Tired of I.T! » Canada

Coast to Coast to Coast

Dave — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 19:26:09 +0000

Coast to Coast to Coast
Posted on: Saturday, September 24th, 2011 at 12:26pm

OK OK, enough of the automated Picture of the Week posts, I’ll post a little update to what I’ve been up to for the past little bit. It’s been a whirlwind of a month already and doesn’t seem to have any reason to start slowing down, as the countdown is on, October 17 comes quick!

I had a great time in New York City with new friends exploring areas of the city that I’ve never been able to see, getting a grand tour of the city from a local is surely different from a tourist guide, but I already knew that – New York is a huge place, and I’ll start to take back some of my nasty comments I’ve said about it in the past 15 years of visiting. One thing that kept me going was the street food vendors, om nom nom! Really, there is no reason to buy groceries when you can just walk down the street and pick up something tasty for a ridiculously low price. I also returned back to the state of Connecticut, where I participated in heightening the stupidity level of society by attending a taping of the ‘Maury Show’ – unfortunately there was no baby mommas, no paternity tests, but the experience was a good look at how a subset of the population so foreign to my lifestyle operated. I did a couple headstands in various parts of the city, came down with an amazing flu (something I still haven’t shaken yet) and went to Coney Island. I couldn’t stay for much longer as I had some looming commitments to deal with, so flew back to Vancouver via Phoenix, AZ arriving 2 years to the day of when I first left for my solo bicycle trip. Cloudy, grey, much cooler than that I’d been used to over the past few months, and I couldn’t help but notice the fact that the residents couldn’t look at you in the eyes, and almost seemed like they were walking around with walls up and something to prove. I did get a chance to see my Dad again which was nice (I’m staying with him while I am in BC) and started hibernating for the next few days focusing on writing a speech (or rewriting, after data loss on my computer) for the upcoming weekend.

And like that, signal hill became flattened with my hand

The universe provided as per usual and my bicycle and all gear made it back from Nevada safe and sound, so while I was taking a rest of speech writing I started the laborious task of cleaning playa dust out of everything I owned. 7 rinses later of my 2 tents and they were finally clean, and I plan on taking my panniers and other bags down to the car wash to pressure wash them, in hopes that they will become sparkly again. Vinegar is a well known trick to break down the Alkalai dust but I was leery of putting acidic liquids on my brand new Hilleberg tent. The bicycle actually made it through OK, after a rinse with water (there will be further cleaning) the chain and drive-train looked in fine form, and rode like it did all over the United States without issue. I still plan on changing the oil once I fly to South Africa to start fresh as I’m now in the possession of a proper oil change kit. Apparently the seals can leak during Air Travel, so I will likely drain the hub before I fly, and fill upon arrival.

September 17th was a big day, the real reason why I rode across the United States and back into Vancouver – What can be safely said as ‘my oldest friend’ brought friends and family together from all over the world in celebration of their love, and went ahead and got married. There was lots of activities leading up to it, dinners with various family members from both sides, long distance travelers, rehearsals, and suit fittings, but on that cloudy day in Richmond, BC it went off as best as it could regardless of a few speed bumps that inevitably get in the way. I was chosen to be the best man of the groom (well, there were actually 2 grooms) and couldn’t help but smiling the entire time as the ceremony went forward, trying to maintain my balance thinking my knees were going to buckle out from behind me, worrying that the days joking that about juggling with the ring were actually true and I no longer had it in my possession. It was still with me however and when the two grooms kissed 40ft flames appeared out of nowhere doing their best to shock and amaze the crowd, not to mention singe off a few of the groomsman’s body hair. The reception was a beautiful heartfelt ceremony with lots of speeches, fantastic food and some dancing. I couldn’t help but realize how many of their friends had pitched in to make the whole wedding work. From food, to music, to construction of the Ice bar, to wine selection – it goes to show that what you put into life comes right back to you, people are awesome and want to help. I’m surprised my face isn’t frozen into a perm a-smile from the whole ordeal.

