Sometimes, life throws unexpected challenges your way, and on this particular day, they came in droves. What began as a simple transition day driving from Alberta back to British Columbia quickly spiraled into a string of unfortunate events that left me feeling somewhat defeated.
A Tree, a Drone, and a Disappointing Start
It all started when I attempted to capture some stunning aerial footage of the Old Man River as I crossed into Fort McLeod, Alberta. Just when I thought I had the perfect shot lined up, my drone tragically collided with a tree. As I sat there contemplating my situation, I couldn't help but think: welcome to my terrible, no good, very bad day.
The day was meant to be straightforward – a drive through Alberta back to the comfort of my home in BC. Yet, there I was, facing the embarrassing reality of my drone being snagged in one of the trees I had miscalculated while flying.
From Poop to Disc Golf
But that was just the beginning. As I made my way through Alberta, I encountered an unfortunate and somewhat disgusting "roadblock" – what I believed to be human poop. The unpleasantness of that discovery transformed my drive into an even worse experience. Still, optimism took the wheel! I decided to make a pit stop in Coleman, Alberta, to play some disc golf.
Coleman, a quaint town of 1,500 nestled in the scenic Rocky Mountains, offered me a brief oasis. I was eager to test my skills at the Crow's Flight Disc Golf Course, a nine-hole beauty that presented both challenges and the promise of a good time. However, the damp grass welcomed me into a world of mishaps; my soggy shoes earlier reflected the wet conditions.
Disc Golf Challenges
With a little determination, I finally located the first tee box. Though my initial throws were shaky, I continued playing, battling against not only the course but my own amateurish skills in disc golf. Despite having a few good shots, the challenges persisted. I stumbled through the rounds, combatting the wet soil and treacherous tree line.
It was a mixed bag that day, but I finished the course, and even managed to coax a few highlights from my play. Tired of reflecting on my lackluster disc golf game, I steeled myself to get back on the road – with the thought of BC and the comfort of home pushing me forward.
Leaving Alberta Behind
As I hoisted my bag and began the drive to BC, I became fixated on how close I was to the border. Just 16 kilometers separated me from escaping this dreadful day. However, my initial plans unraveled. I had meant to take advantage of the stunning natural beauty of Waterton Lakes National Park, yet invasive species regulations prohibited canoeing there.
Motivated by the fading sunlight and mediocre weather, I decided to press on towards my next destination, aiming to find a spot to settle down for the night by the Columbia River.
A Night Surrounded by Mosquitoes and Cooking Dilemmas
After a lengthy drive, I finally reached my overnight camp spot. The location was familiar—a place I had visited before during a memorable summer van life vacation. Yet, my joy was overshadowed by a lingering frustration: cooking on top of what I feared might be another human poop situation at the rest area.
Trying to make the most out of the evening, I set up to cook an elaborate dinner of perogies, sausage, onion, and green pepper. Cooking inside my van was less than ideal, but as mosquitoes sw armed outside, I found no choice but to maneuver around the cramped space. Thanks to persistence and improvisation, dinner turned out well despite the chaotic backdrop of natural inconveniences.
The Drone Disaster
With my culinary efforts behind me, I awoke the next day determined to shake off yesterday’s disappointments. I set off to a rest stop for breakfast. The calm moment was interrupted when my drone took to the air—only to find itself entangled in yet another tree disaster.
As my heart sank, I gathered rocks from the riverside to knock the drone free. What I should have known was that this attempt was a long-shot at best. Standing beneath the tree, with the drone lodged high up, the futile effort reminded me of how quickly joy can turn to despair.
Reflecting on My Journey
After coming to terms with my drone’s fate, I took a moment to hike to the source of the Columbia River. With the tranquility of nature surrounding me, I realized that despite the challenges and misfortunes of the day, life has a way of guiding us forward. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, I learned to embrace the experience as part of the journey.
As I looked out towards the horizon, I acknowledged the importance of moving forward. As life is full of twists and turns, the best we can do is let go of the past and strive for better days ahead.
Moving on from my terrible, no good, very bad day, I was determined to face whatever lay ahead with hope and resilience.
