A Whole New World

Guess who had never ever been to Canada in her entire life even though it's just right up there? Me. Two thumbs pointing at this girl. Canada. Home of the hottest elected official on the planet (although it's a tough call between JT and Sadiq Khan, maybe even a draw), the Rocky Mountain northern version, decent USD exchange rates (this month, at least), and my new favorite town, Fernie, BC. Also, it's just four hours north of Missoula, we can drive to another country! After driving from Mexico to Missoula, four hours is nothing. It's a short nap (which is how I missed most of the drive up). 

It had been exactly two months since we'd seen a sign like this, the last time we were at the butt of Texas. Driving through was no problem. No one cared that Monet was sleeping in the back, no one stamped our passports (a slight bummer), and there was not one other car in line. It seemed like a strange dream. It was just so easy. They just let us in. And we could have maybe stayed forever. 

We planned to camp for the three day weekend, do some hiking, do some mountain biking, and hang out in the woods cooking dinner at night. What we didn't do was any sort of research on what camping is like, or to make a reservation at the standard campground area near all of the trails. Canada-newbie rookie mistake. We showed up ready to set up our tent to find that there was both no space available at the Provincial campground, and there was no obvious back country camping (although we tried beyond our realm of patience to find some). One good thing about traveling extensively with your partner is that you both recognize when it is time to change the original plan. 

After driving around for way too long and considering our non-camping options we decided to forgo the RV park tent camping next to the dumpster and book a spot at Island Lake Lodge instead. This lodge is more of a winter destination (they specialize in Cat Skiing, and the property is owned by a group of professional ex-snowboarders and skiers), so we were lucky to find a pet friendly room at an off-season rate. To get here, you drive six miles up a private road and end up at this lake at the base of the Lizard Range. 

After a hike up to Mt. Baldy, we got this rainbow at the bottom of the trail. "It's all the way across the sky," I exclaimed, then completely understanding how a person could be fully enamored with a double rainbow reaching across a valley floor, even while (claiming to be) totally sober. 

Me and Spencer in our natural states. I think our faces here pretty much reflect our personalities 100%. Digressing...even Monet had the best time! Her favorite part of the trip was napping in the car, but hiking was a close second. Tongue out = fun out(ting). Dare I even say it? I shouldn't. I'll say it anyway. I love Fernie and totally want to move here. I know, I know...Missoula is awesome. It's starting to become home. And every new place is a tempting relocation option. All that said, if ever there is a reason to ditch the US and move to Canada (#drumpf), I already have my street picked out.