After a short few days of rest I saw myself yet again at the Airport hopping through a handful of Canadian cities before ending up back over in the very far east of Canada – You can’t go much farther than St. John’s Newfoundland! You might recall that I spent the winter here (nearly losing my mind in the process from the massive amounts of rain, snow, and erratic weather) and I’ve been surprised at how green things can be here, marveling at the beauty of the Avalon Peninsula and what it has to offer. It’s only been a little over 5 months since I was last here but I reconnected with close friends immediately like I hadn’t been gone more than a day, surprising a few in the process that I had returned. Some things have changed in this city as well, bike lanes are everywhere causing commotion with the drivers – it’ll take a few years for them to get used to it I suppose as I get the feeling Newfoundlanders generally don’t take to change well. A brief walk on the world famous East Coast Trail saw me took a tumble and rip open my hand but I’d say the most exciting part of it so far was heading over to the Seed to Spoon collective’s farm, checking out what tasty vegetables, fruit and flower they had grown throughout the short season before learning how to catch a chicken, cutting its throat draining it of the blood before removing its head. I’ve never put myself in this situation before and I’ll have to admit my nerves were a bit jumpy throughout the process where I dropped the chicken once on its head, scrambling to catch it again, and my cutting technique surely needed a bit of work. At the end, it tasted great on a pizza made with fresh vegetables and a rye bread crust. I’ll be here for a few more days before returning yet again to Vancouver where the push is on to prepare for Africa.

Ruins of Fort Amherst

I’m starting to get a bit nervous about the whole affair, wanting to make sure I have appropriate equipment, first aid kits replenished and more importantly, a clear mental state. It’s likely to be the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life every single day of the journey, but I’m also very excited for the expedition. I feel my training over the past 2 years has me ready for it, but in reality, I have no idea what to expect. My traveling partner Brenna is in New York City right now departing 3 weeks ahead of me and I’m looking forward to finally meeting her and sharing the adventure with her.

A perilous walk involving serious balance or face a dip in a lake or a fall into rocks

It was cold, so I chose the rock punishment

There is still a lot of friends and family that I need to see before heading to the Dark Star, and quite a few locals have emailed me for a coffee or beer which has surprised me greatly, so I’m sure I’ll be in good hands if I need to vent or project some of my fears of the months and years to come. I don’t plan on coming back to North America any time soon, so if you want to come join in on the fun and wish a well good bye to me, let me know!

A final request – I’m in the midst of setting up a new Bicycle Touring resource for people interested in long term travel on two wheels. I will be merging BicycleTouringBooks.com with a larger site that is community supported featuring free trip journals, photo galleries, classified ads, gear reviews, and a listing of free campsites for cyclists. It’s technically done, and I just need to work on the final touches of the user interface with many other upgrades planned for the future. It’s going to be free but I’m looking for some assistance in naming the site. Since most of the domain names are already taken it has to be a bit creative, and my little brain is working overtime with little creativity for catchy names. Since the goal is for other tourists to hand out their website to friends and family they’d likely have a website name of (username).biketouringsite.com – so it’d have to be something easily remembered. Perhaps you can help with the naming of the site?

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Canada Statistics

Dave — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:23:59 +0000

Canada Statistics
Posted on: Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at 10:23am

My route while traveling through..

Information

Info:
Formed: 1867
Population: 34298000 people
Area: 9,984,670 sq/ kilometres
Languages Spoken: English, French
Currency: CAD Dollar (One Canadian Dollar equals 1 CAD)

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean. It is the world’s second largest country by total area. Canada’s common border with the United States to the south and northwest is the longest in the world.

Canada occupies a major northern portion of North America, sharing the land borders with the contiguous United States to the south and the U.S. state of Alaska to the northwest, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west; to the north lies the Arctic Ocean. By total area (including its waters), Canada is the second-largest country in the world—after Russia. By land area, Canada ranks fourth (land area is total area minus the area of lakes and rivers).

Canada’s Wikipedia Page

Government of Canada’s Web Page

Areas Visited

I’ve separated the various provinces and territories that I traveled through on their own pages. Click a flag to be taken to its respective page.

