Cool air, warm sun and the earthy green aroma of trees. Ahhhhh……. squirrel chatter, bird song, the breeze making the mountain flower leaves wave. Sitting here writing this, I see daisy’s, fireweed and Indian Paint Brushes. Two squirrels chasing each other back & forth, talking up a storm – I guess one did something the other didn’t like. I can just imagine him standing up and shaking a little squirrel fist at the other 🙂

This was what I am grateful for in the last two weeks. The ability to spend our holidays in the Rockies. The beauty & power of the mountains, trees and water. This truly feeds my soul and helps the body heal.

We started out in the Tete Jaune Cache area at my cousins’ ranch. Its’ an annual gathering for any of the Cardinal (my maiden name) clan that can make it. We got to visit with my Dad for 3 days and Jim (hubby) got to quad with my cousins and Uncle to the top of Canoe Mountain. Incredible sight!

Next, we spent a couple of nights in Valemount at Yellowhead Campground. Highly recommend it, there is a salmon spawning creek that backs the grounds, it’s treed and lovely. We’ll go back again for sure.

Early morning sunshine lighting the windows and then suddenly – thunk! Skitter, skitter, skitter. Ok, I’m thinking – there’s a squirrel on my roof – I continue to listen. More thunking, more scraping noises. What?! Two squirrels?!

Nope! Next, it’s the cawing sound of crows followed by running across the roof, across the skylight and the sound of something on the roof being pulled on! Jim’s going out now to see what in the world is happening up there. He looks up to see not two but three crows! I grab the broom and come out too now. It didn’t take more than Jim stepping closer and telling them to get off our roof for them to depart. It’s now 7:04 am! I guess we were meant to get the enjoyment of our day started early this day!

Next was Clearwater where it was 36C & 38C for the three days here. The day we arrived was clear but steadily changed. The winds blew that afternoon, bringing with them the smoke of the fire from 100 Mile House (another valley but directly west of us) From then on it just continued to get smokier in town. Despite this, on the second day we went up the 65-km drive to the top of Wells Gray Provincial Park (the road ends here). We had intended to hike in to an area called the Dragons’ Tongue which is an area with lava flow. Fifteen minutes in and up, even with mosquito spray on, they were too much! Alas, we’ll put that on the list again for another visit. We did though go to my favorite spot called Bailey’s Chute. A ten-minute walk through what looks like a fairy land (if you’ve ever seen the cartoon movie Fern Gully – it looks like that) and you arrive to see the rushing waters of the Clearwater River cascading down & around the massive rocks that the mountain is made of. Talk about power and energy!

We left Clearwater and went next to Mount Robson (still in B.C) park. This area has been a favorite of ours through all our camping years. No cell service, just peace, calm, mountains, trees & rushing waters. Here, we walked up Berg Lake Trail to Kinney Lake. It’s a pretty comfortable 4.5 km through old growth forest, mountain meadow and alongside the incredibly full and very fast flowing Robson River. Its colour is a milky blue – it’s washing “rock flour” all the way to Vancouver.

Still smoky, although not really as much as before. We were able to have a fire on the first night so we actually stayed up late enough to see some stars and bats flying around catching bugs too! 🙂
The second night though, just as we had begun to cook our supper (on the fire pit) a park worker arrives to tell us there is now a complete fire ban. So- no fire that night or the last couple either.

There was a younger Black Bear spotted in the area as well – haven’t seen him ourselves, but I was told by a very excited 8 (guessing) year old on a bike as he rode up to and by me. His Dad, riding up right after, lovingly calling him “Motormouth” 🙂

This is where I’ll end my holiday adventure for now, along with encouraging you to find the beauty in your life everyday! And allow it to help you heal.

Take responsibility for maturing and enjoying your growth while releasing old hurts and embracing your past experiences. Remember – no one and nothing comes to us by accident. Every experience happens for you!

If you know you’re holding yourself back because of fear, take the couple of minutes to read the article by Alice Wheaton. She’s a business coach who specializes in revenue growth but the message can be applied to us personally as well.

Love & Happiness,

Donna