The Canadian Cafe

View from work

2006-11-03T19:52:00.000-04:00

The Petitcodiac

Here's the view from behind the building I work in. It's of the Petitcodiac River. It's the one with the Tidal Bore. Unfortunately it's tiny in comparison to what it used to be, or so I'm told. Check out the Tidal Bore link, it's pretty interesting stuff.

This river is actually very shallow when the tide is out. Last spring, a number of porpoise had to be rescued by firefighters. They would be taken from the Petitcodiac and driven to deep water.

They would follow small fish up the river, and losing track of time, you know, when porpoise get fooling around, they'd get stuck. Everyone gets pretty muddy to say the least.

Merv the pumpkin

2006-10-31T19:14:00.000-04:00

Halloween. . .

I wasn't sure whether to join in the Halloween festivities, considering I haven't really been much for it up till now, but, I happened to be walking past the shop up the road, and picked up this kind of beat up pumpkin. I felt sorry for it. I named him Merv.

He's sitting somewhat precariously on the railing just out my back door. If he were to fall, he could possibly land on the guy who lives in the apartment down below (it's where his back door is), which might end our discussions about golf - ones I don't particularly contribute anything to considering I don't play. Being polite is a pain in the ass.

I don't have the heart to carve Merv up, so maybe I'll just leave him there, and wait for what's his name to come home - then wham-o, blame it on the wind. It's actually been pretty windy lately. . .I think his name is Reg or Tiger or something. . .

My favourite shot

2006-10-30T19:17:00.000-04:00

Moncton at night

About a week ago, I was driving home when I saw this kind of cool shot. I parked the car, and walked back with my camera. I don't have a tripod, and it was freez'in that night, so my hands were kind'a shaking. I had the shutter open to let in the light for a while, but the camera wasn't being held steady. If you look closely (you don't really have to actually), it's out of focus. Damn. . .maybe being out of focus adds to it? To each, their own. . .

See what I mean?

2006-10-30T19:13:00.000-04:00

One of the final trees in the neighbourhood

Before the blustery winds over the weekend, this tree still had quite a few leaves, now it's pretty well bare. Winds gusted up to 90 km/hr. Nice. . .

Fall shot of the day

2006-10-30T18:57:00.000-04:00

Fall in Moncton. . .nuff said. . .

Unfortunately, I'm not the type to look forward to winter. Fall is okay, but it leads to a crappy season in Moncton. . .Either way, it gives me an excuse to take pictures. Now - I'm starting to miss the West coast. The temperatures aren't as bad and it snows - briefly - a couple times a year. This photo was taken last week when there were plenty of trees in the neighbourhood with leaves on them. Then, yesterday, winds got up to 90 km/hr at times and now they've been pretty well cleaned of them.

Photo of the day

2006-10-06T19:58:00.000-03:00

Bluenose II, Halifax Harbour. . .

A week or so ago, I was in Halifax and dropped by to check out the Bluenose II. I had never seen her before (other than in pictures or on the back of our Canadian dimes) It's definitely a beautiful ship.

There's a project now underway to preserve the Bluenose's legacy, beginning with the construction of the Bluenose III.

It's been undertaken by Joan Roué, great-granddaughter of Bluenose designer - William James Roué. The project is in its initial stages. They're trying to raise $15-million necessary to build the vessel.

It's hoped that on Canada Day 2008 they'll be able to lay the keel, with the projected launch date set for July 24, 2010."

Some historical notes about the current Bluenose you see in the picture above:

It's keel was laid on February 27, 1963, and she was launched in Lunenburg on July 24 of the same year.

The first Bluenose was the 121st ship built in the Smith & Rhuland Shipyard in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. She was launched on March 26, 1921.

Titanic headstone - The Unknown Child

2006-09-30T18:37:00.000-03:00

The Unknown Child

On a recent trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, a group of us from the radio station I work at in Moncton, New Brunswick, decided to take a detour to the grave sites of 120 Titanic victims. Of course, you'll see a number of stones - one of which has the name of Jack Dawson - the guy who shared the name of Leonardo DiCaprio's character in the movie, The Titanic.
One grave marker stands out, not only because it is for an ''unknown child" - but because of the things left there by any number of people. It has become a shrine of sorts; there are coins, candles and flowers among other things.
Now, after 90 years of going unnamed, it appears the little victim has been identified through DNA matching. The "unknown child" has been identified as a member of a Finnish family who perished in the sinking.
His name was Eino Viljami Panula, and was 13 months old when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. His mother Maria and four brothers also drowned. They were on their way to join their husband and father John who was working in Pennsylvania.
The boy's body was found by the crew of the Canadian recovery ship Mackay-Bennett a few days after the sinking. When taken to Halifax for burial, there was no means of identifying him.
He has been in Fairview Lawn cemetery, along with the other Titanic victims with a marker reading "Unknown Child." The boys family has since decided he should remain buried in Halifax.

Alien. . .

2006-09-29T19:41:00.000-03:00

Mud anyone. . .

This looked cool. Where these moss covered rocks ended, the mud from the shore along the Bay of Fundy started. When you look out from shore, while the tide is out, it's a scene of endless mud - or so it seems.

Crop circles. . .no not really

2006-09-29T19:33:00.000-03:00

Albert County

Driving along - I saw this field. I thought I'd get out and roll around in the hay, but I figured the guy driving the tractor - who was scooping up the hay at the other end of the field - wouldn't stop when he came around. That would've sucked. . .

Photo of the day

2006-09-29T19:28:00.000-03:00

Shot of the Bay of Fundy

Still not sure what I took here, aside from the fact it was a really good day for clouds. The tide was way out at this point. All I remember is being mugged by a thousand mosquitoes. Lesson learned - I should have put the bug goo on before I got out of the bloody car. . .Taken in August.

Cool photo

2006-09-29T19:18:00.000-03:00

HMCS Sackville, Halifax, Nova Scotia

HMCS Sackville (K181) was a Flower-class corvette in the Canadian navy. Built in Saint John, New Brunswick, in 1940 - launched in May 1941. The Sackville was named after a Canadian town, in this case Sackville, New Brunswick.
In WWII, the Sackville protected convoys, escorting them from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland. After being damaged during a battle in September of 1943 she was retired from active service. Most Flower-class corvettes were scrapped after the war, but Sackville spent time serving as a fisheries vessel. Later, she was restored to her World War II appearance and is now a floating museum in Halifax. I took this photo Sept. 23rd. Obviously a crappy day weather wise. . .

St. Mary's Bay, Prince Edward Island

2006-09-03T14:09:00.000-03:00

St. Mary’s Bay in the morning

During an early, misty morning on a recent trip to Prince Edward Island, I took a walk down to St. Mary’s Bay where, as can be seen, there was no breeze whatsoever. I was using black and white film – which I couldn’t find a place in Moncton to develop, so I had to send it to Montreal. Imagine that. . .

Trapped

2006-09-03T14:07:00.000-03:00

Lobster traps

While driving around near Murray Harbour, PEI, we stopped at a wharf where the lobster fishermen were getting ready to go with their traps. It was around 7 p.m. I figured I’d take a picture of the opening of the trap, imagine getting stuck on that. . .it’s pretty much a one way trip depending whether your legal size or not.

Lobster boats

2006-09-03T14:04:00.000-03:00

Boats in the harbour

Lobster boats gearing up to head out at a small port in Prince Edward Island. The photo was taken in July while on a little excursion to the "Island."

