Carol on her biking journey.

On the day I biked from Kelowna to Penticton along the Kettle Valley Railway, everything seemed in perfect harmony. My senses were acute, and each blade of grass and pebble shone with energy. Every twist and turn of the trail promised new scenery as I gazed out over my handlebars. I ducked, in and out of the hot sun into shadowy caves, sinking into sandy stretches and bumping over several rocky kilometers. It was rough and challenging. At times lonely, and slightly stressful since I wasn’t exactly sure where I was going – I only had rough maps I’d picked up at the tourist center the day before and helpful fingers pointing me this way and that. But overall, I felt at peace. And when I finally arrived, seven hours and many kilometers later, I was amazed at the fact that I’d done it! I felt free and alive, couched in a plume of energy from the trees and the moss and the wind and the dust that still clung to my moist skin. I had arrived, at last, and also realized that I had been at my destination the entire time.

The view along the Kettle Valley Railway.

The trip taught me that only after we’ve felt life’s knocks, choked on its dust, and been exhausted by unforeseen twists of the path, that we can see that we are in fact both journeying and experiencing the destination simultaneously. We can search our whole lives for happiness, for purpose, for peace, and never find it. We set out a path for ourselves and forget to wander the trail, to act on impulse, and to listen to our instincts and let them guide us. We’re so afraid of not knowing the way, of trying to make things happen, that we forget that we know our path, we’ve always known, and life is happening right now.

What path are you on right now?

As we talked about the small town experience in our meeting we realized two things: a) complimentary shipping is a great way to thank guests of ours in faraway towns who have to take road trips to get their lululemon fix, and b) many of our web team members are actually from small towns!

For the shipping details of online orders between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15, please visit this page http://shop.lululemon.com/help.html#shipping

And to learn more about some of the people behind lululemon.com and why we're loving small towns so much this month, keep on reading!

Alexandria, Online Product Specialist: Coldlake, Alberta

Alexandria pointing out (roughly) where Coldlake is.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Coldlake, AB, and the city slogan is "Strength in Unity."

What's your favourite thing about Coldlake?

It had a bunch of lakes for swimming in the summer and great snow for snowmobiling in the winter.

How far is your town from a city?

356Km from Edmonton, AB.

How does your small town sweat?

I was too young for most of the sports there at the time but my dad would suit me up and take me snowmobiling with him all the time. It is my favorite memory.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

SNOWMOBILING!

Nate, Art Director: Huntsville, Ontario

Where did you grow up?

Huntsville Ontario (was where Shania Twain learned to sing and perform).

What's your favourite thing about Huntsville?

Everybody knows everybody.

How far is your town from a city?

1 hour.

How does your small town sweat?

Hockey, beer league slow pitch.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

Hmmm, you can ride into town on a snowmobile and no one will think it's odd.

Alana, Online Content Specialist: Campbell River BC

Where did you grow up?

Campbell River, the Salmon Capital of the World!

What's your favourite thing about your small town?

The fresh air, the pier, my parents, and stormy days when the trees almost snap in half and the ocean gets all crazy.

How far is your town from a city?

About two hours (to Nanaimo), and fiveish to Vancouver including ferry time.

How does your town sweat?

Campbell River is on the ocean and very close to mountains, so you can do lots of outdoor activities like hiking, skiing/snowboarding, kayaking, and mountain biking. Other activities: walking to Tim Hortons and, when I was growing up, tap dancing (little known fact about me: I am a very good tapper)!

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

You can swim with salmon! Also, you can hike Ripple Rock - site of the world's largest non-nuclear explosion!

Carolyn, Online Community Manager: Oliver BC

Carolyn showing us where Oliver is... approximately. [Editor's note: it is about a millimetre above her finger!]

Where did you grow up?

Oliver, BC - Wine Capital of Canada, and home to the World's Largest Cherry Pie!

What's your favourite thing about Oliver?

The slushes from Eastside Grocery of course, and the spectacular natural beauty. The juxtaposition between the dry desert and the lush vineyards take my breath away every time I come home.

How far is your town from a city?

Penticton is the closest city to us and it's about a 45 minute drive.

How does your small town sweat?

Oliver is a desert, and surely one of the hottest places in Canada - so we sweat just living there! We also love to golf, to ski in the winter, to ice skate, and to swim / canoe / windsurf / sail! It's an active place, and even though it's a small town I'm sure you'd find almost every activity available.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

Drive along Black Sage Road. This is most beautiful drive and to me it rivals the jaw dropping beauty of the Pacific Coast Highway.

What's another little-known fact about Oliver?

Apparently the Ogogopo, the Okanagan's version of the Loch Ness monster, was born in our very own Tuc-el-Nuit lake!

Sheena, Ecommerce Operations Coordinator: Oromocto and Fredericton, New Brunswick

What's your favourite thing about your small town?

It's always safe to cross the street

How far is your town from a city?

Oromocto is about a 30 minute drive.

How does your small town sweat?

It's a hockey town.

What is something that you can only do in your small town, and not in a city?

Get your picture taken next to the Big Potato.

small town love

So, small towns everywhere - we've been thinking about you! If you feel inspired to tell us more about your own small town, send us a photo for October's monthly challenge. Details are here: http://www.lululemon.com/community/challenge