Back from the wilderness

Last weekend I made a last minute trip (aren't they all) to Prince George. It's a city smack dab in the middle of BC, Canada with a population of 78000. My mom and dad moved there in 1977 and shortly thereafter I was born. We moved to Nanaimo only 1.5 years later but my uncle Steve and Grandparents still live there. When I was a kid we'd take the family up to Purden lake to visit my uncle's cabin. This was the first time I'd returned in almost 10 years and it was great.

I flew from Vancouver to PG on Friday and arrived to celebrate my dads birthday. Happy "47th" dad. ;) We headed up to the cabin that night. Purden Lake is a 45 minute drive towards McBride from PG. The cabin has no internet, power, cellular signal or bathroom. So it's pretty off the grid. There are however propane lanterns, a wood fireplace, propane stove, out-house and room for 12 to sleep. It was great to wake up in the morning and jump into the lake off the dock. Nobody out on the lake yet and calm, clear water.

While out there I paddled across the lake in a kayak and remembered to do eskimo rolls. My dad and I also did some canoeing, mountain biking, and lots of swimming. Saturday night we had a party for 3 birthdays out at the lake. My grandparents both made it out and we BBQ'd for over a dozen people. Shawn even showed up since he was camping up in his birthplace: Salmon Valley.

Sunday we returned and I spent that night and Monday hanging out with family and touring around PG. The flight home was beautiful as we went over the Coastal Mountain range and came down over the North Shore of Vancouver. It's weird to get back to civilization after being out there but I am happy to have luxuries like a shower and internet again.