Photo of the week

2006-09-03T14:02:00.000-03:00

Confederation Bridge

I had never stopped to take a photo of the bridge, so I figured, it was about time. It’s 12.9 km long, and was completed in May 1997. It has two lanes of traffic. I personally preferred the ferry that used to travel between New Brunswick and PEI. It was a 45 minute trip. I could usually get a good meal. One of the things I look forward to on all ferry trips.

Revisiting a cool place

2006-08-15T19:07:00.000-03:00

Summer leaves. . .

If you go back into this blog to the week starting December 25, you'll see a shot of this same tree taken back in November. You'll see how the leaves go from this deep green to a bright yellow. I'll put the two photos together at some point. The tree is located at River View Cemetary, near Hillsborough, New Brunswick.

Photo of the day

2006-08-15T19:06:00.000-03:00

On a hot day at Fundy National Park

This picture was taken July 15, when the temperature reached up to 30 degrees. Without the cover of the forest, it was pretty dame hot. Unfortunately, the mosquitoes were enough to carry you away. So, it was a trade off. I preferred the heat. One thing I didn't like was wandering through the woods to find this waterfall (Dickson Falls) and see a wooden platform built next to it. I don't think it looks very good in the shot. Oh well. . .

A great place to soak up the sun

2006-07-23T14:13:00.000-03:00

Point Wolfe, Fundy National Park

The Point Wolfe inlet is where volcanoes and the movement of the continents have formed the oldest rocks in Fundy National Park. After a relatively easy walk down, you come out onto a rocky beach, where huge, grey, sometimes green, slimy rocks, lay up against cliffs. They’ve been smoothed by the tidal action over countless millennium, which makes them great for lying on catching a few rays – unless they’ve got the green slim on them. . .Photo taken July 16th.

Crab apples

2006-07-23T14:12:00.000-03:00

Herring Cove apple tree

While wandering around Fundy National Park, we headed down to an area known as Herring Cove. It was, obviously, named after the industry the area became known for. The cove will see tides come in sometimes as high as four stories.
While traveling down this path toward the rocky beach, I passed under this really old apple tree. The trunk was twisted in an odd shape, having spent a lifetime fighting against winds, and other harsh elements.
Looking up from underneath, it was full of healthy young apples. I figure when the herring industry was in full swing (from the 1880's through to the 1940's), someone must have tried to plant an orchard. Maybe it is a descendent or an original settler.

Photo of the day

2006-07-23T14:11:00.000-03:00

Boats at low tide - really low tide

While enroute to Fundy National Park last weekend, we stopped at Alma. There's a pretty big wharf there with a number of good sized fishing vessels. Fundy tides are the highest in the world - and, when they're out, they're out. . .Photo taken July 16th. I gotta say - from where I was standing, it smelled pretty ripe.

Sunday tour of Fundy National Park

2006-07-23T14:10:00.000-03:00

A beautiful day in the park under a covered bridge

Myself and a few buddies decided to take a drive out to Fundy National Park, a place I had never been. It's located on the Fundy Shore, about an hour-and-a-half from Moncton - beyond Hopewell Cape. It was a spectacular day, though somewhat cool when we first started out, it became quite sweltering as the day progressed.
The picture above was taken from the middle of a this body of water. Of course, I took my boots off and waded in, the sharp rocks all but slicing my feet to hell. The photo was worth it me thinks. . .taken July 16th.
The worst part of the trip - having to pay a fee to get into the park ($6.90 per person). I am a firm believer Canadians shouldn't have to pay to get into provincial and federal parks.
Covered bridges can be found in a number of places in New Brunswick. I passed three alone on that day. I've yet to come across them in such numbers outside of this province.

Photo of the week

2006-07-22T17:48:00.000-03:00

Here's how I spent an afternoon on my vacation to Prince Edward Island.

While on vacation in early July, I spent some time at my parents place near Montague, PEI. With the help of my father I put up a flag pole so we could fly a genuine Sheila Copps flag. My sister got the flag when Sheila Copps was Heritage Minister. We finally got to fly Sheila's flag. . .(Photo taken July 7th)

Photo of the day

2006-06-25T15:04:00.000-03:00

"Give me your lupines!"

Springtime in the Maritimes wouldn’t be the same without lupines. That is a plant with a long tapering spike with flowers ranging from blues to yellows to whites etc. All along the highways, in fields and gardens, you see lupines. This year, there’s millions. I’m off to the PEI next weekend for a short visit. I’m hoping they’ll still be as vibrant as those in the photo above. I took that last week while wondering around a park overlooking the Reversing Falls in Saint John, New Brunswick. Of course, Monty Python fans will get, "Give me your lupines!"

Lots of bricks eh. . .

2006-06-24T16:01:00.000-03:00

Brick buildings, Saint John. . .

After a major fire destroyed a great deal of the city in the late 19th Century, the people of Saint John decided to rebuild using less flammable materials. A very clever idea. As you walk along Prince William Street you're surrounded by historical buildings designed by Canadian, American and Scottish architects. This above photo is a shot down a side alley. There's a good pub just on the right.
Traditionally referred to as 'Wall Street", the area is home to major public buildings, banks, hotels and the like. More than half of them were built right after the Great Fire of 1877.
One thing I noticed - it sure as hell is different then Moncton. It's too bad Saint John didn't have more industry, where more workers were bringing in more money. Some of these old buildings would make great condos. Instead, some are just. . .well, you know what I mean.

A Saint John, New Brunswick, landmark

2006-06-24T16:00:00.000-03:00

Pete's Frootique

Wandering around downtown Saint John last week, I found myself at the City Market. It's home to a variety of specialty shops including Pete's Frootique. I had seen this place on television over the years so I couldn't help but take a cheesy photo. . .

Photo of the day

2006-06-24T15:41:00.000-03:00

Some old guy, Saint John, NB. . .

Okay, so I'm back after my little break. The spring has been pretty busy, and my car is a piece of crap, so I couldn't go out and take many pictures. Last week; however, I did get a chance to meet up with a group of fellow employees living in Saint John (a city less than two hours away). It was a time for us to meet and have an industry discussion.
I came across this guy sitting by himself at Market Square near Saint John Harbour. I figure I'll look like that in another 40 years, so it might be a good idea to keep a record. He's actually sitting across from a lifesize statue of a moose. It was commissioned by Moosehead Breweries (Canada’s oldest independent brewery) which is headquartered in Saint John.
As I was checking out the moose, some woman walked passed and told me there's a can of Moosehead beer inside the statue. Apparently it's to illustrate the connection between the "mighty moose" and brewery. Sounds uncomfortable to me. I asked some of my fellow employees if that was true, they said yes. I'm still not sure whether they're yank'in my chain.

Photo flashback

2006-04-18T19:09:00.000-03:00

Between Penticton and Osoyoos, British Columbia. . .

It's been a while since my last posting, and seeing how the weather is absolutely crappy in Moncton, I figured I'd throw something in that reminds me of summer and - most importantly - warmth. The pond shown here has turtles among other things that hang out. The barn is empty - or at least it was when I took this photo in July of 2004. There are a number of wineries in the area, camp grounds and beaches. It's a fantastic place to visit - probably even better to live there.

Photo of the day

2006-03-22T19:03:00.000-04:00

Outside of Kamloops, British Columbia . . .

It was a beautiful day when I took this photo. Today - it's minus 1, there's wet snow falling and I just want to head down south. That's not going to happen so I figured I'd share this photo. Taken last August.

Photo of the day

2006-03-14T19:00:00.000-04:00

Winter is all but history. . .

