This week has been awesome for shots. I’m currently transferring another 60+ gig worth of raw files from the last two days.
Freshly fueled and coffee in hand I left Stettler this morning but didn’t get very far before I was out of the truck, camera in tow. I wasn’t even half done my coffee when I spotted a large field full of junk, then the truck with a sign saying “Antique Junk for Sale”. Heaven. I pulled into Hennel Salvage and was greeted with another sign inviting me to browse safely at my own risk. As I was getting my stuff ready A couple fellows drove up that worked there. They were friendly and directed me to things I might be interested in. Two hours later I was down a camera battery and had no more room on my flash cards.
While sipping on my cold coffee and copying the cards to my field drive I continued on, thinking I needed some houses to balance all the vehicles I just shot. Well, houses is what I got… all day.
Needless to say my week was busy, full and wonderful. I’m rewarding myself with a few days off in Calgary, where I once lived for seven years. So I plan on meeting some old friends I haven’t seen in awhile and catching up. Then I’ll continue on. It’s looking that I may get home to Vancouver a little early. Just in time to experience a little of what the Vancouver 2010 Olympics have to offer before they finish. I think catching the last few days of the excitement will be just enough for me.
Go Canada Go!!
Mr. Red McCormick:Retired
After sleeping in (got every dime out of my cheap room), I made my way downtown St. John, New Brunswick for a walk and some exploring. It was just drizzling a bit when I started but that soon turned to rain, of course as soon as I decide it’s too wet and take my camera back to the truck it then stopped. I took a few more shots before it started up again, then I called the game.
I started to drive a bit and saw a coffee place that might have Wi-Fi. I was correct in my assumption and soon found myself sitting comfortably in Java Moose, editing my photos on my laptop. Since they are located downtown which apparently rolls up at 6pm they closed at five. So I was out again, in the rain.
I’ve found a spot to borrow wireless from and have uploaded a bunch of new photos from Day 7 of my trip. The yard of cars I found in Kyle Saskatchewan. I got through one card’s worth, and still have another to go through. Another day.
Anyway, I’m still in St. John, hanging around to see what the weather holds for tomorrow, may find myself back at Java Moose for a bit tomorrow. Who knows.
All is good, just slowing down a bit for some reason, kind of feels good to idle even slower.
Bedspring Kiss
Category: Highlights
Tags: cars, coffee, Java Moose, junkyard, Kyle, New Brunswick, old, rain, rusty, saskatchewan, St. John, vintage 2 Comments
Last night was a really cool night catching up with Katy, meeting and hanging with Anthony and upstairs room mate Mike. I was exposed to something I never thought possible. Mill Street Brewery here in Toronto has found a way to blend beer with COFFEE!!
Yes, it’s true, they have completed the task of creating a truly divine beverage in their Coffee Porter. At first I thought there is no way that this could actually be good. I was proven flat out wrong. It’s a smooth refreshing beer with no aftertaste. There is just enough of a hint of coffee (and apparently some caffeine). I am greatly impressed and will be finding and purchasing some of this glorious beverage on my way back through to bring home.
I was also exposed to a new TV show that I will have to check out more of, “Always Sunny in Philadelphia” by Anthony and Mike. All in all I had an awesome night with new and old friends and feel very welcome here.
Today, Katy and I walked around the Annex area, the University of Toronto campus and the Kensington Market area. We both got some shots of the University buildings etc and had a good time catching up over coffee and lunch. Life is good.
Today was a slim day for shots, sort of. I had less stops but when I did pull over the subject matter and light was pretty damn good. I found an old Chevrolet Stylemaster from the 30′s that looked like it had belonged to Bonnie and Clyde, rusting peacefully in waist high weeds and straw. It even had bullet holes in the door.
As well as some more farm houses and some Ontario lakeside shots as I looped up and around Elliot Lake. Which is quite a nice little city. It was larger than I expected and nicer than a lot of Ontario towns. So nice that the ladies at the Tim Hortons gave me a $10 dollar Tim card because the wraps I ordered took awhile. I wasn’t in a hurry but it was a nice gesture and very welcomed.
