Jasper Anniversary

Wow, it has been a while since I have sat down to write about anything. It has been a hectic month but more on that later. For now, just a bit about our 1st year and anniversary. That's another wow! I can't believe it has been a year. The year saw Catherine and I start off on quite the voyage, beginning by travelling from Anchorage to Vancouver by cruiseship which saw us a the crazy Canucks sunbathing in Glacier Bay while misguided Floridians bundled themselves in Tuques and Parkas. Upon returning catherine spent an intense summer in the field at Likely BC while I prepared to Orientate 800 new UNBC students. I was accepted to the UNBC teaching program and Catherine plodded along recovering copper from waste rock with a little bacteria, a little luck and a lot of know how. I am still amazed at the process she is developing. After my orientation public speaking challenge, 800 people is actually quite a crowd, I began my first semester in the Teaching program. I found myself loving every minute and blasted through my first 8 months with some fantastic Grades but some late nights writing lesson plans. Catherine spent a month down under visiting Kangaroos and kiwis with her cousins and I enjoyed x-mas with the Ducheminski clan. Catherine was with me all the way through the academic undertakings and busy herself not only with research but by undertaking an Ironman race...meaning she now trains 2-6hrs a day, a mild undertaking. She has done fantastic and runs her first half-ironman prep race this weekend. I was also not without athletic pursuit and managed to acheive my Green Belt in Judo. Catherine is currently writing her thesis, training like a madwoman and still finding time to build fences with the neighbors. I am fortunately busier than ever thsi summer working two jobs and ducking out of fence building duties...but that is another story.

Phew...JASPER was amazing! We spent the weekend in and around jasper staying just east at the Pocahontas Cabins at the base of the Miette Hotsprings Road. We did some fantastic trail riding and lounged in the hot tub. Our anniversary dinner was one of the most delicious meals ever and I would highly recommend dining at the Pocahontas lounge. Sunday morning was spent in the hotsprings, followed by shoe shopping in Jasper and then a short hike to Rearguard falls by Mount Robson on the way home. All in all an awesome weekend to cap an awesome year!