Environment Canada says this was the warmest winter in recorded history in Canada - the kind that comes along once every 100 years. Between the months of December and February, the country was 3.9 degrees above normal. It's been the warmest winter season since Environment Canada started keeping temperature records in 1948.
It was especially warm on the Prairies and up in the Northwest Territories - where temperatures hovered around six to eight degrees above normal. Winter hasn't been this warm since 1987 - and this year's temperatures broke that record by almost one degree.
Environment Canada says it will spend the next year studying weather data because they have no clear idea of why we're having a milder winter. Apparently, the last 10 winters have been warmer than normal, and including this winter - suggest global warming as a factor.
Lonely walk. . .Another shot from my trip to Partridge Island, Nova Scotia, early in the year.

Photo of the day

2006-03-09T18:54:00.000-04:00

Summer photo from Vancouver Island. . .

I really like this photo - it reminds me so much of life. No matter where it is, life just finds a way and a place to take hold. I took this late last summer at Cherry Point on Vancouver Island. Brilliant eh! Actually, it's kind of funny, because I look at this picture - and others like it, and see hope. It's also unique when you look at it and then compare it to the one below.

Photo of the day

2006-02-27T19:07:00.000-04:00

This is cold. Today it's minus 16 with a windchill of minus 30. Ya, it's not the coldest I've seen, but for some reason, I find it extremely cold. I took this recently in Moncton, New Brunswick, near my home.

Photo flashback

2006-02-26T20:40:00.000-04:00

Twin Falls Gorge Territorial Park in the Northwest Territories

The photo on the right is Louise Falls, with the gorge on the left. I took this Late August 2004. I was on my way up to Yellowknife when I decided I needed to stretch my legs. Of course, as soon as I got out of the car, I was mugged by a million flies. That's alright, the faster I walked, the less there seemed to be. It was when I stopped to take photos that I was under assault again. Spectacular views. My next stop was Enterprise, the first and last community in the N-W-T. I filled up the car and headed to Hay River where I stayed the night. Good Chinese food there. There's actually a bar too that has a row of seats from the old Montreal Forum. I'd be more impressed if they were from Maple Leaf Gardens, but you can't have everything in life. The other twin is Alexandra Falls.

Photo of the day

2006-02-26T19:31:00.000-04:00

Spectacular Tagaytay. . .

Can you imagine sitting in a restaurant overlooking one of the smallest volcanoes in the world? I took this last July in Tagaytay, Philippines. In the distance, you can see the Taal Volcano. That's the one I decided to climb without the assistance of a horse which can be cheaply rented near the beach.
Though I think horses are incredible creatures, I don't particularly like riding them. I think at the local horse post office, there's a picture of me hanging in amongst all the other notices. It reads "If seen, throw him," or something like that. As I walked past all these tethered animals, I got the impression they were just willing me to take a chance. Nope, I'd prefer to walk.
By the time I got to my destination (the top), the heat had almost killed me. . .My face was as read as a tomato, I had consumed 4 bottles of water and my feet threatened to go on strike. It was worth the trouble.

Photo flashback

2006-02-19T21:41:00.000-04:00

Another backpacking story. . .

For a backpacker, Paris can be a blast if you’re not afraid to rough it. By virtue of the fact you’re backpacking, you probably don’t have a lot of cash, at least I didn’t. On my second go round Europe, I finally made it to Paris, where I decided I was able to afford a hotel room – albeit, a really, really cheap one.
I had arrived from Vienna in the morning via train and figured seeing how I was in Paris I’d splurge and find a cheap hotel rather then some hostel where I’d have to share a room with a whack of other people. Sides, I had been staggering around Europe for three weeks up that point, staying in crappy hostels from Soho to Heidelberg. A private room and shower was exactly what I needed.
Of course, I don’t speak French and what little I could think up from my grade school years served only to get dirty looks. Fortunately I came across a woman working the front desk of this little hotel who could speak better English than I could French. She had a baby cradled in one arm, a large old-fashioned telephone in the other and a lit cigarette burning in an ashtray within in reach.
After putting the phone down, I asked whether there was room at the inn. “Non,” was all she said, before flipping open a telephone book. She started calling around without actually discussing things first. After a few short conversations, she put the phone down, picked up a tourist map, pointed to some street whose name escaped me then as it did two minutes after I left her lobby. Luckily she circled it.
This woman had a practiced eye; she could tell I wasn’t “well to do,” essentially in no position to pick and choose. A place was what I needed, and a place I would get – cheap, easy to find and ready to occupy. I should point out, I hadn’t had a shower for a few days including that very long train trip I had just completed – which could be the reason why she moved the ashtray and cigarette so it sat directly between us. Looking as rough as I did, must have been why she figured I wasn’t looking for a five-star. Plus, I was in her less than stellar establishment.
On the way – I had to only ask twice where my destination lay (actually, despite not wanting to admit it, I can get lost in an empty parking lot). Finally, I found the place. It wasn’t far and it was as I had expected it to be – a dump. Either way, the water in the rusted out shower worked – I figured I’d be due for a tetanus shot after I got home. The bed was relatively soft – though I didn’t bother rolling down the sheets. I’m funny that way. The important thing was it was cheap, centrally located (or so I thought) and I wasn’t sharing it with a bunch of drunks looking to score or start a fight. That would eventually happen when I continued on with my trip and landed in Amsterdam.
Of course, it wasn’t as quiet as I had hoped it would be; after midnight it was a place that saw a lot of hooker action. Being a little innocent, I thought, “It’s pretty noisy for a Tuesday night.” Fortunately there were plenty of bars around and I was hammered the few nights I stayed there, something that helped me sleep through the, ah, shall I say, noises of bought sex. Holy crap, the walls were thin. I’ll describe the sounds sometime – though I’m sure you can imagine them. Just think of a barn yard. . .
Now to the picture – the same day I arrived, I did what I wanted to – I went up the Eiffel Tower. I only got lost trying to find it half a dozen times. That was okay, cause while taking the public transit – subway included, I got a chance to see a number of things I probably wouldn’t have had I taken a cab (something I couldn’t afford anyway).
After wondering around there for hours, taking pictures like the one shown here, I went and had a few beers and filled out some postcards. It was a great autumn day, the sun was spectacular, and the temperature was perfect for walking.
When I arrived this past Fall back in New Brunswick after having been away for many years, my mother showed the postcard of the “Arc de Triomphe" that I had sent her that day. It was a good memory. Picture taken in October of 1992.

Photo flashback

2006-02-12T19:45:00.000-04:00

Near Grasmere, Northern England. . .

This photo was taken in late April of 1990 while I was on my first backpacking tour of Europe. I had started my three month trip in England, travelling up to the Lake District where, among other things, stone walls line the fields in every direction. It's amazing to see the walls climbing massive hills, and reaching down into valleys as far as the eye can see.
At night, when the mists move in, it's a spectacular place - especially on a full moon. It just happened I reached the area at the end of April. At that time, the mist and light from the moon combined to create an otherworldly atmosphere.
I had set up my tent in a hollow and, while exploring on the first night, got lost while wandering through the fields you see in the photo. The mist had moved in - and because one stone wall looked the same as another, I got confused and didn't make it back to my tent until sometime after midnight. It didn't help, I suppose, that I had quaffed a six-pack during my travels.
At the time I was living in St. John's, Newfoundland. It was my first trip overseas. It was a great experience, one I'd do over again in a heartbeat. I had brought over a few rolls of black and white film. I'm glad I did. In my minds eye, I add the colour every time I look at this and other pictures taken in the area.
I also remember how the weather was perfect there. At the same time in St. John's, a snow storm had shut down most of the city. I lucked out big time.