British Columbia	Yukon	Northwest Territories
Alberta	Saskatchewan	Manitoba
Ontario	Quebec	New Brunswick
Prince Edward Island	Nova Scotia	Newfoundland

What to Expect

Click on one of the topics to find out more..

Culture

Canadians come from many different racial and religious backgrounds. Consequently, it is not easy to define a typical Canadian family. Although the majority of Canadians are Catholic or Protestant, many belong to other religions. Some cultural characteristics, however, are shared by most Canadians.

Body Language

It is customary to shake hands when being introduced. It is not usually considered objectionable to lightly touch someone on the shoulder or elbow during a discussion. Most Canadians do not often kiss or hug when greeting friends.

Introductions in Canada

In Canada, people use their given name first and their surname (family name) last. If you meet someone older than you for the first time, you should probably not use the person’s first name. It is safer to use the surname, preceded by a courtesy title such as: Ms., Mrs., Mr., or Dr.

Formal Greeting to a Stranger: “Hello Mr. Martin. I am very pleased to meet you. My name is Yuri.”

Informal Greeting to a Friend: “Hi Thomas. How are you?”

In the Home

Canadians often behave quite casually at home. Some families do not put an emphasis on greetings and salutations, so do not be disappointed if your host family does not show a lot of emotion when you arrive or leave. Many Canadians do not wear shoes or hats inside their homes.

Smoking in Canada

Smoking is becoming increasingly unpopular and is not permitted in most public buildings. Many families do not allow smoking in their homes. If you smoke, please mention it on your application for admission, so that we can match you with hosts who will not mind.

Equality

Canada enjoys a society that is open and relatively free of class distinctions. Most Canadians take pride in the fact that all people deserve the same rights and respect, regardless of their gender, race, religion, or cultural background. People in Canada usually resent comments that seem disrespectful to anyone from a particular background.

Food

Canadian cuisine varies widely from region to region. Generally, the traditional cuisine of English Canada is closely related to British and American cuisine, while the traditional cuisine of French Canada has evolved from French cuisine and the winter provisions of fur traders.

The basis of both groups is seasonal, fresh ingredients and preserves. The cuisine includes baked foods, wild game, and gathered foods.

The cuisine of the western provinces is heavily influenced by Italian, British, German, Ukrainian, Polish, and Scandinavian cuisine. Noteworthy is the cuisine of the Doukhobors, Russian-descended vegetarians.

The Waterloo, Ontario, region has a tradition of Mennonite and Germanic cookery.

Canadian Chinese cuisine is widespread across the country, with variation from place to place. The Chinese buffet, although found in the U.S. and other parts of Canada, had its origins in early Gastown, Vancouver, c.1870 and came out of the practice of the many Scandinavians’ working in the woods and mills around the shantytown getting the Chinese cook to put out a steam table on a sideboard, so they could “load up” and leave room on the dining table (presumably for “drink”). Ginger beef is a popular Chinese food purportedly originating in Western Canada.

The traditional cuisine of the Arctic and the Canadian Territories is based on wild game and Inuit and First Nations cooking methods; conversely bannock, which is popular across First Nations and Native American communities throughout the continent, is a method for making pan-fried bread introduced to their culture by Scottish fur traders. The cuisines of Newfoundland and the Maritime provinces derive mainly from British and Irish cooking, with a preference for salt-cured fish, beef, and pork. Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia also maintain strong British cuisine traditions.

Safety

Safety in Canada is not usually a problem, and some basic common sense will go a long way. Even in the largest cities, violent crime is not a serious problem, and very few people are ever armed. Violent crime needn’t worry the average traveller, as it is generally confined to particular neighbourhoods and is rarely a random crime. Drug-related crimes also happen. Street battles between gangs happen rarely. Even though major urban areas are experiencing higher than average rates it should be noted that these rates still remain extremely low compared to similar sized urban areas in the United States and the rest of the world (though violent crime rates are higher than most western European cities).

