And we’re stoked!

Earlier this afternoon my roomies and relatives, Ali and Jeff, and I embarked on an epic journey. We hopped the Coho ferry from Victoria’s Upper Harbour and took sail south to Port Angeles, Washington.

Until recently, I lived on the small curve of land that stretches from the Coho loading dock, around the bend by which it travels, prior to pushing off towards the United States of America. I lived there in James Bay for nearly 5 years, and from my apartment window can recall hearing the blaring horn of the Coho departing countless times, without ever having boarded it myself.

We showed up at the loading dock 2 hours prior to the 3:00pm sailing. We sat sweltering in 30 degree heat while Customs agents toured the parking lot, passively quizzing travelers on their vehicle contents, destinations, and general intentions.

With plans to attend a wedding outside the Bay Area, they gladly let us continue on… so long as we obliged to toss out the unlabeled dog food we possessed. Ali & Jeff’s 3 Yorkshire Terriers are now forced to eat lesser quality canned sustenance for the next week. Fitting, as sub-standard eats are practically a road trip requirement!

Once you hit land and then pavement, the windy road from Port Angeles heading South-East down Highway 101 seemingly takes half a day. Really it was quite lovely and we passed through the wooded, sea-side towns in a couple of hours.

Jeff had been up since 1:00am, thus understandably passed out in the back of the vehicle while Ali and I made some odd road-side observations from up-front:

- Highway 101 is dedicated to the memory of the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia, and alongside it a Marina dedicated to John Wayne.
- There are multiple adorable coffee huts. Tiny standalone buildings, catering to travelers java needs dot the length of the highway. Awesome!
- And quite fittingly we went by a shanty little “adult” store with a multitude of stacked wood out front. Yes- they sell wood. Insert juvenile snickering here… I did!

Currently we are flying down the I-5, having survived the heat wave by means of air conditioning, consuming H2O and some unusual tasting Americanized Iced Teas.

Out ETA is approximately tomorrow, mid-morning. There’s no stopping along the way, and so far we have roughly 6 hours under our belt of this 15 hour journey.

We’re now in gorgeous Portland, Oregon. If I weren’t so sleepy I’d make a Lost reference. Considering it was announced today that the brilliant producers, writers, cast and crew of Lost were nominated for a dozen Emmy Awards it would be most fitting. Oh well, I’ll probably think of one once we’re Not in Portland… Oh there it is!

California here we come!

These past couple of weeks I have been watching the number of out-of-towners multiple like rabbits wandering the grounds of UVic. It’s not yet even June and already we have seen a huge increase in tourists ambling about.

Living on a busy route in James Bay they wander past regularly in one long consistent stream. Looking relaxed, but quite bored, craning their necks whilst being dragged in a carriage by horses trotting slower than they could walk, or strolling in a Kabuki Kab while getting the tour from, well, what I hope are locals but fear to be foreign students who know too little about our city. Either way seemingly all of their drivers are extremely neighbourly, passengers are out in the open taking in the beauty of each unique area along the way and it’s a completely green means of transportation.  As opposed to the cramped, closed-off massive old charter buses, which, thankfully, are prohibited down my street.

In any case, there have been a huge influx in all of the above due to the cruise ships and an upcoming US long-weekend.  Nice to see Victoria has yet to really feel the crunch of this economy.

I have much to do in the next little while to prepare for the busy summer that lies ahead.  But first- this time next week I will be taking a quick 2-hour and some flight down to San Franciso for a short get-a-way.

Mom picked me up Frommer’s “San Francisco- Day by Day” (purse-sized, with multiple maps and awesome tips), the Alcatraz night tour is booked, and just earlier today Dylan discovered/purchased tickets to see Propagandhi @ Slim’s the night we arrive.  Should be a great trip!

Now off to finally check-out Star Trek…

It’s Tough Being a Pedestrian…

Friday night after the game, we ventured out of James Bay and braved the mean streets of Victoria’s downtown core, with all it’s flagrant criminals up to no good, to catch Gob at Lucky Bar. The show was extremely impressive and the full review follows, but I first need to vent about this jaywalking crack-down debacle of recent headlines.

Twice in the last few weeks I have been harassed by drivers of vehicles who somehow felt compelled to make me believe I was in the wrong for having them stop for a pedestrian… at a crosswalk. Long after I had cleared it and reached the other side of the street, one driver even yelled out the standard and uninspired “Why don’t you look both ways before crossing?” Yes I looked, both ways, a few times over.  Just as I would if I may be crossing the street when it is clearly safe outside of the crosswalk confines.

