhere). We piled into Candy's SUV and headed to Walmart. Bought some groceries for dinner and then headed to the fire hall - that's right ladies, I said FIRE HALL, to meet John, Candy's husband, and make dinner since he was finishing up a twenty-four hour shift.
Everything we did within the first few hours of meeting may sound menial to some. Nothing special, right? A trip to get groceries, play with animals, dinner. Except here's the amazing part - I felt like I was hanging out with the personality doppelgangers of Brenda and Austin from Montana. I promise I am not making this up for entertainments sake. Candy and John, just like Brenda and Austin, are the definition of kindness and hospitality. I could not have been more grateful to be accepted into their home.
Faith in humanity: restored.
I only spent two nights in Laramie with Candy and John. So what have I been up to for the rest of the week. Let me start from the beginning so this story makes sense...
Back in July when I told all my friends about this crazy gypsy adventure I was planning, many of them got in contact with friends and family around the continent to see if any of them would be willing to put me up for a few nights if/when I made it to their area. Back in August, my friend Stacey got in touch with her friend Edith - whom lives in Golden, CO with her family and without hesitation Edith said, "no problem." Now, anyone who's anyone knows that plans, life, things can change from August to February so when I sent Edith a message on Facebook six months after we had originally spoken to see if she would still be up for letting this stranger crash at her place - her home, where her one and a half year old son, and four year old daughter live. Would her family still be okay with this stranger crashing in their spare room whom they can put their trust in on the word of someone else?
No problem.
If you know me, you know I love kids. I'm almost fairy certain that I get along better with children than I do with most adults. For those of you that don't know me, if you read any of my post inspired by my visit to Disney World, you can easily deduce that I am pretty much a five year old trapped in a twenty-five year olds' body. Being around a family and these little munchkins the last few days has been refreshing. Believe it or not, visiting places such as the aquarium or going on a candy factory tour are that much more exciting when you're allowed to act five because you're surrounded by children. I'd often catch myself letting out a few ohhhhh's and ahhhhh's at something interesting to get a reaction from the kids, but in reality it was completely for my benefit.
As this adventure continues I wanted to take a moment to pass on a lesson I learnt from a four and one-and-a-half year old: it is one hundred percent acceptable for a twenty-five year old (or thirty, or fourty, or fifty, etc) to act like a child.
And on that note, I'm off to Dinosaur Ridge tomorrow.
Because dinosaurs are cool at any age.
Saturday, 8 February 2014
Day and Night
It really is quite the challenge to follow a Couch Surfing host that gives you an all around excellent experience. It's partially my fault. Emily in Swift Current and Brenda and Austin in Missoula set the bar pretty high right at the very start of, let's call it "Part 2" of The North America Project.
In case you've never been to, or maybe never heard of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, it is a small city, small population and has a handful of couch surfing hosts. I sent out maybe three requests and knowing the odds were not "ever in my favour" I looked to the next city - Medicine Hat. To my surprise this little gem of a girl, Emily, replied to my request and before I knew it I was sitting down to a home-cooked meal by grandma with her entire family and watching the super bowl.
When I sent out requests in Montana - my first American stop - a couple days went by and I didn't hear back from anyone. I tried the capital, Helena, and another city in the area, Billings. The morning before I was to arrive in Montana I still hadn't heard back form anyone. Then I stopped between Brandon, MB and Swift Current, SK to fill up with gas and managed to get a wifi signal. *BING* An e-mail from Couchsurfing popped up from a woman named Brenda in Missoula, MT. "You can definitely stay with us!" Brenda begun her reply - which was music to my ears. "I work as a journalist here at a television station and am actually doing a story on couch surfing... so if you want to do an on-camera interview about your travels that would be great too!"