Technology

One traveling with laptops or portable devices should have no problem connecting to many wireless networks available in coffeeshops. Cellular companies operate nationwide and allow access to the internet for an extra fee.

Charging your components is the same as in the USA, operating at 110volts using the same plug as US and Japan.

Weather

Average winter and summer high temperatures across Canada vary according to the location. Winters can be harsh in many regions of the country, particularly in the interior and Prairie provinces, which experience a continental climate, where daily average temperatures are near −15 °C (5 °F) but can drop below −40 °C (−40 °F) with severe wind chills.[141] In noncoastal regions, snow can cover the ground almost six months of the year (more in the north). Coastal British Columbia enjoys a temperate climate, with a mild and rainy winter. On the east and west coasts, average high temperatures are generally in the low 20s °C (70s °F), while between the coasts, the average summer high temperature ranges from 25 to 30 °C (77 to 86 °F), with occasional extreme heat in some interior locations exceeding 40 °C (104 °F)

I compiled an interactive list of the min/max/avg Weather for areas of Canada.

Visas

Although the citizens of many countries are exempt (see below), you may need a Temporary Resident Visa to enter the country. If you plan to visit the United States and do not travel outside the borders of the US, you can use your single entry visa to re-enter as long as the visa has not passed its expiry date. Working while in the country is forbidden without a work permit, although Canada does have several temporary work permits for youth from specific countries.

Citizens of following countries do not need a visa to visit Canada for a stay of (generally) up to six months, provided no work is undertaken: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Portugal, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.

United States citizens traveling by land (vehicle, rail, boat or foot) to Canada need only proof of citizenship and identification for short-term visits. While a passport is preferred by both US and Canadian border authorities, a number of other documents may also be used to cross the border:

US Passport Card

Enhanced Drivers License or Non-Driver Photo ID card (currently issued by Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Washington State)

Enhanced Tribal ID Card

NEXUS or FAST Trusted Traveler Cards (issued by the US Department of Homeland Security).

My Experience

Canada, being it my backyard and my native land was fantastic to me in every province and territory. Each area being distinctly different in terrain, weather, and importantly the people. It’s probably best if you head over to the Area Visited tab and check out an individual section to find out the cycling information as the country is an awful large space for me to explain in a few paragraphs.

I highly recommend anyone wishing to cycle in Canada come to visit our beauty!

You can look at my detailed statistics of my travel through Canada here.

Pictures

View at Flickr">

Journal

The following is a list of journal entries I wrote while traveling through. Click one to read!

