My plans, they have changed…

Winter is over and my time in Golden is coming quickly to an end. Sunday April 17 was the last day Kicking Horse Mountain Resort opened for skiing/boarding this season and, being my birthday, I had to get up there for the last time (making it a total of 61 days comprised of 222 lift rides for the winter). As a bonus I captured what was arguably the most epic footage I captured during the season as everyone was trying to send it big. To all those who have made this winter so memorable; who started as acquaintances and ended up as friends, who challenged my riding, took me exploring, dining, drinking, both locals and visitors alike, I thank you and look forward to keeping in touch.While I’m talking about endings, last night I worked my last shift at Red Tomato Pies cooking pizza, which has been one of the best parts of my time in Golden. Since February working at RTP has been providing the funding required for me to stay after my savings ran out and since the earliest I started was 2:45pm, I still had plenty of time to play before work. As for the dozen or so men and women (many 10 or so years my junior) bursting at the seams with life I worked with, I will miss them greatly, they made the nights, especially the borings ones when no one was buying, not just bearable but enjoyable.

So what comes next?

Well from the time I left, 5 months ago, up until the end of February, it was to be 5 weeks of travel first to the east coast, then back to the west and finally a flight back to Sydney, returning to my job at Central Coast Cancer Centre in mid June. However those plans were put on hold during the first week of March when I applied for a position at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, Alberta. It was a long shot but I thought I might be in with a chance of at least getting an interview as it was a temporary position. Short story is I got an interview and two weeks later I was offered (and accepted) a 12 month full time contract at Tom Baker Cancer Centre starting on Monday 25th April (best part was I took the phone call in between runs at KHMR whilst enjoying a great day skiing with friends).

To some it might seem rather foolish to leave a permanent position at a fantastic workplace in a beautiful area for a 12 month position where there is no expectation of extension. However that doesn’t take into account that it has been one of my goals since very early in my training to work as a Medical Physicist in Canada nor how much I enjoy snowboarding (and as of this season, skiing) nor how much I’m looking forward to getting on a mountain bike and exploring during summer. Which is why, for me, this position is a dream come true, one I thought was impossible. Another, older, dream that I didn’t expect to see fulfilled was being able to spend a winter in Canada yet, incredibly, this year I’ll see both come to pass.

And then, after the 12 months is up?
Well I’ll take it as it comes but you can be sure if I have my way it’ll involve extensive travelling around Canada from the West coast to the East, from the boarder hopefully up into the Arctic during the summer. Perhaps followed by another winter dedicated to following the snow instead of sticking it out at one resort all season. But in reality only God knows and from what the last 18 months have taught me, that could be anywhere.

PS. For those wondering, I’ll be returning to Australia for a couple of weeks from June 10th. I hope to be able to catch up with both the Sydney and Gosford crews while I’m around and hopefully celebrate my 30th birthday with you all.