Ottawa Ottawa Ottawa (The Return) - Surrey to Revelstoke

 Good Day Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls,

If you have enjoyed this blog in the past and have been hoping for a post then you are in luck! This is a special edition of the blog. 

The idea struck me as I drove passed Abbotsford, British Columbia earlier today. I have had so many thoughts flowing though my brain over the past week and my wonderful and beautiful mother mentioned to me a few days ago that I should write out what I'm thinking. What better way then the blog which I've appreciatively had some solid feedback from. 

Alright LETS GO! 

I have been living in the Vancouver, British Columbia area for six years now...... I drove out here from Ottawa in November of 2015. Holy Crapola six damn years.. where did the time go?! It has been an amazing experience. One that I'm very grateful for. It weirdly doesn't seem that long but at the same time feels like an eternity ohhhhhhhh yaaaaaaa, you or no!? Oh yea an eternity, I've done a lot of shite while out here in beautiful BC. I mean theres a lot of beautiful places in BC but ummmm sorry to say that Surrey isn't one of them (Keep in mind I don't consider Whiterock Surrey). I lived within different areas of Surrey for a good chuck of my time there. BUT! I've also had the chance to live in Kitsilano, which which pretty cool with the beach and close to the city where I watched a couple a Canucks games live.  Skied Whistler, Blackcomb hiked up the Chief and Grouse Grind so my time wasn't wasted. Road trip out to San Diego. Went up to Yukon for 4 months, I was lucky to do all that stuff. 

One thing I've learned, for myself anyway, over the years is, well.. here, go to youtube and play the song "Live like you're Dying" by Tim McGraw. I mean you can't in actuality live like your dying cause you need to be somewhat responsible but I like the idea and it encourages me to LIVE. To go out and experience as much as you can (somewhat responsibly) but to do things you can, while you can, before.. well.. you can't anymore. The older I get the more I realize I can't do what I did before entirely. Like.. Train for hockey and pursue a career innnn the NHL? The AHL? The ECHL? Nope nope nope. Well I can't realistically pursue that dream anymore but I did when I was 22 :) did I make it ? Nope. Did I make anything? Nope. Did I tryout for a University team and have a shit tom of fun doing it, get in great shape, drastically improve my hockey skills and fulfill a dream? HELL YES I did! And guess what.. I still play hockey and I love it. Okay Okay I'm ranting.. but I think you get the point.

Me going back to Ottawa is important to me. It's where I truly believe I'm suppose to be. You know what, I don't know if I would have really been able to say that if I didn't leave. One thing I really didn't know would happen is I would cry before I left today.. It felt so good and it felt so right to cry and release my emotions. I got to share a few special moments with some special people before I left. I did not think at all that I would cry when I left AT ALL. It just hit me all of a sudden (a few times). It felt a little weird at first and then I embraced it and enjoyed it. I'm a wuss right, I'm a bitch no? Any of the insecure macho's out there who think that can suck my Jane. I could care less, its about embracing how you feel and not feeling ashamed of it. Be who you are, not who you think you should be or who someone else thinks you should be. I have the most incredible parents and amazing friends who are sooo supportive and loving. For me it's about surrounding yourself with those kinds of people and building meaningful relationships where you're there for one an other and can open up to them or listen to them - too be just be there. It's important to me and I've been so fortunate that I have these types of people in my life. Not to mention I have literally the best girlfriend on the face of the earth. I can't say enough good thing about this woman whom I love with all my heart. She was the last one I saw before I set out on my cross Canada road trip to return home. It was one of the hardest things I've done having to move to Ottawa so far away from her. Love ya bab! Man, my fingers are just flying on this key board. Feels good. 

So I left today and I'm currently in Revelstoke where I'm hanging em up for the night. I'm driving an enclosed box Uhaul truck and towing my vehicle on a flat bed trailer behind. It's a big bastard and was certainly intimidating to drive at first but I'm starting to become more and more conformable as the kilometres pass. I had to stop at a truck weighing station to eat and go to the bathroom in the middle of the trip. I was getting tired and hungry so had to make the Pitt stop. I went into the out house thing they had, which was pretty big. I guess I wasn't really paying attention so after my piess I turned around and stepped in human shite which was on the ground. I was extremely impressed and wiped my shoe on the grass for about 25 minutes after. Jumped back in this beast and kept er goin. What should have taken me 5.5 hours today took me about 7 maybe 7.5, which is totally fine. Gotta go slow and take precautions when you're driving a 50 ft behemoth. This thing shams down gas pretty good too but hey gotta do what you gotta do. 

I finally arrived at the Sandman Hotel Revelstoke, I immediately checked in and did my dirty dozen pushups workout accompanied with a little back and abs all body weight. I guess that pushup routine is gonna stay with me until kingdom come. I remember writing about it in my first ever blog post when I as headed to Australia in 2011. After my mini, much needed workout (I did 11's by the way Phily, not bad) I ate and finally got to do what I was thinking about the entire drive.. any guesses? Starts with hot ends with tub. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh it was a treat. Cycling between the piping hot tub and the chilly pool to get the blood flow going. The night was capped off by a beauty call from my oldest friend and eventual best man J-Boy. Josher who lives in Halifax with his beautiful family. He just finished playing hockey. Which is how we became friends in grade 5, hockey is the sport that just never stops giving. We had a great chat. It was a splendid way to end off day one of my cross country road trip. 

I sit here now on my hotel balcony looking down at the hot tub and pool. It's been a long and anticipated day, one with so many emotions and thoughts. It's finally over and tomorrow I'll be heading to Claresholm Albert-boy where I'll be staying with Woodsy. Pretty damn excited! 

Six years.. well (as a lot know) turn into 16 years and then 26 years and finally 60 years.. nice to sit back and think about these things every once in a while. Living in Vancouver was a monumentis part of my life, the experience / growth has played a big part in defining important parts of me. Now I can only look back on the memories from my time in Van and reminisce with friends about the various incidents which have occurred. A long chapter has finally come to an end and a new one is unfolding as I type. Thank you to all the people who have played a part in making my time there memorable and invaluable. It's a part of my history now and I'll always look back at it fondly.

I will most likely not on the blog tomorrow and maybe write the next day from Regina !

Smell ya later

Shaner