Today was a gorgeous Canada Day. (If you're not from Canada, Canada Day is Canada's birthday... a national holiday and an opportunity to wave the maple leaf and celebrate in the great outdoors.)
My Canada Day started with my traditional Canada Day run. It's the only time I wear a pair of Canada flag running shorts that was part of the original Canadian National 100K run team uniform from 1993. (Yes, I know the shorts look geeky, but they are sentimental and besides, I start fashion trends rather than follow them. I figure if I keep the shorts long enough, they will come back into style!) 
Anyway, it was already toasty hot when I ran down to Capilano Canyon at 8:40 am. Paul Cubbon and I had a fine run down to the Pacific Ocean at Ambleside Beach where tents were being set up for a big outdoor celebration later in the day. It was really nice how everyone was smiling and trading "Happy Canada Day!" as we passed on the trails.
This year I wanted to do something different today to celebrate Canada's birthday. Something outdoors, something that I'd always wanted to do but not been able to.
Plan "A" was to kayak down the Capilano River after running it's trails. There was no Plan "B", but the second part of Plan "A" was a bit of a flyer from the start. I have 2 inflatable ocean kayaks I recently bought for my kids. I've not been in them yet, but my neighbor Keith and I thought it would be cool to take them down the river and of course, I've always wanted to run the Cpailano in a boat. Problem is, the river can be very rough. This plan started to sound a bit bad when I learned that someone drowned in the Capilano River a few days ago after being sucked down by an undertow. Bob Hanlon, a friend from the Capilano Eagles running club and a fireman, pointed out that the Capilano was a Grade 3 whitewater river. Today, the dam was partially open and the river was roiling. No way, Jose!
As I ran back home, I contemplated catching up on work. Then it occurred to me that there might be enough snow left on the mountains to poach a few turns. There was a hole in my heart that was supposed to be filled on the last day of skiing at Blackcomb. I backed out because it was cold and rainy and my "official" 2007/2008 ski season ended on a down note.
I dug out my gear while listening to the CBC noon news. Ninety minutes later I was at the top of Black Mountain at the Cypress ski area sitting in the sun and soaking up views of snow-covered mountaintops. Skiing on the 1st of July... what a great way to celebrate Canada's 141st birthday!
How was it? Well, it was the best ski run I've ever had on the 1st of July, that's for sure. While there was still quite a bit of snow, I imagine a lot has melted in the past 3 weeks since the Vancouver 100. I had to hike between patches. If the warm weather holds, the snow on the ski runs will be gone in a few days, so that is without question the end of my ski season.
Was it worth it? You bet! I figure it took a total of 3.5 hours from the time the idea was hatched to the time I could say I've skied on Canada Day.
Happy Canada Day!