Part 1/8:
My Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Sometimes, life throws unexpected challenges your way, and on this particular day, they came in droves. What began as a simple transition day driving from Alberta back to British Columbia quickly spiraled into a string of unfortunate events that left me feeling somewhat defeated.
A Tree, a Drone, and a Disappointing Start
It all started when I attempted to capture some stunning aerial footage of the Old Man River as I crossed into Fort McLeod, Alberta. Just when I thought I had the perfect shot lined up, my drone tragically collided with a tree. As I sat there contemplating my situation, I couldn't help but think: welcome to my terrible, no good, very bad day.
Part 2/8:
The day was meant to be straightforward – a drive through Alberta back to the comfort of my home in BC. Yet, there I was, facing the embarrassing reality of my drone being snagged in one of the trees I had miscalculated while flying.
From Poop to Disc Golf
But that was just the beginning. As I made my way through Alberta, I encountered an unfortunate and somewhat disgusting "roadblock" – what I believed to be human poop. The unpleasantness of that discovery transformed my drive into an even worse experience. Still, optimism took the wheel! I decided to make a pit stop in Coleman, Alberta, to play some disc golf.
Part 3/8:
Coleman, a quaint town of 1,500 nestled in the scenic Rocky Mountains, offered me a brief oasis. I was eager to test my skills at the Crow's Flight Disc Golf Course, a nine-hole beauty that presented both challenges and the promise of a good time. However, the damp grass welcomed me into a world of mishaps; my soggy shoes earlier reflected the wet conditions.
Disc Golf Challenges
With a little determination, I finally located the first tee box. Though my initial throws were shaky, I continued playing, battling against not only the course but my own amateurish skills in disc golf. Despite having a few good shots, the challenges persisted. I stumbled through the rounds, combatting the wet soil and treacherous tree line.
Part 4/8:
It was a mixed bag that day, but I finished the course, and even managed to coax a few highlights from my play. Tired of reflecting on my lackluster disc golf game, I steeled myself to get back on the road – with the thought of BC and the comfort of home pushing me forward.
Leaving Alberta Behind
As I hoisted my bag and began the drive to BC, I became fixated on how close I was to the border. Just 16 kilometers separated me from escaping this dreadful day. However, my initial plans unraveled. I had meant to take advantage of the stunning natural beauty of Waterton Lakes National Park, yet invasive species regulations prohibited canoeing there.
Part 5/8:
Motivated by the fading sunlight and mediocre weather, I decided to press on towards my next destination, aiming to find a spot to settle down for the night by the Columbia River.
A Night Surrounded by Mosquitoes and Cooking Dilemmas
After a lengthy drive, I finally reached my overnight camp spot. The location was familiar—a place I had visited before during a memorable summer van life vacation. Yet, my joy was overshadowed by a lingering frustration: cooking on top of what I feared might be another human poop situation at the rest area.
Part 6/8:
Trying to make the most out of the evening, I set up to cook an elaborate dinner of perogies, sausage, onion, and green pepper. Cooking inside my van was less than ideal, but as mosquitoes sw armed outside, I found no choice but to maneuver around the cramped space. Thanks to persistence and improvisation, dinner turned out well despite the chaotic backdrop of natural inconveniences.
The Drone Disaster
With my culinary efforts behind me, I awoke the next day determined to shake off yesterday’s disappointments. I set off to a rest stop for breakfast. The calm moment was interrupted when my drone took to the air—only to find itself entangled in yet another tree disaster.
Part 7/8:
As my heart sank, I gathered rocks from the riverside to knock the drone free. What I should have known was that this attempt was a long-shot at best. Standing beneath the tree, with the drone lodged high up, the futile effort reminded me of how quickly joy can turn to despair.
Reflecting on My Journey
After coming to terms with my drone’s fate, I took a moment to hike to the source of the Columbia River. With the tranquility of nature surrounding me, I realized that despite the challenges and misfortunes of the day, life has a way of guiding us forward. Instead of dwelling on what was lost, I learned to embrace the experience as part of the journey.
Part 8/8:
As I looked out towards the horizon, I acknowledged the importance of moving forward. As life is full of twists and turns, the best we can do is let go of the past and strive for better days ahead.
Moving on from my terrible, no good, very bad day, I was determined to face whatever lay ahead with hope and resilience.