Photo of the day

2006-02-11T12:59:00.000-04:00

False Creek, Vancouver. . .

With temperatures dropping down to minus 12 with a windchill of minus 21 in Moncton, New Brunswick, I like to look back over the photos I've taken for some warmth. Apparently it's better then burning them in the middle of the floor to create heat. This one is of Vancouver's West End - taken close to dusk from the Burrard Street Bridge last summer continues to remind me of warmer temperatures to come. Oh my. . .

Photo of the day

2006-02-05T14:34:00.000-04:00

Vancouver, British Columbia

Taken in early June, 2005, at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden in Vancouver. This place is a respite from the hustle of the surrounding city. It's located on Carrall Street in the historic Chinatown. I used to walk through the city, taking photos, and, especially on hot days, head to the garden where I would sit and relax.

Photo of the day

2006-02-01T18:52:00.000-04:00

Tagaytay City pineapples. . .

Shown here is a pineapple field across from a school I visited in the Philippines. I have to say that the pineapples from this part of the Philippines were the sweetest I tasted. In fact, pineapples from the Philippines are the best I've had. I took this picture last August, a few days before I traveled back to Canada. Something else from this area that was great are mangos. They're absolutely incredible. At one place I would go for mango smoothies. I actually went so many times, they started making them as soon as I walked through the door. I'm kind of predictable in some ways - or many I guess.

This pineapple field actually reminds me of a story. It's a rather usual story about - what else, a snake. . .

On one occasion, I was walking back to the school from a little store around the corner where the teachers would gather and talk about the day. Like many of its kind, it was set into the house of a local woman and offered everything from soft drinks to laundry detergent. These little family run businesses are common and appear to be an integral part of Filipino society. Too bad we don't have them in Canada - rather then the generic convenience stores that have as much feeling as a brick.
As I trudged back up the hill, I saw two Filipino men struggling with what appeared to be a really thick road like the ones you'd see securing large boats to wharves. When I got up to them, I realized it was, in fact, a python snake that they had just captured in a nearby pineapple field. The snake was about 3 metres long and looked pretty powerful.
Unfortunately we had a difficult time trying to understand each other, due to the language barrier, but after a while I came to understand how and where they had come to capture the animal. I also figured out they were in the process of twisting it in an attempt to kill it - something that eventually occurred with the snapping of its bones.
Given the fact they didn’t speak English and I don’t speak Tagalog, it was hard to convey my thoughts about how I felt about the killing of this snake, and that I was positive there would've been a more humane way in which to kill it - like if they had used a machete.
It was pointed out that this snake wasn’t killed for sport, rather it was that night’s supper. After bidding adieu, I shook my head, thinking on that day I was glad I wasn’t that snake. Then again, I'm glad I'm not a deer or a moose or any other animal that Canadians deem worth the effort to track down in the bush and kill, perhaps not in the same manner as twisting, but killing all the same.

Photo of the day

2006-01-28T16:09:00.000-04:00

On the road. . .

While driving across Canada this past fall, I had a number of great opportunities to pull over and take some photos. This one was near the British Columbia - Alberta border. It was taken September 21 - and as you can see the snow had started to fall in the higher elevations. You can see too, the trees definitely displaying the final stages of autumn.

Photo of the day

2006-01-27T19:21:00.000-04:00

Near Kamloops, British Columbia

This shot was taken in August of 2005, near the old abandoned sanatorium outside of Kamloops, British Columbia. It was, as you can see a beautiful day, but by the time we decided to pack it in for the day, I was covered in mosquito bites. I hadn't been prone to swelling, but after that day I looked like I had been in an accident (more so than I normally do). The old site has since been sold to a developer, who is expected to create some sort of housing development. It will come complete with a view of the rolling hills on one side and water on the other. And, of course, the mosquitoes. They can have them. . .

Photo flashback

2006-01-24T18:41:00.000-04:00

In between Penticton and Osoyoos, British Columbia

Here's a flashback from June 2003. My buddy and me were out looking for rattlesnakes - he's into counting how many there are in a given area (not eating them), and he brought me to the place seen in the photo. It's actually a view taken below a huge Ponderosa Pine, looking toward Osoyoos.
This tree grew by itself on a hillside, one used by grazing cattle. Growing all around that hill is cactus, which seemed to find my legs and feet every time I turned around. What is really incredible is the fact this massive tree hadn't been hit by lightning. There were other pines in the area that were either dead from strikes or had been severely hit on earlier occasions.
My friend said if for some reason (and it seems to happen to all of us) he drops dead, he wants his ashes spread at the foot of this tree. It really was a fascinating place, that held some remarkable spiritual energy.
If you were to stand down hill, looking toward the tree, you'd see huge rolling rock formations less than half a kilometre further up the hill. It was there, we came across a number of rattlesnakes. Hopefully they're still there.
This is the same region where wineries seem to be cropping up everywhere, and orchards are taking up what's left. There's some great places to either camp or visit, including the beaches of area lakes. Given a chance, I'd love to live in the Okanagan (the name given to this area), with its incredible summers and not so bad winters. Very cool place. . .

Photo of the day

2006-01-23T19:20:00.000-04:00

Partridge Island near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

Winter mists obscure Partridge Island, Nova Scotia. It's been unusually warm this winter, and in a recent trip, I discovered a neat little island that - at the time, was covered by mist coming off the waters of Minas Basin. Taken early January 2006.

Photo of the day

2006-01-20T18:58:00.000-04:00

Lonely corner of PEI . . .

On a trip to PEI last summer (August 2005), while in Kings County, we took a few side trips including one down a dirt road which led to the place in this photo. When I got my pictures developed, I half expected to see the ghost of some long dead former tenant standing in a window. That comes from an over active imagination. I wonder what it would be like living here in the dead of winter. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, especially if you're well supplied.

Photo of the day

2006-01-19T19:06:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island . . .

I took this photo on an afternoon trip to Genoa Bay on Vancouver Island. This particular area attracts a lot of boaters - many from the United States. It's home to a number of beautiful yachts and - as you can see - some nifty little homes on the water. There's even a great little cafe to have a good meal and cold beer. This picture was taken August 2005.

Photo flashback

2006-01-18T18:52:00.000-04:00

Near Emerald Beach Australia. . .

A few years back - me and Wendy found ourselves in Australia, visiting a place called Emerald Beach. While there, we went inland a short distance to stay at a quaint little house. You can tell how hot it was there at the time by what's found in this picture. . .I took this January 2002.

Photo of the day

2006-01-17T19:02:00.000-04:00

Looking out from Tranquility Bay. . .

This is a spectacular place called Tranquility Bay. It's along the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. If you turn around and look up to your left, you'll almost see The Vallaster Cabin, a relatively famous place - especially if you're Danish. . .Taken June 2005.

Photo of the day

2006-01-16T20:24:00.000-04:00

On the way to Eagle Cliff. . .

Another photo taken in the woods on the way up to Eagle Cliff on Vancouver Island. It's a really great trip through some spectacular woods and eventually up to the top where you have an incredible view of Cowichan Bay. Taken June 2005.

Photos of the day

2006-01-15T11:38:00.000-04:00

First heavy snowfall of the season in Moncton. . .

These photos were taken on my back porch. They were shot around 2 a.m. in the morning. I opened up the shutter and let what natural light there was do all the work. As you can see - or imagine, the fresh snow was really light and fluffy. Next time I take similar photos I'll remember to put my boots on. I was in such a hurry I went out onto the deck in just my socks. Pictures taken early December - 2005.

