August - A Little Bit of Everything

My apologies for the late start this month. I’ve just resurfaced from the land of no cell service and questionable forestry roads, where GPS signals go to die and Wi-Fi is a myth. We were out piloting for work, which took us from Crossfield, AB to a couple of hours north of Prince George, BC—on roads where “sketchy” feels like a generous compliment.

August, for me, is going to be a “little bit of everything” month. Not because I have a clear vision or a plan, but precisely because I don’t. Life feels scattered. I’m thinking about a hundred things at once and focusing on none of them with any real commitment. So instead of pretending I’ve got it together, I’m embracing the chaos and rolling with it.

Work-wise, the last part of our trip involved driving up a narrow forestry road that twisted its way up a mountain like it had something to prove. Picture this: hairpin turns, cliff edges, and bridges where our load had millimetres to spare. One bridge in particular had side rails lower than a toddler’s step stool, and it was a good 25 feet up. I’m not a fan of heights, so crossing that one? A core memory I didn’t ask for.

Thankfully, the ride home made up for the stress. We decided to turn the return trip into a scenic detour. First stop: the Ancient Forest. We hiked both trails—nothing extreme, just enough to stretch our legs and quiet our brains. The forest was dense, the air damp with the scent of cedar and greenery. Some of those trees are over a thousand years old, which made our little two-day hustle feel hilariously insignificant. It was peaceful, grounding, and exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

Next up: Goats and Glaciers Lookout. Spoiler alert—no goats. Just us and a killer view. Then we wandered over to Sunwapta Falls, where the rushing water did wonders for my nervous system. There’s something about the sound of water that shuts up all the internal noise, even if just for a moment.

Our final stop was the Icefields Parkway Visitor Centre. Incredible glacier views, good coffee, and—wait for it—the best damn poutine I’ve had in years. Real cheese curds. Generous gravy. Zero regrets. We considered the glass-floored Skywalk, but when we saw the price, we decided we were just fine with solid ground and spectacular scenery. (Also: heights. Nope.)

That drive home reminded me why I love what we do. Having our own company means we get to tack on little “side quests” at the end of a job—tiny adventures that remind us life is more than work and bills and inboxes.

So here’s to August: not a deep dive into one thing, but a chance to zoom out, explore a bit of everything, and breathe it all in. Especially the cedar.