Leaving Canada.
When I last blogged I was on the eve of and on the cusp of completing what I can only describe as an epic road trip across the entirety of Canada! Leaving Kamloops high in the Rockies and descending the final leg of the journey down into Vancouver I could certainly feel a sense of anticipation at reaching the objective, completing the project and having done something to feel proud of as driving across the second largest country on the planet is no mean achievement!
A full days driving through the now familiar British Columbia countryside and we arrived in Vancouver to be greeted by Bryanna Theil & Bonnie Do who had kindly offered their hospitality to us. Although only in Vancouver for 6 days it was truly an amazing time. I had tried but didn't succeed in meeting up with a friend from back home, Laura Hughes, but no joy due to me getting the wrong address or turning up late... had managed to cross the entire country without the need for a cell phone but now that I was back in civilization for all of one day I was suddenly realizing the need for one in a fast paced city! None the less I enjoyed some good nights out there with Marco, Bryanna, Bonnie and there friends, also had the pleasure of having a few pints of the black stuff with Anton McCarthy from Drogheda in the Blarney Stone and Jonny Foxes! Bryanna who had threathened to beat me at pool ended up having to leave for Winnipeg the day after we arrived - however I think she just chickened out of our pool match off!
No sooner was I in Vancouver than I had to start my planning my next move, having only a 6 month visa for Canada my time was quickly running out. Leaving Canada was not something I wanted to do at all, I had enjoyed so many good adventures there and made so many friends - none more important than the travel partner who put up with me for all of 4 months - Marco. Honestly I dont believe I can do the man justice in words alone but I can say that he was not only a true friend but an inspiration. His zest for life and his outlook upon it is admirable and to share the adventure I did with such a guy was an honour and privilidge. I think I can best sum the guy up by explaining what he did the day I was leaving Vancouver, he got up at 5 am to bring me to the train station, we said our good byes and he he insisted he would wait to ensure I cleared immigration and got away safe..... he waited till 10am!!! 5 hours just waiting to be sure I got away... now thats a true friend in any walk of life! I secretly think he hoped I would get refused at US immigration and we could go back to continuing our Canadian adventure.... alas it was not to be but I reckon the Eddie & Marco book of travel adventures still has a few chapters to be written in it yet sometime and somewhere in the future - maybe even in New Zealand, but for now Im happy to call him a good friend and a friend for life for sure!
As the train pulled out from Vancouver station and hurtled its way towards Seattle I couldnt help but reflect and wonder about myl toughts on Canada now that I was leaving... AlCapone once joked that he "didnt even know what street Canada was on" (such was its insignificance to him) But I certainly do! Often seen by the outside world as no more than "Americas Hat" Canada's vast wilderness is joked about in guide books as beng only visited by an English lady in a hat (The Queen) and toothless iliterate fishermen! But not to me as I see Canada as probably the most free country in the world where a man still has room to breathe, to spread out, to move forward, to move out, an open country with an open frontier. Not only that but Canada has created harmony and cooperation among its ethnic groups, and it should take this experience to the world because I doubt there is such an example of harmony and cooperation among ethnic groups anywhere else on this tiny planet. Even its health care system is to be admired - even if my knowledge of it comes primarily from a Michael Moore movie! Although i guess any country whose primary health issues are hockey injuries and sinus trouble from trying pronounce complicated french vowels!!!...... can master and prefect almost any of its nations "lesser" health complaints and requirements. Canada to me was not just an epic adventure, in life I believe that we are all a by-product of our experiences and for that reason I can say that my Canadian experience was exceptional and a privilidge to endure. Weather it was the Irish like country side of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, the diversity of European culture and language embraced in Qubec and New Brunswick, the beauty and history of Ontario, the vastness of the paries of Manitoba and Seskatchawn to the heights of the Rockie mountains in Alberta and British Columbia, all were enjoyed and all left a lasting impression
Whatever about its landscape the real beauty of Canada lies within its people and I was privileged to meet so many on my travels across their nation. I will be forever indebted to their welcoming smiles! From the kindness of the Theil family in Quebec, to the exentricness of "Irish Mike", the humorous anglo-french conversations with natives Alain & Robert, and the friendships created with fellow workmates and Ontario residents Brit & Lindsey..... and that was just the summer! Everywhere in Canada there were welcoming smiles and friends to be made and I have left there with friends for life and i look forward to when our paths cross again in the future...... indeed it is a credit to Canadians that despite its beauty, vastness or intrigue the humbleness of the Canadian people is epitomized in the Canadian National Anthem "O Canada" which sums up the country in just 10 simple lines!
I came to Canada as a "rat-race reject", naive to the world and adventure. I left inspired, motivated and intrigued as to what else the world can offer and I am now happily on my way to exploring it.... So Canada I thank you and just as Sir Adolphe-Basile Rothier failed to find a verb noun or adjective to adequately and justifiably name or describe his new work which would become the national anthem I too can now appreciate his difficulty for Canada is not a place that can be described it is a place that needs to be explored & experienced for ones self because then ... and only then can it be understood and appreciated....... "O Canada"... "O Canada" indeed.......