In fact using my best judgment and crossing mid-block- while keeping a watchful eye out for side-street on-coming traffic, parked cars that may pull-out, cyclists and motorcyclists- often seems safer than the legal but much more limited alternative. Very limited, and did I mention time-consuming? I would have to add another 4-6 mins. onto my work commute to cross only where permitted, and subtract a possible few years off my life with the way some people drive.

From cell phones and iPhones, to life stresses on the mind, to being generally busy. Most people these days simply cannot be trusted to get behind the wheel with their thoughts riding shotgun. Likewise for some people on foot, possibly?  I hate to seem biased, so I’m open to hearing the point-of-view of a driver.

And yes, we jaywalked on the way to Gob…

For $15/ticket- a small and worth-while charge for a set of 3 bands- we were fortunate to catch the event live at Lucky Bar this past Friday, February 27th.

Due to the hockey game we showed up after the first band and made it for my clean-slate, first-time-listen to Vancouver’s Carpenter.  They played an impressive set pulling material from last springs Law of the Land.  The fast-paced and positive punk tunes got the energy flowing in the small venue.

Sometime after midnight Gob hit the stage, and the veterans of the evening did not disappoint.  They are well-seasoned, as evident by their flawless run through better-known hits and some newer material, throwing down a superb set-list of songs from the span of their 15 year career. They could easily fill the slot of opener to larger more popular punk acts in bigger arenas. A bold statement, maybe, but I stand by it.

On the way out the door I picked up a re-usable cloth Carpenter’s bag, while the guys from the band and Gob hung out greeting the crowd.

A great night over-all, I would recommend checking them out if you get the chance.

I awoke @ 5 (yes, in the a.m.) to the smooth lyrical stylings of Kanye West.  Wait, what?  Why is Kanye coercing me awake at this ungodly hour?

So I turned over, looked at the clock, and shuddered slightly at the sight of 5:07 digitally displayed before me.  Then I thought, well if the sun is up- why not I?  And if Dylan can awake even earlier on this same day (to take-part in a triathlon of all things) why shouldn’t I!  So I crawled slowly, but surely out of bed to start my day… And I couldn’t help but throw down a couple of dance moves.

Apparently 5 a.m. is when some people end their day.  As was the case, and the source of the Kanye tunes being played at peak volume outside my building here in James Bay.

Maybe the young lady exiting her ride- consisting of a cherry red Ford mustang, top down to soak up the rays of the rising sun apparently, driven by a balding, leather jacket sporting man (clearly much older than she)- was out all hours of the night discussing quantum physics?  Maybe.  Though she was dressed similar to a M.A.C. make-up counter girl, an Earl’s waitress, heck even a call-girl had more modesty than her.  Not that I’m judging her by appearances alone…

Oh wait, I am. It was early, I couldn’t help the moodiness.

However, next time I see her in the hallway I will thank her for the 5 a.m. wake-up call on this lovely Sunday morning, and see if she wants to chat a bit about subatomic particles moving backwards or forwards through time…?

I’m certainly jealous as they’ll both be celebrating with the relatives on the beaches of Tofino, BC, the gorgeous West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Thursday started as an over-all good day including some shopping and lounging in the sun with Matthew, my youngest sibling.  We then biked from James Bay, past Thetis Lake and as far as Colwood at the Highway #14 crossing of the Galloping Goose trail.  A quick 13km or so trek, Matthew’s first time on that part of the trail, and he did superbly!

That night we collectively celebrated 60% of the immediate family’s Birthdays, as we all enjoyed a dinner out at a fantastic restaurant with hearty portions of satisfying food, in a great location alongside a hilly Metchosin farm with a petting zoo out back and… they’re environmentally friendly?  That was positive news.

My Chosen Cafe’s Composting Project

We dined at My Chosen Café.  A rustic, homey little spot located in Metchosin.  Dinner was highly enjoyable.

The whole family, including (cousin and good friends) Aimee and Dylan, all there for some good laughs.  And as it turns out- the restaurant is keen on keeping things green.

My Chosen Café is taking part in one of the CRD’s composting pilot projects.  These projects were first introduced, so far with much success, in the residential areas of Oak Bay and View Royal.  It was extended after a year when it saw over 400 tonnes of waste diverted from the landfill.

Domestic food waste is picked up from residential areas and transported to a composting facility.  Simple as that, they even supply you with the free composting bags.

The restaurant has it’s weekly pick-up, and our waitress explained that this time a couple of years ago they were letting cans, bottles, paper, and all pile up in multiple trash bags.  My, how things have changed.

Cheers to Ryan and dad- Happy Birthdays!

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