Remember that time I wrote about serendipity? Well, my friends, this would be the epitome of just that. I was on my way to Missoula, MT (where is Missoula anyways? I thought to myself). Upon my arrival I fell immediately in love with Brenda and Austin's two fur babies, Ruby and Dee. Within, maybe, an hour of meeting it felt like I had known Brenda my entire life. Home cooked pasta and gyros, a trip to the Big Sky Brewery, pub trivia night, a wine tasting and games night, and even a trip to The Jeremy Jackson hot springs in Idaho - because Brenda and Austin wanted to help me check another state off my to-do list. These are just some of the highlights of my stay in Missoula.
Of course I was sad to say goodbye but I could not have asked for a better stay. Missoula has been one of my favourite stops thus far, thanks in large part to my wicked-awesome hosts that made me feel just like one of the family!
Now I was on the road to Bozeman, MT. A nice college city that is about 1.5 hours from Yellowstone National Park. Of course a trip to Yellowstone was on my to-do list. When I arrived in Bozeman I realized my host had given me her address - but didn't tell me which apartment was hers. Since she had no phone, and I no wifi, I was unable to get in touch. Luckily her roommate showed up and I basically shouted from my car like a crazy person to ask if I was in the right place. The night basically went downhill from there. Without getting into too much detail: an apartment full of teenage college students, a host that disappeared without so much as a, "hey, I'm heading out" and pawning me off on two roommates that similarly disappeared to bed shortly after.
Now, I've made it this far so I like to think I am pretty resourceful. I grabbed some blankets and pillows from my car and whipped up a bed on the couch and called it a night. In the morning I couldn't get out of there soon enough. I was supposed to go to Yellowstone today and back for another night in Bozeman. I scraped both those plans and pushed forward.
Now, I'm not looking for sympathy here. If this is the worst Couchsurfing experience I've had then I think it's going pretty well. One of these was bound to happen sooner or later. It's just incredible to me how two separate CS experiences could be so different. In Missoula I didn't want to leave. In Bozeman I couldn't get out fast enough. But, hey, it's all a learning experience - right?
Here's to hoping for many, many more Brenda, Austin, and Emilys along the way!
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
Long Time Gone: A Status Update
December 31st?! That was the last time I wrote a post? Some of you out there may be getting annoyed. Some of you may have forgotten about me. And, some of you that may not know otherwise, might even think I'm dead.
Well, tricked you! I'm still here.
Remember when I surprised my family and friends and showed up in Winnipeg for Christmas? Then remember that time when I couldn't find my motivation to leave? My body also decided that over the month and a bit that I was home it wanted to get food poisoning, the flu, AND the stomach flu. While I was sick I saw a quote (and I know some of you have already read it if you follow me on Instagram) but the quote goes a little something like this: "Giving up on a goal because of a setback is like slashing your other three tires because you got a flat" (unknown). I was finally done throwing myself a pity party. I knew it was time to get back on the road - now or never.
On Friday January 31st I loaded up my car, and was on the road. By now you've realized that this post shares no profound wisdom or life experiences. I just wanted to stop by and update anyone that might be wondering when this adventure was going to be starting up again. As I sit here in Missoula, Montana let me tell you: it's already begun.
Stay tuned.
The gypsy life is back in action.
Well, tricked you! I'm still here.
Remember when I surprised my family and friends and showed up in Winnipeg for Christmas? Then remember that time when I couldn't find my motivation to leave? My body also decided that over the month and a bit that I was home it wanted to get food poisoning, the flu, AND the stomach flu. While I was sick I saw a quote (and I know some of you have already read it if you follow me on Instagram) but the quote goes a little something like this: "Giving up on a goal because of a setback is like slashing your other three tires because you got a flat" (unknown). I was finally done throwing myself a pity party. I knew it was time to get back on the road - now or never.
On Friday January 31st I loaded up my car, and was on the road. By now you've realized that this post shares no profound wisdom or life experiences. I just wanted to stop by and update anyone that might be wondering when this adventure was going to be starting up again. As I sit here in Missoula, Montana let me tell you: it's already begun.
Stay tuned.
The gypsy life is back in action.
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