Canada

I would like to tell you about some excellent and unforgettable days that I spent with my friends on some lakes in northern Saskatchewan. But first I need to mention the fact that for the past 6 years in late August, my friends have been making the same trip to La Rounge Provincial Park. I have wanted to join them for the last 5 years, but there has always been something stopping me. I kept postponing my trip until the next August, and then the next, and then the next... But this year, I seriously decided that this journey would happen no matter what. I was very excited for this holiday, and on August 24th, I threw my backpack in the trunk of an old van and our journey to the wild began. The eight-hour drive through the night passed quickly as the prairie gradually turned into a dense forest. We arrived on Devil Lake 7 am just after sunrise.

We took our backpacks from the van and put them in the kayaks and set sail. It is hard to describe how I felt at this time. However, the closest I can come is happiness, euphoria, mixed with a bit of trepidation because we were surrounded by the most amazing and beautiful wilderness imaginable. We swam in the middle of a very large deep lake with crystal clear water, which reflected the azure sky. On the banks of the lake is a dense forest, which from a distance looks like a huge impenetrable wall. The air smelled of fresh water, mixed with the smell of a thousand blades of grass, moss and trees. Every breath I took was a treat. This was complemented by the beautiful sunny warm August weather.

Our route was not very difficult - we paddled a few hours each day and then we portaged with our backpacks and kayaks through the forest to get around the rapids, rocky streams and waterfalls. After each short portage, we ate our lunch then paddle again for another hour or two until we reached our destination for the night. Following this, we pulled our boats up on the island, put up tents, dried wet clothes, and collected firewood. Once, we set up camp we fished, swam in the lake and cooked dinner over a campfire. After dinner, we all sat around the fire talking and watching the sunset. At the campfire, we looked up at the night sky filled with millions of bright stars, stars that are almost impossible to see in the city where we live. After midnight we had the privilege of seeing the polar lights; it was majestic. The firmament was painted with shinny green, blue and purples waves or light, which continually changed form and colors. We couldn't tear our eyes away from the performance.

Lots of great moments occurred for me during our short up-north Canadian adventure. I hooked the biggest fish in my life; I fell three metres from a rock into the water and didn’t even get a scratch. I bathed under a waterfall, and gathered wild blueberries. And of course there was a lot of communication, jokes and laughter with my friends.

This trip gave me a completely different type of relaxation because there was no place for phone calls, e-mails, home problems, work stress or money worries. This is the best way to clear your mind from routine waste and make your body and your spirit stronger. I can’t wait to repeat the trip next year.