The Most Canadian Thing I Ever Did

Canada is a vast and diverse country. But like most humans, I like to water down diversity and narrow distances into manageable (imaginable) sized pieces. That's why I am nominating the day I spent on horse back in Banff National Park as my most Canadian day ever! (Apologies and Warning to Vegetarians: do not read further. I repeat, Vegetarians Stop Reading NOW!)

1. I saddled up an official Banff National Park back-country warden horse. 
2. I was in the company of a real live back-country warden. 
3. As we rode our horses through the subalpine forest towards world-famous, picture-postcard-perfect Lake Louise, a cow moose walked almost directly in front of us (nobody died!)
4. When we arrived at the lake we remained hidden in the quiet forest, away from the tourists and ate our packed lunch. 
5. Our lunch included moose meat sandwiches!
6. The aforementioned warden had hunted and prepared the moose meat himself. 
7. The entire day I was wearing the warden's well-worn old cowboy boots (as I didn't own anything but hiking boots and Birkenstocks at the time). 

The closest I will get to this personal Canadian pinnacle tomorrow is time in a canoe on some kind of west coast waterbody. But, I'll take that. 
 
Happy Canada Day. 

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