Photo of the day

2006-01-14T19:56:00.000-04:00

Beach rocks on the Eastern end of PEI . . .

One day on a beach on the Eastern end of Prince Edward Island this past summer, the temperature was hot and the water perfect for swimming in. These flat, typically coloured Island red rocks were extremely warm to the touch. I've still yet to figure out why I'm fascinated by the colours found on PEI, but they make for great photos. It's probably because they remind me of home. Taken August 2005.

Photo of the day

2006-01-13T19:02:00.000-04:00

A misty Partridge Island. . .

As I continue my trip across Canada (started in April 2005), I traveled to Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, just over a week ago. It's a great little town - more so in the summer time then now for the obvious reason (it's winter). The Fundy Geological Museum was my actual target in Parrsboro where they've got - among other things, mineral and dinosaur displays, but it's relatively small and I found I had plenty of time to go off exploring in other directions.
Not to distant from the town itself is Partridge Island. You can climb the path around the island up to what's referred to as a "look off." On the day I was there, as the picture illustrates, it was really misty so once I got to it, I found it difficult to see any real distance. The temperature was above seasonal which helped create the mists and the opportunity to take some interesting pictures.
It was actually kind of creepy, I figured at any moment the Blair Witch was going to jump out from behind a tree. I was alone and hearing things fall further back in the woods, which started to play on my usually rock solid nerves (well, not really rock solid). Fortunately I didn't come across any bundles of sticks or anything and survived to develop my photos. It was a great experience - well, not the Blair Witch part. . .

Photo of the day

2006-01-12T20:23:00.000-04:00

Passage to the Taal Volcano . . .

While in Tagaytay, I traveled over to the Taal Volcano which is located on an island in the middle of Taal Lake (which is 20x30 km). We traveled via one of the boats in the above photo. It was a spectacular trip as I sat in the back and got drenched by the extremely warm spray. I took the trip and picture mid-July 2005.

Heading back to Vancouver

2006-01-12T18:54:00.000-04:00

I wrote earlier about my decision to leave Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories and subsequent travels from the North to Vancouver in the South - a trip of some 2,500 kilometres. It was a great drive, despite not having a heater in the car or a great deal of money to whoop it up along the way.
After four days on the road, with one spent visiting in Prince George, British Columbia, I finally made it to Vancouver. I couldn't believe how warm it was and how great the cherry trees looked in bloom when I arrived. The North has its own incredible beauty - and for those who get the chance to see the difference between North and South, driving from one to the other makes for some powerful images.
Once in Vancouver, I took a few weeks off to relax. That meant wandering the city, taking photos, walking in Stanley Park, having nice long dinners and, essentially, enjoying what Vancouver has to offer in the Spring time.
Unfortunately, I can't sit for too long. I seem to get frustrated if I don't have a purpose, so with that in mind, I thought - while trying to find work in my field, I'd try something new to make some money and help with the bills. That something new turned out to be teaching English to foreign students.
The majority of "my" students were either Japanese or Korean. The school itself had two campuses, both of which were located in downtown Vancouver, not far from where I was living. It was perfect for me, cause I could work part time and look for journalism jobs or traipse around taking photos.
After about four weeks, the owner of the school approached me and asked if I would travel to the Philippines for a month to help in his endeavour to open a location there. As he and I discussed, it was advantageous for ESL schools to open in the Philippines because it was a cheaper option for Asian students and school owners. ESL schools were difficult to maintain, I was told, in Vancouver because of the associated costs to students and owners. Perhaps size does matter.
Agreeing to the trip was easy for me cause it was a free, all expense paid journey to another country. I even got a few bucks when I got back to Canada. How could I say no to a holiday on someone else's dime - it's not like I was doing anything anyway. . .
Getting back to the owner's idea for the school in the Philippines, he figured students would stay for a number of months before heading over to Vancouver to complete their studies. In doing so, it cut down on the amount of money the students would have to spend, and on top of that, it cut down on the overhead paid out by the school. It is by far cheaper to do business in the Philippines, not only because of the proximity to the countries from which you want to attract students, but because salaries and building rentals are a lot lower then in Vancouver.
Also, English is spoken by many in the Philippines and the teachers I came across - as well as Filipinos working in other fields, have an excellent work ethic. It doesn't hurt either that the Philippines is a beautiful region of the world.
So with all that in mind, I agreed and in early July of 2005, I took off for Manila via Tokyo. One of my biggest regrets was not being able to change my ticket so I could spend some time in Tokyo, which means I'll have to go back some other time. Getting back to the flight for a second - it was long - I mean really, really long. . .
Upon arrival in Manila, it was night and incredibly humid. Certainly not what I had experienced in Canada's North weeks before. Still, it was the rainy season and - though I had experienced intense heat on a previous trip to Australia, this was certainly an eye and pore opener.
My job was to assist in teaching the first class for this new school and help to advise on whether this was in fact a good idea and whether it would even get off the ground. The initial idea was good in that it would allow students who couldn't afford to make it to Canada to have English language training, but the plan certainly was shot to hell because of poor communication between those in Vancouver and those they originally dealt with in Manila. Things further went to hell as the first few days unfolded. It was the beginning of a month of unique experiences, starting with a decision to move from Manila to a resort city about two hours away called Tagaytay. A beauty spot eh!
More later. . .

Photo of the day

2006-01-10T19:47:00.000-04:00

An old Okanagan homestead. . .

This old homestead located between Penticton and Osoyoos in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley was the backdrop for a trip me and a friend went on in July of 2003. My friend is an avid fan of rattlesnakes. His goal is preserve rattlesnake habitats in this region, though there are a number of factors working against him and others in this endeavour.
The Okanagan has become a major region for fruit growers and most recently for wineries. Of course, when industries such as these develop, they tend to encroach on the habitat of such animals as rattlesnakes. The two will inevitably clash - with the bigger of the two usually winning out, that being the human.
In the picture above, you can see sage growing in front of the old house. It was actually an incredible experience as I walked toward it taking photos. I found myself standing in the midst of the sage, which was loaded with thousands of bees. It was an amazing feeling to be standing there, surrounded by creatures that most have grown to fear for the obvious reason.
What was also incredible was the fact my friend had come across a rattlesnake about 5 feet long nestled in amongst the crumbling porch of this house. He was calling over to me, but I couldn't hear him because of the sound the bees were making. I literally had to walk over to where he was standing before I could hear what he was trying to tell me.
As you can imagine, it was a beautiful day and extremely hot. All made for a bunch of great pictures.

Photo of the day

2006-01-09T20:50:00.000-04:00

English Bay at dusk. . .

This is one of my favourite pictures. I took this one night while out and about in Vancouver. It's at dusk on English Bay on a beautiful summer's evening. Taken August 2005.

