Living just two hours from the Canadian Border my whole life, I have always wanted to venture to Canada. A bucket list item you might say. Actually, my bucket list item was to cross the Canadian Border, not necessarily go to Canada. After Covid prevented this from happening two years ago, this was the year to make it happen. It also happened to be Amy's and my seven year Anniversary so it was extra special.
We have seen the border before, but never crossed it. It was a little nerve wracking approaching the border patrol agent even though we weren't international smuggles of any kind. Unless you count egg salad sandwiches. We packed our own lunch to have lovely picnic at our first Canadian stop: Kakabeka Falls. When the patrol agent started to question us if we had any poultry items on board including turkey, chicken, or eggs, I began to panic. What do I say? Do I tell the truth and risk them confiscating our organic egg salad sandwich lunch we were eagerly anticipating? No, don't lie. Just tell the truth. So I came clean. Admitted the contraband we had on board. Thankfully he let us enter since the poultry items he was referring to was LIVE poultry and unprocessed egg items. At least we could eat our sandwiches without a guilty conscious thinking the Canadian Mounted Police would come get us.
Next up: Kakabeka Falls! Also known as the "Niagra of the North" because of its sheer size. Though no comparison to the real Niagara Falls (also on my bucket list), Kakabeka was definitely the biggest waterfall either one of us have ever seen.
We enjoyed our almost illegal sandwiches and then went on a lovely hike in the Canadian wilderness. It was a perfect hike with just the right amount of hills, climbs, miles, and surprises like this one below.
Another smaller waterfall put a giant smile on my face and some pep in my step. This hike was one of the longer and effort inducing hikes I have been on since recovering from Lyme, and I am happy to report that I was able to do it without much struggle.
Canada was pretty much like home. Only different. We rode our bikes around our equivalent of Bayfront Park and Canal Park. We found ourselves in the middle of a lovely outdoor festival where we partook in some legalized greenery and some delicious ice cream.
Still, we had a wonderful vacation. Before heading home we hiked another hike at Cascade Falls where there was reported to be a group of "mermaids" hanging about. Though we did not see the mermaids, we saw plenty of trees, mushrooms, squirrels, and babbling rivers of water....just like home. Also we made a must do stop at Walmart to see the different food items they had available. We packed our bags with chips (All dressed chips) and several different chocolate candy bars (afterall, we were still in Canada where weed is legal) and headed back home, across the border once again. Reentering the US was equally intimidating with camera taking pictures of the vehicle and yet another border patrol agent questioning what we were bringing back. Again, I got all nervous and confessed our smuggle. Chips and candy. Though it was "just Canada", it was a little sigh of relief to be back on American soil where the speed limit is posted in Miles and not Kilometers.
Though I got a bucket list item knocked off, the best part of the whole trip was just spending time with my lady on our 7th Anniversary. I could not ask for a better travel partner nor a better life partner. I am excited to continue crossing bucket list items off as we continue to venture through this weird and wonderful world together.