2011-09-24 – Coast to Coast to Coast
2011-05-03 – Canada Statistics
2011-05-02 – None of the above
2011-04-30 – Nova Scotia Statistics
2011-04-29 – Choose your own Misadventure
2011-04-23 – Fiddling and Fumbling
2011-04-20 – Onwards to the next Phase..
2011-03-05 – Coming out of Hibernation
2010-12-25 – Newfoundland Statistics
2010-11-21 – A whole lot of Statistics
2010-11-14 – Pause
2010-11-08 – Now What?
2010-11-01 – Things fall apart
2010-10-29 – Riding the Rock
2010-10-25 – Beating the bad weather
2010-10-21 – PEI Statistics
2010-10-20 – East Coast Riding
2010-10-19 – New Brunswick Statistics
2010-10-14 – Heading into Merry Times
2010-10-10 – Quebec Statistics
2010-10-08 – Sacre-Bleu!
2010-10-03 – C’est Bien!
2010-09-30 – Sitting out the Soakage
2010-09-29 – Ontario Statistics
2010-09-24 – Historical Waterfront Riding
2010-09-21 – The Centre of the Universe
2010-09-15 – Soggy tents and windy roads.
2010-09-12 – Sand in my Underpants (The Video Post)
2010-09-11 – Detouring off the beaten path
2010-09-10 – Living in the future at present
2010-09-08 – Superior Riding
2010-08-31 – Staring at Satellites
2010-08-31 – Manitoba Statistics
2010-08-26 – The Windy City
2010-08-25 – Saskatchewan Statistics
2010-08-18 – Storytelling
2010-08-13 – Ghost Towns and Diversions
2010-08-13 – Alberta Statistics
2010-08-13 – Northwest Territories Statistics
2010-08-09 – Dinosaurs in Drumheller
2010-08-08 – Return to Riding
2010-07-17 – Mechanical (Mental?) Meltdowns
2010-07-14 – Find out what’s going on in my head?
2010-07-13 – Rocky Riding
2010-07-09 – Reunited
2010-07-08 – BC Statistics
2010-07-03 – Sparkles from the Diamond in the North
2010-06-22 – Made it to Yellowknife
2010-06-17 – Getting Excited for Yellowknife
2010-06-16 – Buggin’ Out
2010-06-15 – Rut Averted
2010-06-14 – All I want for Christmas is two cans of DEET
2010-06-10 – It sets in.
2010-06-10 – Parting shots from Mother Nature
2010-06-07 – Night of the living bugs
2010-06-07 – Leaving the Yukon with no Gold
2010-06-06 – Yukon Statistics
2010-06-06 – An even slower way of looking at the world
2010-05-31 – Riding the White Horse
2010-05-30 – Free Canada Topographical Maps for your GPS
2010-05-30 – Yukon Ho!
2010-05-24 – One wrong turn, two big climbs, countless grins
2010-05-20 – Don’t let your innerspace become your Outerspace
2010-05-17 – Desolate Stretches
2010-05-11 – Travelling down the Highway of Tears (and sweat, and snot, and..)
2010-05-09 – Hey, Mom!
2010-05-06 – The great not so white North
2010-05-03 – Till we meet again Pacific..
2010-05-01 – If you don’t like the weather, wait half an hour…
2010-04-28 – Heading North.
2010-04-24 – Bugs and Bear Country
2010-04-23 – Growling a bit at the Garmin GPS
2010-04-21 – Suffering up the switchbacks
2010-04-20 – The Velvet Rut
2010-04-10 – Island hopping
2010-04-08 – First Day Fumbles
2010-02-23 – Interactive Temperature Map for Canada
2010-02-23 – Temperatures for Canada – Full List
2009-09-13 – Onwards!
2009-08-07 – On being injured….
2009-08-05 – Advertising Rejected!
2009-07-26 – $tatus check
2009-07-21 – Itching to get back into the saddle..
2009-07-16 – Re-entrance
2009-07-07 – One year older, in Port Alberni
2009-07-04 – And we’re off!
2009-06-29 – Men who cycle more than 186 miles a week face fertility risk
2009-06-29 – Sleep Deprivation
2009-06-28 – Human Billboard
2009-06-26 – Nervous Anticipation
2009-06-22 – Best Shave Ever
2009-06-21 – Battery Powered Speaker System for Bicycles
2009-06-20 – Slight Miscalculation in Distances and Timings..
2009-06-07 – Survival
2009-06-04 – Airline Robbery
2009-06-03 – Technology thoughts
2009-05-31 – Website Launch!
2009-05-23 – Website Authentication Options Upgraded
2009-05-23 – Goodbye, Slickasauruses
2009-01-30 – Visa Thoughts
2009-01-27 – Finally, a sore butt.
2009-01-20 – Reshuffle
2009-01-04 – Upgrading, already!
2009-01-03 – The Panniers are in!

Statistics

Totals:

Total Days: 238	Total Cost: $8705.65 ($37.85/day)
Distance: 15,363.27 km (Most: 2010-07-14 – 211.47 km)	Food Cost: $4,339.94
Ascended: 105,586 metres (Most: 2010-05-21 – 1,470 metres)	Drink Cost: $1,493.07
Energy Consumed: 664,394 calories (Most: 2010-07-14 – 10,873)	Equipment Cost: $699.17
	Transportation Cost: $1,802.28
	Lodging Cost: $127.35
	Entertainment Cost: $0.00
	Misc Cost: $239.94

Below shows the statistics while traveling through the area. Click on a date for more information!