Getting back on the road

2006-01-09T19:33:00.000-04:00

In my continuing story about how I spent the last year - my 39th year, I left my last post coming off the ice bridge across the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories. As I discuss my drive down through the N-W-T and into Alberta, I just want to point out - karaoke in the wrong hands can be a lethal combination of screeching and incoherent babbling that should be reserved for pros or banned from bars where beer and microphones make easy companions.
I had left Yellowknife early to mid-morning, figuring it would take me three hours to reach the ice bridge, but, of course, it was raining and road conditions were wretched to say the least. There was a great deal of the road still under construction, meaning much was gravel and/or dirt. I swear it felt like I went into potholes and came out the mouth of tunnels.
By the time I had finally reached the ice bridge - itself at the end of a very muddy, dirt road, it was heading into mid to late afternoon. After crossing this particular path to the South, I eventually made it Enterprise. From the time I had been there on the way up to Yellowknife the previous year, there wasn't much except a small service station to stop at. This time; however, there was a new convenience store and gas station.
Another noticeable difference was the lack of flies. When I first stopped at Enterprise the previous summer, I was mugged by a billion flies. They were fast moving little bastards that attacked you, but once inside your car, just sat on the window staring outside as if they longed for their friends back wherever you had originally kidnapped them from. It was easy to get rid of them - just open the window.
During the drive up, on one occasion, I decided to get out of the car and attend to the needs of nature. That was a mistake. Not much wonder the Bison seem to be shivering all the time. It's to keep the flies off them. During another period, when I worked in the woods in Northern British Columbia, I encountered a similar problem with flies, but in time you just get used to them - or die or move down South. I figured I'd get used to these guys too, but once I got to Yellowknife, there didn't seem to be a fly problem inside the city limits for some reason.
Either way, I digress. Upon leaving Enterprise, I traveled South toward High Level, Alberta. I figured if I could make it to that town on my first day, I'd be doing great. Actually, there wasn't really anywhere else to go in order to find a place to stay, so I had better make it.
One thing that seemed to make things difficult was the fact I don't have a heater in my car. The heating coil burned out the previous year. If you can imagine, I drove around Yellowknife at minus 40 degree temperatures without a freak'in heater. I had bought one of those heaters you can hang anywhere on the inside of your car, and plug into the cigarette lighter. Well, I can tell you first hand, they're as useful as a screen door on a submarine.
While travelling South to High Level, I had packed on all this extra clothes to protect myself from the cold. I was wearing so much, I could've stopped a bullet. Unfortunately I hadn't protected my feet as well and by the time I pulled off at High Level, I could hardly walk they were so cold.
And, as I recall heading toward High Level, all I could think about was pulling off into a relatively nice hotel, having a nice steak dinner and a few cold beers. I think that's what kept me going through that somewhat arduous trip.
Finally heading into High Level, with that lousy heater now on the floor between my legs to try and get some heat back into my feet, I saw the lights of a number of hotels. Being a person who finds humour in most things, I saw that there was a hotel named the Flamingo. It even had the sign that looked like the original neon sign from the Flamingo in Las Vegas.
So going in, I got a nice room with a propane fireplace. It wasn't too expensive - I was on a budget, so I had to keep that in the back of my mind the entire trip. That didn't stop me from going into the restaurant/bar to order that steak I had been craving since Enterprise. I'm not prone to eating red meat, I'd just as soon not, but for some reason I needed that fix.
With the steak ordered, the cold beer sitting on the table in front of me, I figured I'd just landed in paradise. My feet, in fact, were starting to get feeling back in them and as I drank my beer I was able to ignore the pins and needles that were travelling up and down the lower part of my legs.
When all of a sudden, someone started up a horrendous version of "Do You Really Want Me?" by the Culture Club. Holy crap, I had landed in the middle of karaoke night at the Flamingo. And, believe me, karaoke can be fun when you're in the right mood and there's a whole stable of good singers (like in the Philippines for some reason) waiting to jump the mic, but that night, it was like swinging a live cat around your head by its tail.
Hence my belief beers and microphones make easy companions that should be restricted to enclosed sections of the bar like smoking rooms are. With all that racket going on, I paid my bill and was thankfully able to buy off sales. I brought a six pack back to the room where I warmed my feet by the propane fireplace.
What a day. . . more later.

Photo of the day

2006-01-08T13:55:00.000-04:00

Getting around in the Philippines. . .

I took this shot while travelling in what's known as a tricycle. That's a motorcycle with a covered side car, used in the Philippines.
During the month of July 2005, while working for an English language school in Vancouver, I was asked to travel to the Philippines to assist in the school's endeavours to open a branch there. The school would cater mostly to Korean students. The goal was to attract Korean students to the Philippines where they would study for a number of months and then travel to Vancouver to complete their studies.
I spent a month working in the resort community of Tagaytay, a beautiful spot overlooking the Taal Volcano. The original idea for the school didn't quite work out in the way both myself and those back in Vancouver who were footing the bill had initially planned, but a new one was established not far from Manila. It started up operations in September of 2005.
Though, I'm now out of the English language teaching business (and I use the word "business" for a reason), I had a spectacular time in the Philippines where I met great people and had wonderful experiences. I shall one day go back to that country, to see more and hopefully meet an even larger number of Filipinos.
As an aside, there is a Starbucks located in Tagaytay that overlooks the Taal Volcano. It's one of the most spectacular and breathtaking views of any that I've seen in my travels. Despite the fact I'm a Tim Hortons fan, I did regularly take time out to down a cup of tea and admire the view.

Photo of the day

2006-01-07T13:31:00.000-04:00

As I drove from Vancouver to Halifax this past fall, I stopped a number of times along the way to take pictures. This was taken in Northern Ontario looking out onto Lake Superior.

A year to look back on

2006-01-05T18:51:00.000-04:00

In the past year - I traveled just over 47,000 kilometres. To some, that may seem like a lot. To others, like the guy who made news in 2005 for logging enough flying time to receive one million frequent flyer points, it may seem like a drop in the bucket. Though I didn't spend 56 days out of 61 on an airplane, I did see quite a bit of Canada and a few foreign countries on top of that.
I started out 2005 living in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. For those who don't know, that's one of three Canadian territories located in the far north of our country. The other two territories are Nunavut and, of course, the more well known of the three - Yukon.
I was working for a small radio station in the news department. My job was to gather as much local news as I could in order to fill newscasts at the top of each hour until 6 in the evening. That was a relatively tough task considering the population of Yellowknife is just under 20,000. Finding local news could, at times, be like finding a marble in the middle of Baffin Island.
In April, I decided to pack it in and move back to Vancouver from whence I came, thinking I'd have greater opportunities in my field. So, filling my car up with whatever would fit, I split. The trip took me over the ice road across the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. In that region of the world, roads and bridges are somewhat scarce, so in the winter, inhabitants use the frozen lakes and rivers to get around. If you're travelling to Yellowknife, you have to take a ferry in the summer and drive the ice road in the winter. That should change in the next few years with the construction of an actual bridge across the Mackenzie.
In my case, I left the 'knife pretty late and crossed the ice bridge when it was in the final days of use. I have a car that rides relatively low to the ground, so it was pretty hairy driving across. It's about a kilometre across and you're restricted to driving only up to 45 kilometres an hour. Any faster and you could create waves under the ice surface, thus causing an effect you'd rather avoid.
As I drove my car out onto the ice, that feeling of "this might not be a good idea" entered my mind - especially considering the ice surface already had several inches of water covering it. It had been raining over the few days previous to my departure and things looked pretty grim.
As I got further along, the water got deeper and in some parts - particularly out in the middle, huge pools had formed. With my car jack-knifing from side to side, I figured once I hit the pools of water I was toast. They looked like large gaping holes in the ice and with no other vehicles in sight, I guessed on a couple occasions that this was it. And, of course, I couldn't roll down the window cause the water was flying up the sides of the car like you see in those flashy television ads where they try to show how some cars are less likely to hydroplane then others.
As I neared the other shore, I was filled with a sense of euphoria. Not so much because I had made, but because the car's engine didn't crap out on me in the middle and I could continue my trip. Only afterward did I reflect upon what an icy, bleak death that would have been had I been swallowed by one of those pools. Another motto of mine: "It didn't happen, get over it and move on."
Once on the highway again and on my way to Enterprise (the first community you come to in the N-W-T and the last you see when you leave), all I could do is just shake my head. I had made it. A few days later, vehicles were restricted once again. It took four to six weeks before the ferry started to make its runs. Had I waited an extra day or two, I'd be forced to wait out that month on the other side. I wanted to get to Vancouver cause there were jobs to be had. That was true, there were - but not the ones I wanted.
The saga of 2005 will continue. . .

