Apr
20
2009
Escaping to the mountains
Author: Kyle
Arg. First lost post. I’ll have to write it again.
5PM Friday: I’ve had it, I need to get away. I’m done with the week and I’m grateful for a chance to be free for a glimpse at liberty. The day isn’t quite over yet, but still I make a few calls to make sure my cat is taken care of and that nobody will expect me for dinner.
You know you can only work in front of a computer in the same office doing the same things for so long. It isn’t natural. Natural. Yes, get away, go to nature.
5:30PM: I hit the road heading east. No real plan yet, I get the vague idea that I’ll just stop wherever I land around 9. I didn’t pack, I didn’t plan. What was the urgency? Exhaustion I think, and the vague feeling that it will never end.
Driving though the mountains of British Columbia is somewhat cathartic. The majesty of the land and the beauty of the lakes and rivers calms the nerves and reminds you of what you want to be and do.
9:10PM: Check in to the Kelowna International Hostel and talk with a few of the regulars. I decide I’m hungry and take their suggestion of going to the Doc Willoughby’s Downtown Grill. The food is good, but the people were great. I got invited to join a large and eclectic group for a birthday party. How fun! It’s a great idea too. Next time I’m out and I see someone alone, I’m totally going to invite them to join us.
As I was talking with the group I asked them were I should head next, to get away from the city and get a little R&R. Suggestions included Beaver Lake and Big White. Now Beaver Lake sounded good, but Big White was having an end-of-season sale. Cheap stay and out of the way. Perfect.
At the crack of dawn I am off to Big White. They can’t check me in for an hour so I have breakfast of a coffee and a bagel. While I am waiting I start brainstorming ideas for a new blog. I really like mind-mapping with a normal pen and paper. Besides eating at places with great views and lounging in the hot tub, that is mostly what I did. Lots of thinking and brain vomiting.
After a particularly nice chat with some Americans in the hot tub at night I went out to watch the end-of-season fireworks and then headed to the local nightclub/lounge and had a blast.
Because it was the last day they were kicking everybody out early and so rather then stick around much longer I headed home. A short 5 hour drive later I did some blog reading and made my first post.
Tags: Beaver Lake, Big White, Brain Vomiting, British Columbia, Canadian Mountains, Doc Willoughby's Downtown Grill, Exhaustion, Getting Away, Kelowna International Hostel, Mind-Mapping, Travel, Writing