Date	Location	Distance (km)	Cost	Map
2011-09-13	Surrey, BC, CA	0.00	$0.00
2011-05-02	Edmundston, NB, CA	0.00	$0.00
2011-05-01	Edmundston, NB, CA	0.00	$16.27
2011-04-30	Saint John, NB, CA	78.80	$67.66	Chart
2011-04-29	West Dalhousiue, NS, CA	76.27	$0.00	Chart
2011-04-28	East Dalhousie, NS, CA	54.53	$6.30	Chart
2011-04-27	Chester, NS, CA	75.04	$12.56	Chart
2011-04-26	Halifax, NS, CA	20.37	$6.03	Chart
2011-04-25	Halifax, NS, CA	111.84	$-111.54	Chart
2011-04-24	Taylor Point Provincial Park, NS, CA	87.73	$20.43	Chart
2011-04-23	Sherbrooke, NS, CA	83.89	$17.74	Chart
2011-04-22	Ogden, NS, CA	59.63	$1.27	Chart
2011-04-21	Sydney, NS, CA	0.00	$6.03	Chart
2011-04-20	Sydney, NS, CA	12.11	$34.77
2011-04-19	Sydney, NS, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-11-07	St Johns, NFLD, CA	35.09	$6.50	Chart
2010-11-06	Shea Heights, NFLD, CA	92.30	$33.80	Chart
2010-11-05	Green’s Harbour, NFLD, CA	0.00	$0.00	Chart
2010-11-04	Green’s Harbour, NFLD, CA	93.41	$25.04	Chart
2010-11-03	Goobies, NFLD, CA	87.78	$21.50	Chart
2010-11-02	Charlottetown, NFLD, CA	95.69	$17.51	Chart
2010-11-01	Gander, NFLD, CA	105.90	$17.90	Chart
2010-10-31	Grand Falls/Windsor, NFLD, CA	100.01	$57.15	Chart
2010-10-30	Springdale Crossing, NFLD, CA	73.72	$33.85	Chart
2010-10-29	Sandy Lake, NFLD, CA	97.35	$26.38	Chart
2010-10-28	Corner Brook, NFLD, CA	6.96	$21.83	Chart
2010-10-27	Corner Brook, NFLD, CA	123.65	$20.95	Chart
2010-10-26	St. Fintains, NFLD, CA	102.62	$28.58	Chart
2010-10-25	Port Aux Basuqes, NFLD, CA	31.20	$39.80	Chart
2010-10-24	Sydney, NS, CA	21.85	$37.00	Chart
2010-10-23	Sydney, NS, CA	109.89	$14.80	Chart
2010-10-22	Louisdale, NS, CA	126.83	$18.80	Chart
2010-10-21	French River, NS, CA	102.14	$28.77	Chart
2010-10-20	Charlottetown, PEI, CA	11.96	$43.00	Chart
2010-10-19	Charlottetown, PEI, CA	45.19	$43.33	Chart
2010-10-18	Bonshaw, PEI, CA	104.88	$0.00	Chart
2010-10-17	L’Aboiteau, NB, CA	119.93	$38.93	Chart
2010-10-16	Brunswick, NB, CA	104.89	$25.00	Chart
2010-10-15	Fredericton, NB, CA	0.00	$0.00	Chart
2010-10-14	Fredericton, NB, CA	10.69	$25.68	Chart
2010-10-13	Fredericton, NB, CA	73.78	$31.00	Chart
2010-10-12	Millville, NB, CA	102.00	$25.85	Chart
2010-10-11	Perth-Andover, NB, CA	112.62	$21.43	Chart
2010-10-10	Edmundston, NB, CA	0.00	$5.00	Chart
2010-10-09	Edmundston, NB, CA	105.05	$6.00	Chart
2010-10-08	Pohenegamook, QC, CA	105.97	$29.44	Chart
2010-10-07	La Pocatiere, QC, CA	127.99	$21.66	Chart
2010-10-06	Quebec, QC, CA	25.24	$69.75	Chart
2010-10-05	Quebec, QC, CA	55.34	$52.00	Chart