Photo of the day

2006-01-04T21:05:00.000-04:00

I took this just outside Kamloops, British Columbia, August 2005. As you can see, it was a beautiful day summer's day. It was also a long climb to those heights.

A few thoughts on the North

2006-01-04T19:13:00.000-04:00

Having said that I lived in the Northwest Territories, I want to point out a few observations that I made which relate to the current federal election in Canada. First off, for those non-Canadians who are looking in, the North has been ignored for the most part since the idea of Canada filtered through somebody's head back in the 19th century.
It's huge tracks of sparsely populated land are now targeted by industries ranging from resource development to tourism. Of course, this land belongs to the Aboriginal peoples who are confined within Canada's current borders and - hopefully, with due diligence they'll finally gain control of their destinies and their traditional lands.
The three territories have been used and ignored at the will of those in the South. They've been subject to the rules made by politicians and business people who - for the most part have never been North of the 60th parallel.
Some of the worst things to happen, which are only now becoming widely understood, are the effects of climate change. I spoke to the present premier of the Northwest Territories in my capacity as a journalist in 2005, not long after the release of a study on climate change which clearly showed the impact of a warming Arctic.
The premier echoed a great deal of concern over climate change and the need for concrete action to be taken to at least arrest the changes if not turn things around. He told me of a report he had actually participated in while holding down another office within government that showed the affects of climate change on Arctic tundra years before. This report was passed on and essentially shelved.
It was from such conversations and further observation that it became clear that lip service has been and continues to be paid to the North. Whether it be political parties trying to sway voters in attempts to have candidates elected in the few seats that represent the north or big business taking advantage of the raw materials found in the region. Things seem to be done and said with the interests of others in mind rather than the actual Northerners.
You can imagine belonging to an Aboriginal group and wanting those in the South to listen to your problems and/or concerns. With the lack of interest shown for the three territories by those in power, you can see where my skepticism comes from when I hear more promises made by politicians.
One politician - Stephen Harper - has promised a greater role for the military in the North, as if that's the answer to everything. He said he'd built three huge ice breakers for the region. Yah sure. Does he realize what kind of an ice breaker is needed for up there and how much it would cost to build and maintain? If costs don't matter, then why not spend money on ensuring adequate housing and infrastructure needs are met?
Our sovereignty is in question, he says, and by increasing our forces in one of the largest and least hospitable areas in the world, we can somehow keep "foreigners" out of our backyard. I'd like to see Harper try to keep the world's nuclear submarines out of "our" territory when they're taking a short cut from one ocean to another.
Of course, the North - with its current international boundaries - do belong to Canada. There is no question from my perspective of that, but to make bold promises in the South and not follow through as has been traditional in Canada, is enough to make anyone question the sincerity of politicians.
Others politicos want to increase the region's prosperity by trying to entice business to move up there. As it stands, the north has made Canada the third largest producer of diamonds in the world. Right now, business is taking advantage of that, and unfortunately the bulk of the money is heading south with the actual diamonds. Tell me business wouldn't continue to take advantage of the North in the same way, whether it be diamonds, natural gas, oil or hydro power.
In the Northwest Territories, there is work being done to put the finishing touches on the pre-development stage of a natural gas pipeline that would run the length of the region. The gas would be piped down to Alberta where it would become part of the North American supply, or it might go toward helping to squeeze oil out of the oil sands projects (that's another story).
In addition, the N-W-T has a great deal of oil of its own at its disposal and potential for hydro electric production with all its rivers. And, as I said, there is the ability to attract tourists to the territory because, as the German Consul General for Vancouver told me, lots of people are into adventure tourism. Of course, the only problem, he added, the N-W-T doesn't have enough hotels with the proper facilities for people. I guess people aren't into adventure tourism as much as he thinks.
Having said all this, I want to reiterate my skepticism when I hear people say in Canada how great it is to have our North. Most people in this country have never been there. It's supposedly in the psyche of every Canadian, this idea of the true North, strong and free. Well, until people in this country actually decide to stop treating the North and its inhabitants like distant relatives that you might call once a year at Christmas time, this very important region will continue to go under appreciated.
I truly believe until the North has control over its own destiny, including resources, decision making and has an equal seat at the table in Ottawa, then this lip service will continue to be paid. And being taken advantage of will remain the norm. Too bad eh, until it happens, it's just one more region in this country that will continue to feel alienated.
More later. . .

Why Yellowknife?

2006-01-02T14:26:00.000-04:00

The question was asked, why did I move up to Yellowknife. I had been living in Vancouver where, as many Canadians know, the weather is more appealing (except for the winter months when it rains a great deal) then in other parts of the country, and you can pretty well do whatever a person desires.
Whether you want to spend a great night out on the town, where you can see live theatre, movies, concerts or just go and get hammered at a local pub. Of course, you can jump in the car and head out of town to go camping, fishing or to just take a walk in the woods (or "the bush" as Canadians refer to it as). Not to mention - a short trip and you're in the mountains where you can snowboard or ski or just commune with nature.
And the summers are spectacular. I mean, the flowers start to come up in February, with the cherry trees beginning to bloom in April or earlier. The summer nights are brilliant, particularly when you sit on the beach at English Bay and watch the sun sets.
No doubt, Vancouver is a great part of Canada, but I had been there for seven years, working at various jobs, most notably for a casino operator. At about the six-year mark, I decided I needed a change and thinking about it, decided to go back into the media where I had started out a number of years ago.
Rather than actually going back into the print media (I had worked for a number of newspapers in Eastern Canada - including one in St. John's, Newfoundland for 3 years) where I had first cut my teeth, I thought I'd take a different approach, that being radio. With that idea in mind, I went to broadcast school in Vancouver for a year to learn the ins and outs of the trade. I knew I wanted to concentrate on journalism rather than being a jock and, as I already have a journalism diploma, figured I could start where I left off years earlier.
So, off I went. I was in school full time and working at the casino full time to pay for it all. After a year, I was on burn out mode, but was still able to complete everything. It was at the end when I started looking for work that I realized it's a tough business to break into. I guess I had figured that out early on, and knew I'd probably have to leave Vancouver to find work.
After sending out resumes and not getting any hits, I decided to start sending them farther afield, thinking if I'm going to do this, I might as well go all out. That's when I got a call from a station in Yellowknife asking if I was serious about going all the way up there. It's about 2,500 kilometres north of Vancouver. I thought about it and said "yah, what the hell." It sounded like a bit of an adventure - something I needed to help shake me out of the comfortable life I had been living.
I guess I realized I had become complacent in life, and had fallen into that trap of fear and consumption. I was afraid to loose my job cause then I wouldn't be able to afford to pay into my RSP, travel to places like Australia (January and February 2002) and, essentially, pay for the life I had become accustomed to. Speaking solely for myself, I think to appreciate life fully, one needs to shake things up and head in the opposite direction sometimes. Remind yourself, you're alive. Motto: "A change is as good as a rest."
With all that in mind, and looking forward to half the salary I had made in Vancouver, I set off for the 'knife in a car that I didn't think would make it past the other end of the city. A car - by the way, that didn't have a heater and to this day still doesn't. Imagine me driving around Yellowknife with no heater and the temperature being minus 40. That, my friends, was part of the adventure. More later. . .

