So I haven’t done much on the way of interesting travels in the last few weeks as I’ve been here in Springhill visiting my sister and her kids, Styles and Emma whom I haven’t seen or spent much time with in the last few years so it was a nice time of catching up.
Christmas was nice, fairly mellow as money was tight all around but it is the time together that matters most. I got a cool and very timely gift from my sister. Once I was settled in she came downstairs with a small case and asked “would you use this?”. Inside was a used simple lower level GPS. Hell yes, it’s perfect!! So now I have a little help finding things and people as I continue on my trip and work my way home. So if you have a cool property or know of a place that I’d be interested in shooting, please simply send me a note with the address and I’ll perhaps stop by. You could possibly see my shots of it up on here next.
I’ve been doing some photo editing here and have been slowly adding shots and galleries to my photo section and tidying up the names and titles etc. If you have some time, take a look at some of the photos so far.
So I figure I’ll stay here in Springhill to celebrate New Years. Although, there is part of me that wants to be on the Easternmost point of Newfoundland so I can be one of the very first Canadians to ring in 2010. I believe it will be a much better year for me and for many of my friends whom have had a lackluster 2009. So as much as I’d like to be done with 2009 as quickly as possible I believe I’ll stay and have some fun with family, then most likely be on the road again for January 2nd.
So as I finish out my stay here with my sis, I wish everyone taking the time to read this a very Happy New Year and may 2010 bring you much awesomeness, happiness and love.
All the Best, See you next year 
Wayne
Inside Outside
Honestly before I got here I was planning on spending more time coming and going and still exploring nearby areas. So far though, it’s been about being around my sister and the kids and the routine has been a nice break.
I got away on Thursday the 17th for the day, spending a very cold day in the Joggins Nova Scotia area and along the fossil cliffs of Joggins. The wind was blowing and the beach along the ocean was covered in a thin coating of ice. I got some shots of the beach, the icicles hanging from the cliffs and some of an abandoned house with a bathtub on the front lawn.
As it looks now it seems that I’ll be able to make the ferry trip to Newfoundland after I leave Nova Scotia. I have plans to visit the Easternmost point in North America which is Cape Spear. Once I’ve experienced that, I can happily make my way back to BC, although I’m thinking that in order to completely claim this trip as a cross Canada I will have to find the Westernmost point as well, we’ll see.
That’s about it for now. Just wanted to update everyone and let you all know that this blog is far from dead, just a quiet holiday hiatus over Christmas. Soon I will be back on the road and I have a feeling I will have even more to say before I get home.
All the best to everyone over the holidays and may your time be spent with friends and family.
W
Implements of Yesterday
I’ve been hanging with Sunni and the kids here in Springhill and generally recharging for what I believe will be a “colder” return trip. I was really blessed with good weather on my way out but lets face the facts, it’s winter in Canada and January – February are gonna get interesting. I almost can’t wait.
Not much to report in the way of travel. I’m going to try and get a few days away next week and get to some Atlantic shoreline. Wednesday and Thursday are supposed to be sunny but chilly.
Aside from being semi lazy here I’m doing some editing and working on a new website for my friend Heidi’s music which should be live before I leave here. The Christmas decorations are going up and it’s nice to be around family. Even though money is tight for everyone here it simply doesn’t matter, it’s the people that count.
I do miss my friends back home but they’re my friends and will all be there when I get back. We’ll all catch up when I get back if not keeping touch by Facebook etc.
Until next time,
W
Guardians of Sand
I’ve been here in Springhill Nova Scotia at my sister’s place. It’s been a nice change from the truck, perfect timing for a rejuvenation and some “people” time as I’m sure I was beginning to talk to myself.
Today I made a quick trip into Amherst to get Sunni and the kid’s computer looked at as they’ve been down for awhile. Was able to get them up and running again.
Tonight the four of us put up the Christmas tree. Tomorrow I’m going to do some more editing and with any luck upload a bunch of shots.
Faded Knight
Things are great. Life is good. A nice break with family before I take on the “wintery” part of my journey as I’m now convinced that January and February will contain a lot more snow. I look forward to it. This is after all, Canada.
If this trip had anything resembling a “destination” this is it. My holiday stop with the only family I have out here. Roughly my mid point before I turn around but with any luck, I’ve still got some East left to see.
One thing about this trip so far, my timing has been great. I arrived in Springhill yesterday. Hung out with my sister Sunni and her kids and during the evening it started to snow. Well it’s still snowing. With about a foot of snow outside I’m quite content today to stay inside, catch up with some coffee, relax and work on some photo editing.
I will be here in Springhill for awhile during the holidays. Weather and roads permitting I will making some short trips in different directions for a few days here and there but for the most part my trip has slowed down for a few weeks. To resume in January when it really gets interesting weather wise out here.
So for now, check back for many new photo galleries and photo updates and I’ll be updating regularly from the small little town of Springhill.
Happy Holidays,
W
After I posted from Summerside yesterday I was sitting watching a movie and noticed I could see the stars. I looked up and the moon was overhead, almost full and shining. I decided to see if I could find something to shoot in the moonlight. I wandered on the back roads South of Summerside and slowly slinking towards the Confederation Bridge. I found one abandoned house but wasn’t that enthusiastic about it, it simply wasn’t a great shot. Found a couple other houses, one had a barking dog for a neighbor, (the last thing I need at 2am) and the other had a big sodium vapor street lamp in front of it so it was out.
I found myself at the base of the bridge and made the executive decision to cross back to the mainland. I wandered slowly on the other side until at about 4am I was tired, pulling into a turn-out in Port Elgin New Brunswick for the night.
Upon waking I kept wandering, looking for a few more daylight shots before hitting Springhill, Nova Scotia where my sister lives. It was slim pickins so far in Nova Scotia. I arrived in Springhill at around noon and here I will be for awhile during the holidays.
To really show how impromptu this whole trip was here’s something I didn’t consider until recently.
Newfoundland is an island, (really I did already know this). What I didn’t even think to consider when leaving home is that there would be costs for ferries. I’ve taken two so far. One was a free short 10 minute trip in Quebec and another was $46.00 from Baie-Comeau, Quebec to Matane Quebec as I was anxious to get to the Gaspe Peninsula and Perce Rock.
Now after that one I started looking into the ferry to Newfoundland as it won’t be a cross Canada trip if I can’t get there. The problem is the combined vehicle and driver price for a one way trip is $110.25. Whoa, that’s $220.50 there and back. I know it’s dumb on my part but I didn’t think it would be this much. What I also didn’t know is that it can take from 4.5 to 6 hours. Not a big deal as I’m not in a hurry but the price is a bit of an issue.
I’ll be seeing what I can do as I really was looking forward to standing as East as one can get in North America and to be able to say that I DID completely cross Canada. Not to mention that people have been telling me about the photo opportunities there. I may just have to bite the bullet and fore go Tim Hortons for awhile.
Another travel blogger Jen made a comment on one of my recent posts. I checked out her blog. Included in her writings was a link to this site: Couch Surfing.org. I will definitely be perusing this more in depth when I head out on the road again after my Christmas stay with my sister. This looks awesome and has over 30,000 Canadian couches listed!
