It's Summer in Canada, now where are the grizzlies?

Summer in Banff. When winter ended and the ski field closed I had no enthusiasm about the concept of sun and heat, at least not in Banff. I'd had so much fun skiing in the trees and playing in the snow over winter, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with myself once that finished.

The last day of the ski season was crazy, the mountain hosted an event called Slush Cup. First off it's an excuse for everyone to try get the day off work and head up the mountain fully equipped with carefully concealed booze. Hundreds of people sit down a hill to watch costumed contestants hurl themselves down the hill on to a jump in an attempt to surf across a pool of ice cold water on their skis or snowboard. I'd say about 1% of people made it across, it was much funner watching the splash as they crashed into the water!

The following day I noticed the number of young people walking around the streets aimlessly looking sad and lost. No more skiing, what the hell were we supposed to do? I was one of these people for a couple of days until a friend of mine asked me to come canoeing with her.

It was a warm sunny day, we hired a canoe grabbed a 6 pack of beers and set off. Five minutes later I was over my depression. The water though freezing was crazy clear and the reflection of the trees and mountains on the water was stunning. The surrounding mountains despite the warmer weather were still snow capped and there were deer and various 'woodland creatures' (no idea what they were) along the river banks.

So that's the new hobby, either cruising down the river in a canoe or kyaak, or relaxing by the river with friends in the sun - beer always in hand of course!

Yesterday I hired a kyaak and the guy told me the previous 2 days a grizzly bear had been spotted along the shore with 2 cubs. I was so excited! I found out the route, and paddled like mad in search of my first bear sighting. Sadly, no luck.

When I'm walking through the bush with my fearless friend Paula, I generally tend to hyperventilate convinced I'm going to be attacked by either a bear or a cougar, but from the water or a car..different story, bring em on!!

All good things must come to and end though. I have just over a week left in Banff :- (

I'm heading to Vancouver for a week and then heading back to London for a few months. I'm really looking forward to being back in London but I'm also really sad to be leaving Banff. I've had so much fun here and made some awesome lifelong friends.

So - I have 2 weeks left in Canada. My next blog better have some darned photos of bears and a moose! Stay tuned...