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After years spent dreaming of the Rocky Mountains, Ben Collins' journey across Canada finally reaches the town of Canmore
I began the day with no plan. Yes, that's right... no plan...
...Friends and family will realise how uncharacteristic this is of me but it is indeed true... as I stood there on the side of the highway waiting for a ride, I did so in the knowledge that my itinerary was effectively empty for two whole weeks with nowhere to go, nothing to do and nowhere to sleep.
- - - Thumb's Up in Calgary at 09:55 - - -
As I waited for a ride I pondered:
"What will I do today?" "Where will I go?" "Where will I sleep?"
It is hard to describe how I felt asking myself these questions but whilst there was a large part of me that felt unsettled, I was I think mostly excited. You see, I may have stood there knowing I knew nothing about what comes next but I also knew that this presented me with more opportunity than I have perhaps ever been exposed. I was in a nutshell - terrifyingly excited.
Ride 024: Mike. 105km from Calgary, Alberta to Canmore, Alberta
After spending fifteen minutes trying to take the photo that you see at the top of this post I was picked up by Mike, a young guy in his mid-twenties who originally from Poland moved out here a few years ago for both the sport and the mountains.
Picking me up after seeing the Union Jack I had on display, Mike proceeded to tell me a little about what he does for a living before politely enquiring as to where I was headed. Casually, I explained that I had little idea and that I was simply waiting to see what would happen.
In response, Mike smiled and looking at me with a sense of compassion he said I would be more than welcome to spend a night or two at his place in Canmore.
I was simply blown away.
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In response, Mike smiled and looking at me with a sense of compassion he said I would be more than welcome to spend a night or two at his place in Canmore.
I was simply blown away.
- - - Pack Down in Canmore at 11:15 - - -
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| Canmore, Alberta |
"You know this is why I love my life right now...
...I left Calgary this morning with no plans to speak of except for trying to reach the Rocky's. Three hours later I'm eating a prime Alberta beef burger in the town of Calmore surrounded by 3,000m high mountains, a place to stay and a new friend in the form of Mike.
Seriously, how does life get better than this?"
Whilst this was supposed to be a self-rhetorical question, the answer it turned out lay just a few short hours away, for after arming myself with a trail map and some bear spray I eventually hiked up to this point where in that moment - everything was perfect.
What struck me more than anything was knowing that this was only the very beginning of the mountain range I have forever dreamed about and with a hope of heading up to Jasper, some 300km to the North, I made the descent knowing that this next week or so would be both mesmorising and life changing.
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| Revelling in the breath-taking views from way above Canmore |
Today at a Glance
Awoke in: Calgary, Alberta
Sleeping in: Canmore, Alberta
Time travelling: 01hr 20mins
Distance traveled today: 105km
Rides today: 1
Planned arrival time: N/A
Actual arrival time: N/A
Highlight: Meeting Mike / hiking up the Lady Macdonald trail
Lowlight: Beginning the day feeling so tired
Total time travelling: 51hrs 29mins
Total distance covered: 3,501km