Then of course, as I passed through Sudbury I had to stop for the “tourist geek” shot of the day at the infamous huge nickle.
I soon had this tied to the roof of my truck for gas money. Hey, finders keepers!!
Tonight I’m in Parry Sound. I’m considering a relaxing day of Laundry, coffee and working on some photos if I can while I connect with people I know in Toronto. Hopefully to hang out there for a couple of days. We’ll see.
Category: Highlights
Tags: big, Bonnie and Clyde, Chevrolet, coffee, Elliot Lake, farms, gas, geek, lakes, large, Nickle, ontario, Parry Sound, Stylemaster, Sudbury, Tim Card, Tim Hortons, tourist Leave a Comment
Well, as I left Flin Flon and started South I soon realized that my prior night’s assessment of the available photo opportunities was very correct. I can see the appeal to some people of the Northern part of the prairies but after 3 hours of the same trees and a few lakes that all start to look the same with nothing in between I started to miss home. This Northern detour didn’t produce much in photos, partially due to the gray gloom of the sky. Some subject matter actually works with this sort of weather, (watch some of my upcoming photos) but I wasn’t feeling it when looking at the lake shores and birch trees of the Manitoba North.
As I watched the gas needle drop through a tank of gas I started to doubt myself and this trip. Partially due to the fact that the creative energy of the day had not been expended. I continued on as planned and pulled into Winnipeg just after dark. I stopped at the first Starbucks which for some reason doesn’t have WiFi access, (to which I found out after grabbing a coffee). I figured I could use the time to work on some of the photos I’ve taken. I eventually asked if there were any all night coffee joints in which I could work as I was back in my game after seeing some of the shots from previous days again. Apparently there isn’t much for all-nighters in the “Peg” but they told me that the Starbucks on the other side of the mall parking lot had wireless, which is where I am now. Outside as they’re now closed.
As I thought about my days so far on this trip I started to weave my own version of a common saying, “Everyday is a gift”. I believe this to the bottom of my heart, but with this amendment. Everyday is a gift, some days you get the shiny new bike, some days you get socks, but regardless, with every gift comes a photo of us opening it, cherish the shot and move on.
My two bits.
So I got a late start to the day today but was happy I did. I felt refreshed and back on top of my game after feeling a little down and questioning what the hell I was doing out here yesterday. As I grabbed a Tim Hortons and looked through my map book I decided to head North. I’ve been dodging any sort of “weather” chasing the light so to speak as there has always been good light on the horizons, just not where I’ve been. I discarded this notion and decided to head North regardless. Today, the good weather was chasing me. As I headed out of Swift Current I soon got to a little place named Kyle. On the Northern side of Kyle I found a yard full of random junked cars from the 20s, 30s, 40s etc thrown in amongst some tractors and machinery for good measure. It was cloudy when I got there but all of a sudden after shooting for about 45 minutes the sky broke open and gave me some great light. I shot here for another 45 mins or so.
As I left there I soon got ahead of the sun and back under cloud cover, but as I stopped at each of the 3 or 4 stops I made I was soon met by the awesome late afternoon sunlight again. I got some of the best shots of my trip today. I will try and go through some and post some very soon.
I stopped in Biggar, SK for a burger at Hannigans, the second meal I’ve gone “out” for with the exceptions of the odd coffee here and there. I stocked up on some fruit and veggies this morning in Swift Current too.
So here I am in North Battleford. I found an internet cafe named Crandleberry’s and have about an hour. I’ll be working on some photos until the friend gent kicks me out at closing, then off to find a quiet parking spot for a nap.
Category: Highlights
Tags: burger, coffee, Crandleberry's, Hannigans, Kyle SK, north, North Battleford, saskatchewan, sunlight, Tim Hortons, weath Leave a Comment
