Choosing Moose

As I began to narrow my view of what I could realistically see in Canada, I decided that what was of greatest interest personally was the Pacific northwest. It seemed to me that here was a situation with a wide range of ecosystems within what appeared to be a relatively small compass (relatively...!). I planned an itinerary around what little information I had (I was, after all, in the midst of the academic year and a department-wide self study; I was not at liberty, I felt, to spend much time pre-researching).

My parents offered the opinion that I was not psychologically suited to travel on my own through unfamiliar territory. They urged me to join some sort of package tour. I was equally adamant that I wanted flexibility in the tour, and that I did not want to go to the sorts of sites recommended -- perfectly appropriately within context -- by the AAA/CAA guides.

Somehow my mother, an inveterate researcher, discovered several "adventure tour" packages, and after examining their websites with some care I concluded that the one which most closely matched my existing itinerary was run by the Moose Travel Network out of the Vancouver area.

I think I came to my conclusion to join the Moose sometime in March of 2006, just as my final report on the Departmental study came due. I'll admit I didn't examine every detail of the Moose program, nor did I then think relevant some of the points I now see as fundamental to one's happiness while travelling with the Moose. I'll address those points later.

I was planning originally to leave on my journey in the second week of May, but several events conspired against that. First, it was necessary to re-fence the pasture to prevent further truancy on the part of our donkeys, with whom the local constabulary were becoming rather to intimate, which is to say the cops were coming to our house telling us that the donkeys had jumped the fence all too frequently. The fencing project took several weeks. Second, my cousin living in Bowen Island informed me that May weather may be "dicey" in British Columbia. Third, it seemed easier on my wife to manage the household if I waited to go until after the public school year was over in the first week of June. So the departure was set back by three or four weeks.

By April I had secured airline reservations, and room reservations in Vancouver, Victoria, Shuswap, Revelstoke, and Kelowna. Then in May my school year ended, final grades were turned in, and I felt I could really concentrate on preparing for the journey. I had about two weeks to put finishing touches on my plans, and during that time my wife and daughter and I went to Rehoboth Delaware for four days. We all got a bit more sun than we should have; my wife and I were especially badly burned. I was still peeling weeks later in Whistler, BC, much to my chagrin.

The image above is of shorebirds at Assateague National Seashore in Maryland, taken as part of an exercise in juggling photographic equipment and other hiking gear. I must have looked at least somewhat professional with two camera bags, a camera around my neck, and a full daypack, since at least three people approached me and asked whether I worked for the National Geographic Society! I really tried to tone things down by the time I arrived in Vancouver.