Hey Everyone,
It's been an eventful couple of days. We got the truck and trailer stuck at the Saskatchewan sign. as I pulled off onto the shoulder which appeared safe but was sticky mud about 3 inches deep...just enough to get it stuck, but fortunately we have 4x4 on the truck and we were able to unhitch, swing the trailer tongue over and drive it out...right into the parking lot. 
As we got into Calgary in the dark we realized we had a bald trailer tire and no night time running lights. Again we were fortunate to have my brother Greg and my Dad in Calgary to help us fix everything. After a late departure from Calgary we made it safely to our canoe pickup point and safely to Invermere.
We quickly got our tents up and food cooked and then dressed into our historic gear. For me it was like coming home after a long absence, like I had reopened a wonderful part of my life... I think everyone felt the same way. 5 of us decided to sleep out of the tent and rock it historic style by sleeping under the canoe. It was by far the most comfortable sleep I've had since I left London. I awoke to a breathtaking mountain vista (as per the picture on my Facebook home page). 
We took the canoe out today and decided that it would be good to try and sink it before we took off down the river. I'm happy to announce that even full of water...it floats, and my life jacket works like a dream. Got my fishing license today, and bought some bait. I'm hoping to supplement our diet with some fresh fish. A big thanks goes out to my Dad who after countless frustrating hours teaching us the ins and outs of fishing, I am completely capable of hooking, and filleting anything I catch.

Day One: I'm going to preface this by saying that this will not be a daily blog type deal. When I find a computer or a Wi-Fi network, I'll do my best to check in.
THE TRIP HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!!
I am currently roughing it at my parent's house in Pinawa, MB. Having a nice memory foam mattress to sleep on tonight should be an accurate representation of what my sleeping accommodations will be like for the rest of the trip...
After some last minute packing this morning and a trip to Can Tire for some last minute ratchet straps we took off from Tbay around noon. We discovered that our truck is a beast and despite the massive size of our trailer it towed with no difficulty. The drive was a mixture of singing along to the Dropkick Murphys with a little reading of the "Arrest of Alexander Fraser" (not to be confused with a more famous fur trader/explorer Simon Fraser, partner in the NWC and who has a river which bears his name in BC). This Fraser is simply a deplorable blacksmith throwing a temper tantrum in the trades square.
The most notable event of the day was our Height of Land Ceremony. This is something voyageurs would do to con booze out of the naive gentlemen travelling with them. There were two oaths that a Voyageur would take when crossing a height of land (the first height of land is found just out side Thunder Bay where the watershed changes). First, they must swear to never let another voyageur who has not made the trip cross a height of land without performing the ceremony. Second, they must swear to never kiss another voygeurs wife without her permission. But simply put, the voyageurs came up with this event so they would have an event to celebrate with booze which, most of the time, would be provided by the gentleman travelling with them. We had no booze...just an OPP officer on the hwy who stopped to make sure everything was alright...and after some information about our trip, shot us a quizzical look and drove off...likely more confused than when she stopped...

Today was fun and was smooth sailing. I'm hoping for more of the same tomorrow. Off to Calgary tomorrow to stay at my brothers place...what a wonderfu 15 hour drive that will be.

Till my paddle touches the water and brings me home,

Andy

So here I am...a mere two weeks from my departure on the 25th of March. I will head to T-Bay to meet my crew and finish last minute preparations (PREPARE.....AVANT!). From there we depart by Suburban on the 28th.

I went to MEC on Saturday and after spending a ridiculous amount of money...I have all the major equipment needs fulfilled. All I have to do now is keep working out (which has fizzled slightly but is still happening) and learn how to fall asleep at night as the excitement builds.

Until I'm tired and sore from paddling,

Andy