CANADA DAY!

I can't decide which of this week's holidays I was more impressed with-- my birthday or Canada Day.  Both were record-making and will go down in the history books.  

I was particularly excited for Canada Day not only for the simple things.. like a day "off" (YES!!).. but also because having grown up in a border city, I'd never really experienced a truly patriotic Canada Day (I still vow to one day spend it in Ottawa).  Of course, I'd planned to soak up as much of the red and white Canadiana as I possibly could.. this didn't quite come to pass..

However!  I am anything but broken hearted about it.  Let me explain.

My hope to sleep in ended up being in vain-- I was up for a 6am skype sesh with my dearest cousin, who was on her way to an [isolated] Algonquin Park summer job.  After that, I rushed to get ready for my (volunteer) gig, hosting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire/Get to Know Parks Canada?  I didn't get to give out a million dollars, but I did get to yell at the tourists in line for free pancakes.  Oh!  And you know those beavers at the [amazing] Olympic closing ceremonies?  They were there.  I got a picture with one.  

Back to the house I went, happy to get away from the crowds of people milling about, waiting for the festivities to begin.  It was about then that I made the decision to disappear from civilization for the day, and go off on a hike to Stanley Glacier.  I'd been told this was a hike I must do, and I concur.  

It's located in Kootenay National Park-- a 40min drive from Banff.  Oh, and make sure you're watching the highway signs because I missed the one saying we were leaving Alberta and entering British Columbia.  I found out I'd been in BC all day on the drive back.. :)

Anyway, the hike is through the part of Kootenay that was ravaged by forest fire a few years back--38km2!  It's amazing how a place can look so barren and dead, but also so beautiful and alive.  The wildflowers were beginning to come out and were a stark contrast against the charcoal logs around them.  The hike itself was nothing too challenging, but I'm starting to wonder if I should be investing in a pair of these hiking poles I see so much.  Apparently they aid in providing some support for your knees on the way down.. a time that I dread, when I can feel the tendons and muscles behind my kneecaps make their protest known.  I'm told that I'm too young to have this problem.. great.  I'm going need new parts by 40..  

After the hike, my roommate and I had a beautiful picnic at Vermillion Crossing.. or Kootenay Park Lodge.. depends who you ask.  Thank goodness she was nice enough to lend me the funds to purchase some caffeine-- after a 6am rise, I was running low on juice.  We considered quickly doing the Paint Pots hike, but I was wiped and sort of ready to allow myself to doze off in the car, on the way home.  I got so many ideas from this trip, though!  I want to hike and camp at Floe Lake.. an alpine lake, nestled against a huge rockwall in an oasis amidst the burn.  The good news is that I just found out a friend of mine will be visiting in a month-- she has no idea what she's in for:) 

The night ended with some David Bisbal, a toast to my birthday, a blisstastic nap and watching the fireworks explode over the trees without even having to leave my bed.  And that was my Canada Day-- not the projectile red and white that I'd thought it would be, but I'd argue a definitely more satisfying dose of Canadiana.  Do you know how many people on the trails wished me a 'Happy Canada Day"?  Lots.  I love it here.