The end

OK, I'm a few days late writing this post, but I figured that I needed to wrap up A Frog in BC, since this frog is no longer living in Vancouver. In October, it would have been six years since I first moved here. Almost made it ;)

I'll continue writing, because it's fun and now I have a new set of remote friends to keep informed, but the blog will be different: cue in Relearning Montreal. It's a placeholder for now, until I return from Greece and work on the layout and write a few things.

Bye bye BC, thanks for the good times, hope we see each other again soon. I will miss your mountains and the hiking, the amazing skiing in winter, the seawall, the mild winters and the great friends I have made over the past few years. Take good care of my sister Annie, give her a dry winter like the first one I experienced in 2002-2003.

These feet are made for walking...

And that's just what they did! Woot, another year, another 60 km walked to raise funds for and awareness about breast cancer. Although there seemed to be less walkers involved this year (around 1,600), the total amount raised for the Vancouver walk was incredible: $4.1 million! I raised almost $2,400, short of my $3,000 goal, but given that I did not invest much time in special fundraising events, it's quite the amount. Many, many thanks to everyone who contibuted!! I posted a few pictures from the event here.

Once again, the weather cooperated and we spent a sunny weekend walking around the city. This is the fifth year of the event in Vancouver and the third in which I participate. I've been lucky, because the two years I didn't participate endured rainy weather throughout the weekend. Was I better prepared? Well, not so much as far as the walking was concerned, I didn't do any long training walks but since I do walk all the time and everywhere, I managed pretty well. I was better prepared and educated about the event itself: stretching every hour, using Vaseline between the toes to avoid hotpots from rubbing (I have only one blister, not bad), changing sox at lunch, drinking lots of water throughout the day, and pacing myself were all factors in my making it to Sunday without major problems. Today, I am sore (especially at the hips) and my feet will prefer sandals for a few days but I feel great!

It was a tiring event, if only for the fact that you end up awake at 5:30 on both days. This year, I slept like a baby in the tent. It wasn't extremely cold, but I did wear a thin hat and I think it helped. I also took a muscle relaxant before going to bed, something I believe did contribute to my peaceful night. Joanne, who did the walk with me this year, and I were part of the lucky ones who did not get a rude awakening in the middle of the night. Someone forgot to turn off the sprinklers in the park and all of a sudden, some time around 2 a.m., it started pouring in a section of camp. Some sprinklers even came out from under a few tents. I heard about the commotion in the morning while chatting with other walkers. Sweet, sweet oblivion. Even then, you have to give it to participants to exhibit such positive attitude, campers who were soaked during the incident found the story quite funny the following morning.

And that attitude is a good reflection of the attitude of all participants, crew and supporters throughout the entire weekend. No matter how tired people are, how much pain they feel, the event is always a mixture of cheers, laughter, and overall camaraderie. Breast cancer is a terrible disease, but the fight against breast cancer truly brings the best out of people.

Lean

It's strange to live in the condo when most of my stuff and some of my furniture is gone, the whole place looks very impersonal and empty. The movers came on Thursday and took LOTS of boxes away (where does all this come from? I live in a one-bedroom, how come I have accumulated so many things??). Then, on Friday and Saturday, the painter was working on the place and did an awesome job, especially considering the high ceilings and number of surfaces he had to paint. I'm happy with the results, the walls look so bright and clean.

Annie arrived last night and spent the day with me and a couple of friends at the beach. The weather was looking cloudy and cool in the morning, but the sun came out in the afternoon and we had a great time! I had rented a volleyball net and we played some beach volleyball. I haven't played all summer, it took a little while to remember the motions but I eventually was right back in the game.

This week will be quieter, wrapping up things in Vancouver, helping Annie get settled in and reading my travel guide for Greece. I'm looking forward to my vacation.