A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Family Day here in Canada, which meant a day off work...Yay! A few days before Lovely Man had come home from an out of town trip and announced that he heard there was a free Dog Sledding event being held at our local National Park. So we trawled the papers and the internet to see exactly when and where and established it was to take place a Pukaskwa National Park, just 80km away and it started at 1pm...first come first served!
And so it was that on a non working day, a public holiday, when normal people laid snug in their beds until as late as ten o'clock we were up at 7 a.m. By 9 a.m. we were in the car, with snow shoes, drinks, coats, hats and mittens. The sun was shining and we arrived at the park gate at 10.30 to be greeted by a giant dancing beaver! Yes, Lovely Man was going to ensure we got this ride no doubt about it. So we hung around, ate some moose stew and dumpling, had a short hike on the snow shoe trail and at 12 noon he decided we really should get to the front of the line up for the sled ride.
So at 12.05 we arrived at the meeting point only to find there were some 30 people already there! And there we stood....for THREE hours! Oh yes! It appeared that these 30 people were just keeping a place for several family members as we watched as numerous children and adults just wandered up to the front and walked straight in! I admit there were times when I considered quitting but one look at Lovely Man gazing wistfully at the dogs and the sleds quickly squashed any thoughts of leaving my spot! Anyhow, as the sun started to go down behind the trees and it started to get chilly we finally got to the front of the queue. At last we got our ride! Oh My Gosh! I am SO glad we didn't give up...amazing! I think the photos just say it all!
How fantastic it that?!? Riding in a dog sled is one of the things I dreamed of doing when I was younger and more adventurous. It looks like the wait was worth it. Just look at that smile! xoxo
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