Photo of the day

2006-01-01T15:24:00.000-04:00

The Arctic Duchess. Photo taken January 2005 in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

2005 started North of 60

2006-01-01T14:59:00.000-04:00

The first part of my year started in the Northwest Territories. For those who wouldn't otherwise know, the N-W-T is in the Northern part of Canada. When you look at a world globe - look toward the Arctic. A huge part of the Territory is located above the Arctic Circle.
I was living in Yellowknife, about 500 kilometres south of the beginning of the Arctic Circle working for a local radio station. To say that it was cold up there is somewhat of an obvious statement. But, it was an exhilarating type of cold and not the damp kind that gets into your bones like in many southern areas of Canada.
It's a wonderful place that I highly recommend people journey too. I drove up in the late summer of 2004 from Vancouver. It's a great trip filled with a lot of beautiful country and meetings with interesting people.
As an example of just what you can expect there, the City of Yellowknife is situated in one of the best - if not best - places in the world to view the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. In fact, upwards of 10,000 Japanese tourists travel north to Yellowknife each year just to see them.
One of my greatest regrets is not being able to capture the Northern Lights on film while there. I guess that just means I'll have to return some day.
One photo I did take is of a harbour scene. Yellowknife is situated on the shores of Great Slave Lake. The Arctic Duchess was, as you can see, frozen in for the winter.

Photo of the day

2006-01-01T14:14:00.000-04:00

This past summer I climbed to a point on Vancouver Island, Canada, known as Eagle Cliff. It was an incredible trip through a beautiful forest. As you can see, it was a place of great diversity, and where moss grew wherever it could find a footing. Highly recommended.

A year to remember

2006-01-01T14:12:00.000-04:00

On this, the first day of 2006, I looked back on an incredible year. In just under three weeks, I will turn 40 years old. To me it's just a number, but I will concede, it is a relatively important number. Now, there's no excuse - I have to pick up after myself.
As funny as it sounds, I mean that. And not just in a way where I've got to keep my home or work station clean or oil stains off the driveway. I mean, it's time to ensure what I've left behind doesn't pollute, or intentionally kill or disrupt where I've been.
Of course, I've always had a sense of ownership, but I've decided there's no more room for coming up with excuses for inaction. And, this isn't a symptom of some New Year's resolution. I gave up on those when I decided I prefer indulging rather then withholding the things I enjoy in life.
So with that in mind, I've decided to share my experiences - many of which have been documented on film. And rather than start from the beginning, I'll cover the last year and throw a few stories from the past in just to really ensure that I've caught your attention (I like to think I have a sense of humour in believing that).
In addition to my babbling about a year well lived, I'll include unique observations and stories that make this world a very interesting place. As an example - I've placed a few stories below to start off with. In certain places, they're referred as fluff.
The photos you'll see on this blog have all been taken by me and will be used to illustrate some of my travels. I hope there's some meaning in this for you and if you're interested, get in touch. I'm always willing to respond.
Having said that, stay tuned for more. . .the stories are coming. . .

Photo of the day

2005-12-31T20:12:00.000-04:00

Near Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick. Taken at the end of November 2005.

Cutting off dictators . . . what a novel idea

2005-12-31T17:18:00.000-04:00

Donor governments including Canada's, will withdraw 375 (m) million dollars U-S in aid to Ethiopia's government. Apparently, the decision was made after the Ethiopian government's crackdown on the main opposition party and the independent news media. Unrest claimed the lives of at least 46 people in November in that country.
The money is expected to be used instead by the U-N and aid agencies working to end poverty among the bulk of the country's estimated 77 (m)million people - many of whom live on less than a dollar a day.
Countries like Canada, Britain, Ireland, Germany and Sweden, along with the World Bank,European Commission and African Development Bank provide direct budget support.
The flow of cash is expected to dry up to the government until they can get their act together and the political situation improves.
What an excellent idea - though I wonder how much money has been pissed away up to the point that this decision was made. One question - will the Ethiopian government now feel less inhibited when cracking down on dissent because they're now less beholden to the West?

Photo of the day

2005-12-31T17:14:00.000-04:00

A great Fall shot, taken in November 2005 near Hillsborough, New Brunswick. It was from the inside of River View Cemetery looking toward the highway.

You think we've got it bad?

2005-12-31T16:33:00.000-04:00

Over a thousand people have been killed on South Africa's roads since the beginning of December 2005. Car wrecks usually peak in that country during the holiday month because of a deadly mix of speed, alcohol and, of course, carelessness. More than 11-hundred were killed in the same period last year.
This year's number includes a minibus taxi that recently smashed into a cow, killing five people who were heading to a funeral for the victims of an earlier bus crash that killed 21. In South Africa, the summer vacations begin in mid-December and continues until after the New Year.
At the start of a road safety campaign earlier in December, the minister of transport said about 12-thousand people had been killed on roads there in the past year alone.
Recently in Canada, there have been calls to increase the age of beginners from 16 to 17 years of age among other things. Considering you're driving 2,000 lbs. of weapon, keeping the keys out of a mid-teens hands doesn't sound all that bad when you consider the fact an extra year doesn't mean much when our average life spans continue to increase.
Of course, putting a cautionary note beside a story about the unfortunate number of deaths on the highways of a foreign country might not make sense, but perhaps the number of vehicle related deaths might help some parents push for extending limitations. Afterall, better to be picking up the kid or dropping them off then to be standing in a line accepting the condolences of others.

You mean the election is still on?

2005-12-31T13:57:00.000-04:00

With the Canadian federal election heading into the new year, it looks like the main political parties are set to drop the gloves in an effort to outdo the other in the negative ad department. In other words - release the bloody hounds.
The question we have to ask ourselves - and I mean those who aren't a part of any campaign - is it really that important to hear once again that Liberal leader Paul Martin is the leader of a corrupt government? Or that Stephen Harper has a hidden agenda and will eventually lead Canada back down the road to intolerance and further between the butt cheeks of the American? Or do we have to hear Jack Layton and the N-D-P blather on about injustices and indiscretion and the need for greater understanding in the world?
Essentially, Martin is the captain of a ship labouring under the weight of asinine party members and golf ball toting memories of a past leader. We all know that. Harper on the other hand looks like and gives the impression of the Joker in the Batman comics. He wants in the big chair, but at what cost? Jack Layton - well, he looks like the guy who delivers mail to my parents place. Without him being the head of the N-D-P, you'd never be able to pick him out of a crowd (even a crowd of four).
What's actually humorous is that rather then removing the gloves, we'd like very much if they just removed those rubber masks each party leader has donned. Meaning, Paul Martin is really Brian Mulroney while Harper is actually Paul Martin in disguise and, of course, Jack Layton is really the prime minister's chauffeur.
While Canadians are bracing themselves for an onslaught of ugly personal attacks by party leaders - thrown in amongst their new year television watching, it looks like the Tories are off and running. A Conservative ad features a black and white close-up of a grim-faced Paul Martin has hit the airwaves with some guy telling us about corruption. Ah gawd! When will it stop?
I think all the parties, rather then bashing us over the heads with attack ads, should run ads apologizing to us for subjecting the country to a $300 million federal election during a time of the year when we're still trying to figure out which shovel will take the least amount of paint off our grey coloured cement front steps. I think they should apologize for not being able to work like adults in parliament, rather than like 12 year old boys in a street hockey game.
Notice I haven't mentioned Gilles Duceppe? Nuff said. . .