Day 90: Worth - 25km

Brad and Kate's in Carnarvon to the Public Park in Dorset

I texted Billie, the sweetheart we had met at the store the day before. She texted me saying if we needed a favour don’t be afraid to ask. I asked if she could drive our packs, she said she’d be happy to. That was a big relief. We left, and were on the 35 the entire day. The highlight was stopping at a park where we could go jump off a dock to cool off. We also had an interview with the Halliburton New’s Paper. We took our time laying on the dock as the horses grazed, trying to wait out the hottest part of the day.

The rest of the day passed quickly for me. I finally got to catch up with my friend, Catherine Worth, who is working with her husband as a nurse in Dawson, Yukon. We’ve been trying to get a hold of each other for three months. We spoke well over an hour, and it was crazy how many similarities we shared. All the learnings I’ve experienced on this trip, she had too. “I can’t believe how nice people are in other parts of Canada!” She said. We agreed that its probably because when we lived in our comfortable home town, we didn’t need as much help and support. The way we live now, we do, and people are always there. She lives in a community where the closest mall or large hospital is 6 hours away. Half the year is spent in darkness. Elders and people she’s met all told her the only way to get through the winters is to come together and rely on one another. Catherine is working in all different area’s as a nurse. Since there are not many Nurse’s there, she can rarely shed her title, and locals are always asking her questions. At 24, she is doing something not many others her age are doing. She completely uprooted her life in Burlington, Ontario to experience a completely different way of life in the North. It was amazing how much we laughed at how similar our experiences were. Although she is right there in the community, providing health care and helping those in need. I’m just walking a lot. I’m so incredibly proud of her. She’s also had to face her own health challenges this year. She takes everything in stride, with positivity, and the belief that it will always get better, that there is always hope. I don’t know many like Catherine, but I can say she helps me see the positivity too, and really is a light in a dark place. She has always been the kind of friend you can go a year without taking to, and dive right back into as soon as you pick up the phone. All my best friends are miles and miles away, and I’ve learned that’s okay. I always gave the greatest importance to the people that were right in front of me. Letting the far away friends slip under my radar. But those far away friends are important to me, and each person has their own unique qualities that you can’t always get with the people right there. I’ve learned to work on those friendships. Maintain them.

And while I miss my friend mates miles away, I’m constantly around new people, new friends, people I’d never meet in my normal life. But life has long since been normal. I also got to catch up with my younger brother Ty. It always feels good to keep in touch with those you love, and i’m always impressed by Ty’s emotional depth and knowledge and his calm attitude. I’m reading The Power of Now by Ekhart Tolle, and he talks about separating yourself from your thoughts. You are not your thoughts. That most people are completely wrapped up in their own mundane thinking patterns, and it makes you miserable. It made me think of Ty. I’ve always found he has had a more simplistic look on life, and he’s always able to really appreciate the present moment. People are attracted to him like a bug to a light. I’m trying to work on it myself.

On long days with nothing but trees and road stretched in front of me, I occupy myself with mundane thoughts of the past and future, I feel bored in the present. But I must not really be in the present. Because there I could find the joy of being. I will continue to work on it.

We stopped at Pizza on Earth in Dorset. I didn’t even realize how hungry I was until I sat down. One at a time people came up to us, asking the same questions over and over. Once seated out of the sun it was like my blood sugar and energy dropped drastically while we waited for our food. The 7th person in a row came up and asked us what our story was. “I’m so sorry, you’re the 7th person that’s asked us this in a row and I’m very exhausted and haven’t eaten a proper meal since breakfast, I hope you understand, here’s my card. Feel free to pet the horses.” I said. She totally understood and was nice and went to see the horses. After I felt bad. Should I have just talked to her? Repeated the same dang story for the thousandth time? Probably. But at that point,you want to be alone, out of the public. Since we don’t have a bedroom to retreat to, a space, it feels like people are constantly there demanding questions when all you want to do is close the door. However this always immediately feels selfish as people have continuously done so much for us, the least I can do is tell them what we’re doing. For them it’s the first time, for me the thousandth. It’s like doing a scene in acting class, each time you hear your partner say a line (although you know exactly what he’s about to say) you have to hear it like it’s the first time, otherwise you might as well be on stage alone.

This kind couple, Kelty and Todd, offered to grab us groceries, we gave them list and they were back when we finished our pizza. We handed them money but they refused. Once again, people are generous. “You can do the same for our kids one day.” They said. And we definitely will. I think I’ll be repaying the kindness the rest of my life, and even that won’t be enough.

We were supposed to have another 9km to go and it was 6pm. Todd told us about a park just 800 meters ahead. We stopped there, and although there were signs that said no camping, we found a spot by the water a little more secluded from the road. The Dorset Lions Camp was where we were supposed to be on Saturday, the big 54km we couldn’t seem to face and kept postponing. Well.. looks like we didn’t even make it. By staying at the park, we saved ourselves 15km in total. I apologized to the camp who’d been awaiting us and our ever changing schedule. They were kind and understood.

Jewel and I skinny dipped in the lake and cleaned ourselves with some organic soap Pat had given us. The moon was coming out and the sky was pink and hazy blue. You could hear the highway in the distance, see the signs for it. Being a public park, someone could come at any time. But it didn’t matter. I enjoyed the cool water and the refreshing feel. We highlined the horses and set up the tent just as the last light was leaving to avoid any attention. Into the tents we went.