Rob and I have just returned from an incredible road trip and vacation in Canmore, outside of  Banff National Park in Canada. It wasn’t just the scenery that was beautiful; the distance from the noise of our world today was respite we both needed.

We decided to drive because the driving provided an opportunity to see spots in our country we wouldn’t otherwise. Another driver was curiosity about how other areas were experiencing the political climate. All we hear in the media today is ‘right versus left.’ But I don’t buy it. Each of us are human beings first; right versus left is a manifest of our political system and the media. The division is there; but I found it hard to believe we would we be arguing our way across America. And I was right. Popping the bubble of where we live and learning more about our country felt important to both of us.

On the first leg of the trip we listened to Matthew McConaughey’s 2020 memoir, Greenlights which I highly recommend. The book was read by McConaughey and his voice kept us engaged.

Our first night was spent in a horrible hotel where the sink and bath did not drain, in the beautiful town of Thermopolis, Wyoming where we enjoyed the hot springs and dinner at the hotel restaurant. While dining, I noticed a group of women in an adjacent room clearly having a great time; all of them wearing red hats. I asked what they were celebrating and they told me they were members of the Red Hat Society and this was their convention. Mostly older women, laughing loudly and enjoying one another which could not help but make me smile too!

 

From Thermopolis we went to Bozeman, Montana and stayed in the Sapphire Motel that was a throwback to the 1950’s in decor. I felt disconnected from the visitors in downtown Bozeman where countless tourists cosplayed as cowboys (I mean, I’m from Colorado and the only people I see wearing cowboy hats are not shopping on Main Street.) From Bozeman we drove to Waterton Lakes which is connected to Glacier National Park; both of which are vast and full of beauty. The parks straddle Canada and the United States and are a world heritage site. I woke up to mule dear outside our window and was turned back from a solo walk due to a warning about a cougar being in the area. Finally, we made our way to our AirBnb in Canmore. Both of us were more than ready to get out of the car and get settled.

We made the trek to Banff, a roughly relaxing 25-minute drive, almost every day to hike, bike, kayak or explore without complaint. One day we road our tandem bike on the Bow Valley Parkway which was closed to traffic until 10/1. Our ride took us through thick forest on roads with occasional bear poop.

Hiking from otherworldly Lake Louise to the Little Agnes Teahouse where we had tea and a delicious lunch before walking up the steep trail to the Little BeeHive was another highlight. There was a group kayaking event we joined where we portaged over an abandoned beaver dam (rather challenging) and then another extraordinary 30-mile ride around Lake Minnewanka. Our final hike was to Lake Helen (another steep walk with over 1600 of elevation gain). Each day was full and involved time in nature. The weather was so warm we had to buy t-shirts.

Every day involved physical activity outside. Both of us were exhausted and fell asleep shortly after dinner before we rose and did it all again.

All too soon, it was time to return. The drives on the way back, until our final 90 minutes were beyond extraordinary. Fall was in full swing and the colors; red, yellow, orange, green, and density of trees were hard to drive past–we wanted to just stop and stare. We spent a night in Great Falls, Montana where I had a delicious Old Fashioned and Irish Stew. Next up was Jackson, Wyoming before our final night in a dumpy hotel in Casper, Wyoming.

Great Falls was one town I would have liked to explore more. I grabbed coffee from a shop that had a Little Free Library in the back which warmed my heart. The town was a mixture of empty storefronts and shops that made Main Street look like it was in the midst of revival.

While people in Casper were kind, they looked weary and we lamented the lack of walkability (we drove to our dinner spot which was less than a mile away due to a lack of sidewalks). At this point, I was more than ready to get home. On the drive we listened to The Hobbit and a fantastic Bulwark interview with Ken Burns.

We spent time in beautiful places where it appeared money was in excess, in towns where the farmer’s market was just four vendors and we bought apples from a man in overalls. The drive brought us through struggling rural towns where old motels sat shuttered and the presence of a post office was the only viable sign of life. Towns where wealth permeated the environment. There were no political signs on the drive, save one flag. We talked about how the lives in many of the places we drove through were nothing like the lives we live, wondering where people purchased their groceries, what news channels they listened to and even if they followed the news at all. What were their lives like? Who were they?

In Canada, I felt embraced. Aside from a photography friend I met up with in Canmore, no one asked me who I voted for or what I thought of world events. There were no red hats or angry stares.

The only nod to politics was while food shopping. Products were clearly marked with where they came from and the loudspeaker, from time to time, announced, “Support your Canadian pride and buy Canadian products.” Make no mistake, our Canadian friends are not okay with being bullied.

My curiosity about our country did not abate; and it made me sad that conversations about inevitable differences felt dangerous. I felt a grief for my country that, while bubbling up before I left, became more tangible on my return before dissolving with action.

Things don’t need to be like this, I thought. Do any of us really want to live this way?

Maybe all any of us can do is explore. Travel. Get outside of our bubbles. Understand the world still holds beauty. Find an individual focus that speaks to you and work to leave the world a better place. Do NOT live in fear. Speak up. Be brave…your grandchildren are counting on you.

Remember the world is a big place…

But of all things; travel. See the world. Find beauty.