Kilometre after kilometre I've paddled, drove and flown over the past few weeks, exploring old familiar trails and new destinations.
The paddling was the hardest physical labour. I thought my back was going to seize up and I feared I might lose an arm or two, but the feeling of accomplishment was exhilarating and the river was amazing.
The flying was the most exhausting. Ours is a great nation but it's just so spread out. A trip to eastern Canada meant three planes, more than six hours total in four different airports and a sleepless night hoping not to miss the 3:00 a.m. alarm.
My favourite mode of transport has definitely been four wheels on a ribbon of blacktop. I like sitting in the passenger seat with my feet on the dash of the truck, my eyes closed feeling the wind and the potholes. I also like to drive my car. I can stop when I need to, I can set my own pace, I can pull over when I'm tired or when the children are restless and I can carry on a pile of snacks and water bottles for the cost of groceries instead of $3 for a muffin or handful of nuts.
I know whether I'm on a boat or in my vehicle I won't have an airline overbook and make me feel guilty I don't want to be the one willing to sacrifice a seat for a little compensation and a ticket on a later flight.
Air travel in Canada is big business. Every plane I was on was full. People were even sitting in the crew seats and in both Toronto and Halifax flights were overbooked so passengers had to be bumped. I'd heard of those nightmares but as hours passed I just wanted to get to the next stop as quickly as possible. When I book a flight it is because I want to be somewhere else at a specific time, or close to it and I'm willing to spend the money.
While I'm driving across the plains I don't have the opportunity to relax and read or watch television but the scenery is amazing and I feel connected to the prairies and woodlands as I drive. I love this land and although I haven't convinced myself I'll ever pedal across the nation, I do hope to add train travel to my experiences in the next few years.
It is worth it to get out of my community and every time I venture out I'm amazed by hospitality and beauty and having my luggage wind up in the same city as me doesn't hurt one single bit.
