Day two with Trek America began the same way all our mornings did: with Thomas and Tristan knocking on our tents to wake us up, and shouting “breakfast!” As became the usual routine, Julia and I stayed in bed just long enough that the boys would have the tea brewed by the time we emerged.

They’d also already undertaken the group’s least favourite task – unloading all the food an cooking equipment from the trailer and setting up the table. We had to keep everything in the trailer, from our food supplies to all our toiletries, because apparently bears like lip balm and toothpaste. I then took up my regular spot at the stove making batches of porridge or everyone. They told me I had to do it because I made the best porridge. In hindsight, this was a very cunning and clever move on their part, and being a sucker for flattery on mine…

After breakfast we bundled into the van to drive to the start of a trek. And five minutes in, what did I spot hiding in the bushes right next to the road? This fella! The elusive bear that tour leader Charlie stresses about for the duration of every trip he leads because all anyone wants is to see a bear, and Charlie when will we see a bear? Charlie where are the bears? Charlie will we see a bear today?? He sidled over to me at dinner the next night (Charlie, not the bear) and said: “You’re a really nice person and all, but the best thing about you is that you spotted that bear. I can now sleep at night. I’m serious. I lose sleep over this.” I felt pretty chuffed. And the gang was happy. Except Tristan, who said, “Yeah it was great seeing a bear and all, but that was just one bear. I want to see lots of bears. I want to see grizzlies and entire families of them.” I’ll see what I can do…

After that, we went to the Kicking Horse River, where we went white-water rafting. I was terrified. Almost pooping my pants. I’m not good with water. There were two options – the tough rapids and the death-defying rapids. I decided there was no way I was doing the second part of the rapids – the deathy one. No way.

I did both. And the worst thing that happened was that Tristan whacked me across the face with his paddle as we went over a rapid.

The rest of the day was spent buying food for dinner and playing with the campground cat, as you do.

The next day, we went for a 12km hike from Emerald Lake (below) to Yoho Pass. It rained and it was all uphill, but I was carrying bear spray, so not only was I the most popular person to walk with, but I also felt super cool and hard. I didn’t look so super cool and hard as I puffed up the hill, but I felt it. I felt it.

Here’s a pic of me with bear spray sticking out the side of my bag. Next to a banana. Don’t get those two mixed up.

We got to the end of the trek and the rain started to seriously come down. This was the point when we realised Charlie (and more importantly, the warm, dry van), wasn’t where he should be. He eventually rolled up, laughing at us, and somehow Tristan was already in the van, dry and laughing even more than Charlie at our unfortunate state.