B & M on the PCT: Canada (Manning Park)

Yesterday we hiked half of the 8 miles to Manning Park, leaving us just a short downhill stroll this morning. We shared a campsite with a local section hiker named Richard. He is retired from the Forest Service but owns an organic farm. Richard was very talkative and interesting. Balance was not feeling well and went to sleep as Richard and I stayed up talking by a small campfire. Believe it or not, my first campfire of the trip. Thru-hikers are much too tired by days end to even think about making a fire.

We had another visitor last night. Our friend the mouse took a run up and over our tent around midnight as Balance watched and wacked at it.

This is our very last morning on the trail. We packed up as Richard made breakfast. Down the trail we went. 4 miles to be done hiking. We popped out on a small back road in Manning Park in search of Rosemary. We decided to walk towards the lodge on the road, and within a minute Rosemary drove up from behind, beeping the horn. We threw our arms in the air not believing that we met up so fast. Rosemary pulled out a congrats sign she made for us, and now we can finally say we are through with hiking. Our journey is officially over. Like I wrote in the register at the monument yesterday: "Happy and Sad".

Rosemary had another surprise for us. She brought us cupcakes, and lots of them. We all thought the best thing to do would be to drive to the lodge where all the hikers were waiting for the bus and do some last minute trail magic by giving everyone cupcakes. It ended up being a great idea. The hikers were outside waiting and were excited to see treats coming their way. Plus Balance and I got to say goodbye to all of our hiking friends and Rosemary got to meet Sizzler. She always wanted to meet Sizzler because we posted about him so much that she felt like she knew him. We waved goodbye a final time as the bus drove away with our hiking companions.

We then drove to the campground Rosemary stayed in the night before and got a hot shower before making the 4 hour car ride back to the United States. Many thanks again to Rosemary for her amazing help and support. We are forever grateful.

Balance will wrap this blog up with her final thoughts.

Thank you for viewing and commenting on our blog - it's been fun and entertaining for me to do at night before bed. This journey may be over, but not forgotten. These memories will never fade. Remember life is short, and there are no guarantees. So I'm going to keep living life like there is no tomorrow, with no regrets. That to me is a happy, healthy life.

- The End

Rosemary holds her handmade sign and Balance holds the cupcakes in Manning Park, British Columbia.

Rosemary's congratulations sign she made for us. We love it!

Our hiking friends at the lodge in Manning Park as they await the bus to take them into Vancouver.

Our favorite hiking friend "Sizzler". We met him on day two of the trip and somehow finished on the same day as him, although he did finish earlier and was gone by the time we arrived in the afternoon. So we were excited to see him a last time at the lodge. Thanks for the memories Sizzler!