On a beautiful summer day I grudgingly came in from the sunshine to my windowless office to sit on my butt and work. Don’t get me wrong, I actually really like my job- but summer is hard for the office worker, especially a girl who used to spend her summers on a ranch. Anyway I came in and had a thought “I wonder if Shaw TV does any local programming on hikes or things to do near Lethbridge?” That’s where I found Make it Happen, a new program by Shaw helping people do the crazy adventures they have always wanted to.
I wrote in an application and was selected to be on the show! The fun part? They wanted my adventure to be a surprise so I had no idea where I was going or what I was doing. All I knew was that I was flying into Toronto which was exciting because like many Albertans the farthest east in Canada I have ever been is Medicine Hat.
Upon arriving I got to meet Helen Upperton, a silver medallist in bobsled and the hostess of Make it Happen.
Helen and her silver medal!
She informed me that we were headed to Algonquin Park which is three hours north of Toronto. I have heard of Algonquin and I knew that the leaves would be changing and gorgeous up there but I still had no idea what I was doing!
Off we went with a quick stop to Webers Hamburgers, a local legend when it comes to awesome burgers and chocolate shakes. The dining area is actually an old dining car which I thought was very cool.
The dining car
A few hours later we arrived.
When we pulled in to where we would be staying Helen informed me that we were staying at Bonita Cabin, owned by the family who owns Roots and the visiting place of many an athlete and celebrity. The cabin was straight out of a magazine and had a gorgeous view of the water. I wish I had taken a picture of the cabin!
Before turning in Helen informed me that I would in fact be kayaking on this trip. Yeah! She then informed me that my coach would be four time Olympic medallist Adam van Koeverden!! I flipped! I am an Olympic nerd having had Olympic dreams but not Olympic athleticism so this was too much. Hanging out with Helen was cool enough but now I was going to be coached by one of the worlds best kayakers? Awesome!
I didn’t think I was going to be able to sleep much I was so excited but the incredible feather duvets at the cabin enveloped me in warmth and I slept like a baby.
Watch for my next post about meeting Adam, my butt getting stuck in the kayak, and our soup falling in the fire.
My kayak on the beautiful Lake Bonita
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