A pathetic attempt in the sun by me and Peter in Cuba. This day was torture!!
Viva el Norte!
I’m beginning to realize I’m a little bit different than most athletes. I’ve always known this, but am seeing more clearly the differences now that I’m outside of sport. Most recently, while at an event with two other colleagues in sport, I was asked if I’ve been on vacation yet or have one planned. Well, I think they see me as being a little crazy when I excitedly explained a trip North Peter and I have planned for the summer.
You see, my idea of a vacation has nothing to do with resorts or beaches. The only time I’ve enjoyed the beach was during a bike tour of Baja California, Mexico, when we rode the desert peninsula for 6 weeks. Peter and I would traverse these rough dirt roads, criss-crossing Baja. We’d spend a few days on the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez to recoup from some of the most difficult riding I’ve done in my life. Being on fully loaded touring bikes on rocky, washed out at times roads, loaded with up to 5 gallons of water, was exhausting.
Each time we’d reach water, camp would be set and the hand lines for fishing would come out. I loved fishing in this most simple way and cooking the catch over the fire. We’d often be close to fishing camps and sometimes be in an area popular to wind surfers or surfers. Sometimes, we’d get the invite for a feast of fresh tuna just caught from a gringo with a motor boat.
Anyway, my point is, none of this involved laying in the sun at club med or the likes. Two years ago, we went to Cuba, staying not in a resort but in peoples homes, or ‘casa particulares’. The few times we did the beach thing I was bored out of my skull. Not to mention I’m a red-head. It’s not in my genetic make-up to savor the sun.
This northern adventure that people think I am nuts for wanting to do is right up our alley. Tons of paddling and a two-month window to explore the regions of the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake up in the North West Territories is an enticing idea of fun in the (hopefully) sun.
When other athletes plan visits to tropical islands, exotic places far away, I am most excited to visit this part of Canada that I hear from people who have been there to be ‘the most beautiful place on earth’. I believe this after my other northern adventure, bike touring the Dempster Highway.
Call me crazy but I am counting down the days until the 1st of July. My only concern is to not use my legs for this amount of time. Yes, we will be paddling, but what is going to happen to my already shrinking speed skating legs?!? I suppose it’s the small price to pay in order to live this dream.
Viva el norte!!
