The Beauty and Fragility of the Open Road – Invermere, BC, Canada

This post was supposed to start much differently. However, as I put my words down and express my emotions, I feel I need to start from where I am now, and not as I usually do, which is recording my journey in chronological order.

It’s Monday, May 11th, and a beautiful sunny day here in Invermere, BC, Canada. I arrived slowly over a week ago.

Why slowly?

On my second day back to the freedom of the open road, I encountered a major challenge. If there is one thing that challenges me the most as a nomad, it is my health.

I consider my health pretty good. I eat healthy, I am very active, and I have a happy, positive mindset.

Interestingly, in my last post, I wrote that today my confidence comes from knowing that when I fall on my face, I will find a way to get back up. I wasn’t expecting to fall so soon, though.

In the last four years, I have had four diverticulitis attacks. This one is my fifth. The one from two years ago forced me to leave my travels through Newfoundland much earlier and head back home.

One strange thing that helps me recognize a flare-up earlier today is that back in 2009, during a colonoscopy, my colon was perforated. After emergency surgery, scar tissue formed in that area. It increases my pain level, but at the same time, it also alerts me much earlier when something is wrong.

There is never a good time for it to happen, but the last thing I expected was for something to interfere with delivering the presentation I have been working on for the last five months.

Sunday, April 26, late afternoon. I turn on my engine and leave behind good memories and dear friends. As I head out of the Y, the elk cross the road, symbolically saying a sweet goodbye.

I remember the little tradition I have: letting the universe choose a song from my favorite music list to set the mood for my journey. Ha, perfect! “The Boxer” by Simon & Garfunkel. A song that in the past helped me celebrate short solo trips and ignite the beauty of the freedom I get from the open road.

After months of living among the mountains, the drive through Wyoming felt almost like being in the desert. The skies are dark and heavy, visibility is low, and still my heart is full.

My intention for the night is to stay at one of the places offered through one of the solo travel Facebook group’s driveway-hosting maps. When I get to the lady’s house, it becomes obvious I cannot stay there, as the driveway is a very steep hill.

I make a quick decision to drive another hour to a rest area, knowing I will get there in the dark. Something that would have freaked me out in the past. I find my corner at the rest area, close my doors, cover my windows, and put on two layers of clothes before bundling myself under two blankets to embrace the cold night ahead.

Ouch, the temperature drops to what feels like 12°. Usually, I stay warm. The only body part that is always freezing is my nose. So I tuck my head under my blanket and actually have a decent night.

I wake up to a beautiful thin layer of snow around me. Funny, I discovered a new and exciting way to heat my bra: I place it on my heated steering wheel.

I spent the morning in Buffalo, Wyoming, at a gas station with a very nice and clean bathroom where I can wash up and stretch a bit, as it is still so cold outside.

I enter Montana, and a heavy feeling lands in my heart. Oh no. No, no, no… the familiar pain of a diverticulitis flare-up vibrates through me.

The good thing is that I am heading to Kalispell to visit my friends Kat and Antony. I can rest there and see what comes next.

As I travel through Montana, blue skies welcome me, and the incredible beauty of the mountain range helps melt away some of the concern in my heart.

It is fascinating to me how mountains in different places come in different compositions and create such unique art. The mountains in Montana sometimes feel like soft velvet. I definitely need to explore this state more in depth.

I know I need to go on a strict diet right away so I can give my stomach a break; I also need to rest. This is not the best timing when visiting Kat, since she is an amazing cook.

My plan is to enter Canada on May 1, so I have a few days to try to get myself into a better place. However,  the opposite is happening. I am losing energy, and my pain level is increasing.

I am grateful to Kat and Antony for their loving hospitality. I am glad I had the opportunity to visit with them, but I just wish I had felt better.

I am only half a day’s drive from Invermere, BC, Canada. Still, I do not want to miss the opportunity to meet Leslie.

Leslie has been following my journey from the start, and we became Facebook friends. We also spoke a few times on the phone in the past. So when Leslie saw from my last post that I would literally be passing by her house, she reached out to remind me of her invitation — that if I was ever nearby, I would have a place to park for the night.

What a delight. That is what I cherish most about my journey. Those beautiful souls who naturally click with my energy. I truly was sad that my visit with Leslie was so short. I do hope our paths cross again.

May 1. Time to cross the border.

Every time I cross a border, my stress level rises, and for only one reason. I always make sure to follow all the rules and respect the law. Still, I have heard so many horror stories about travelers whose vehicles were stripped apart during inspections. I cannot even imagine the chaos it would create in my setup, my home.

I do get pulled over and questioned about my visit to Canada. Thankfully, I came prepared and had a letter from the festival organizer confirming my presentation.

I arrived at my dear friend Sandra’s place late in the afternoon with very little energy.

Sandra and I met back in March of 2023 in Joshua Tree National Park, and a beautiful friendship was born. The invitation to come and be a guest speaker at the Wings Over The Rockies Nature Festival is a result of this connection.

Tuesday, May 5. The day of my presentation.

All I wish for now is a miracle — enough energy to stand and deliver an engaging and inspiring talk. I rest most of the day, trying to preserve my energy. My pain level is low at this point, which encourages me greatly.

Somehow, I do receive that miracle… or was it pure adrenaline? I do not know. I am simply grateful that all the hard work I put into this new adventure — speaking in front of an audience and pushing myself outside my comfort zone — resulted in such a beautiful moment in my life.

I am honored that my friend Betty, whom I met in September at Custer State Park, South Dakota, came all the way from the US with her mother. My heart broke when Ramona shared that she had to cancel her visit due to a family emergency. I was so looking forward to hugging her again. It's wonderful to see Georgie (Sandra’s friend) again as well.

I am grateful to Krystie and the Wings Over The Rockies Nature Festival for giving me the opportunity to challenge myself in a completely new way.

I recorded the presentation and will share it shortly.

For now, I am resting. Regaining my strength so I can return to the freedom of the open road.