The Great Flood of Calgary

“God gave you thumbs for one reason: hitch-hiking!” Paul hollered, as his engine sputtered off into the blistering sun. Emma and I looked blankly at one another.

Two days prior to our arrival, Calgary experienced historical rainfall. On the news, the reporter exclaimed, “Do not come to Calgary!” while we boarded the plane. By this time, tens of thousands of citizens were evacuated from their homes, and we were flying in. I had the heebie-jeebies like mad and Emma was all-sorts of anxious.

Months in advance, we painted a picture so perfect: Young couple flies to distant land to volunteer on a farm, a 19-day breach from our modern lives. But nature spoke, at a tone so loud, that our plans sank.

After a flight of unrest, we landed and met the man who would change the trajectory of our trip. “Funny time to be in Calgary, eh! He said, and then introduced himself, “The names Paul.” We tossed our packs into the bed of his truck and looked on with wariness. We arranged to stay with Paul at the last minute, as we couldn’t get ahold of our farm host due to the flood. That night, Paul shared with us the art of hitchhiking and gave wisdom into travel that made all the difference, “It’s very simple: lose the preface of good or bad and take the experience as it is.” A mindful practice for us as we hitched around Western Canada.

Half past three the next afternoon we found ourselves in a strip club, with a beer in hand, on the outskirts of Edmonton. Our ride, Jason, felt it necessary to cap our first hitchhiking experience with naked women and booze.

We thumbed to Jasper National Park from there. A man named Dan and his dog, Blue picked us up after an hour of antsy waiting. Dan paralleled Paul in sharing bits of wisdom, “Live free, ditch the labels and be you!” A few nights spent wondering the woods and scaling ridges, to catch notes of serenity, gave us time to heed such insights.

We got rides eastward to Frog Fest for hippies, mosquitos and music – a weekend filled with jolly folk. On the last night of music, we woke at 4am to a crowd chanting in excitement as the Northern Lights danced amidst stars in the purple sky.

On we hitched, to Nelson, B.C. for an impromptu farm stay, to do what we sought from the beginning.

We hitched over 2,000 km over the duration of our trip. But as I calculate the distance, the sheer hospitality and kindness of those we met takes precedence over all else.

And in the end, when plans sink just smile and stick your thumb up!