On nationalism and beautiful drives

Hello Everyone, I love watching the Olympics, particularly any sport in which a Canadian is competing, which is a good way to start an email so close to our national holiday. Even though we have had success in many sports, and I have never competed in it myself, I have a lot of strong memories of watching the men's 100 meter finals. In 1988, when I was barely aware of what the Olympics were, I remember hoping that Ben Johnson would win. In 2012, I remember being in the emergency vet, waiting to hear the news about Walter's eye and watching Usain Bolt repeat as champion. But my strongest memory is from 1996. I had two friends over at the cottage that weekend, and after watching the semi finals, we each thought a different person would win. My friends picked the intimidating looking Ato Boldon and Frank Fredericks, respectively. I stuck with the cherubic faced Canadian, Donovan Bailey. Like most 100m finals, it was a nail biter. Boldon and Fredericks burst out into the lead before Bailey turned on the jets and walked away from them both. And that is the memory that came to mind as I marvelled at the scenery on the drive from Revelstoke to Golden. Throughout this trip, I've written about some of the beautiful drives I've had the chance to experience. But those have all been in the US, with the exception of the Sea to Sky, which is a great stretch of road, but one that is well known and that I've travelled plenty of times before. So fear not, fellow patriots of politeness, proud poutinites, bands of brave beavers, hockey hosers, and those from Toronto. You won't find a more beatiful drive than the one through the Rockies. Unlike sports, where there is a clear winner, judging the relative beauty of various scenery is subjective. I will no longer seek to crown a best section of road. Rather, in my mind there is now a category for special places, ones I would return to just for the drive. I've only started through the BC interior, but already, we are well represented. Wes

Included below is a picture of that section of road. You can't see the mountain tops, but I think the clouds add a certain Tolkienesque feel.