2010-10-04	Quebec, QC, CA	123.84	$49.10	Chart
2010-10-03	Gentilly, QC, CA	107.83	$14.30	Chart
2010-10-02	Drummondville, QC, CA	76.07	$34.55	Chart
2010-10-01	Granby, QC, CA	136.88	$6.76	Chart
2010-09-30	Pointe des Cascades, QC, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-09-29	Pointe des Cascades, QC, CA	93.60	$24.05	Chart
2010-09-28	Monkland, ON, CA	100.00	$0.00	Chart
2010-09-27	North Gower, ON, CA	0.00	$47.00
2010-09-26	North Gower, ON, CA	0.00	$40.00
2010-09-25	North Gower, ON, CA	141.57	$32.49	Chart
2010-09-24	Kingston, ON, CA	5.05	$7.10
2010-09-23	Kingston, ON, CA	97.33	$20.45	Chart
2010-09-22	Rossmore, ON, CA	134.57	$39.70	Chart
2010-09-21	Darington Provincial Park, ON, CA	83.47	$48.65	Chart
2010-09-20	Toronto, ON, CA	18.10	$17.25	Chart
2010-09-19	Toronto, ON, CA	0.00	$77.00	Chart
2010-09-18	Toronto, ON, CA	15.75	$14.60
2010-09-17	Kitchener, ON, CA	98.23	$17.00	Chart
2010-09-16	Neustadt, ON, CA	85.13	$24.34	Chart
2010-09-15	Wiarton, ON, CA	81.55	$41.50	Chart
2010-09-14	South Baymouth, ON, CA	117.09	$36.64	Chart
2010-09-13	Espanola, ON, CA	158.04	$30.84	Chart
2010-09-12	Tunnel Lake, ON, CA	85.59	$4.38	Chart
2010-09-11	Wenebegon River, ON, CA	107.43	$53.75	Chart
2010-09-10	Chapleau, ON, CA	113.00	$32.00	Chart
2010-09-09	Whitefish Lake, ON, CA	99.76	$33.49	Chart
2010-09-08	Obatanga Provincial Park, ON, CA	120.39	$24.50	Chart
2010-09-07	Marathon, ON, CA	79.00	$44.00	Chart
2010-09-06	Terrace Bay, ON, CA	108.25	$37.00	Chart
2010-09-05	Nipigon, ON, CA	112.00	$6.00	Chart
2010-09-04	Thunder Bay, ON, CA	0.00	$22.00
2010-09-03	Thunder Bay, ON, CA	2.89	$26.00	Chart
2010-09-02	Upsala, ON, CA	107.10	$10.77	Chart
2010-09-01	Ignace, ON, CA	114.27	$17.45	Chart
2010-08-31	Dryden, ON, CA	130.62	$61.52	Chart
2010-08-30	Kenora, ON, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-08-29	Kenora, ON, CA	102.73	$6.00	Chart
2010-08-28	Rennie, MB, CA	117.15	$42.00	Chart
2010-08-27	Winnipeg, MB, CA	17.29	$29.00	Chart
2010-08-26	Winnipeg, MB, CA	0.00	$40.00	Chart
2010-08-25	Winnipeg, MB, CA	30.39	$35.40	Chart
2010-08-24	Winnipeg, MB, CA	23.45	$22.00	Chart
2010-08-23	Winnipeg, MB, CA	95.51	$44.27	Chart
2010-08-22	Portage La Prairie, MB, CA	136.10	$5.77	Chart
2010-08-21	Minnedosa, MB, CA	112.39	$26.83	Chart
2010-08-20	Foxwarren, MB, CA	106.00	$23.00	Chart
2010-08-19	Dubuc, SK, CA	105.83	$32.75	Chart
2010-08-18	Lebret, SK, CA	0.00	$11.00
2010-08-17	Lebret, SK, CA	9.80	$7.12	Chart
2010-08-16	Fort Quappelle, SK, CA	91.21	$62.00	Chart
2010-08-15	Regina, SK, CA	0.00	$48.00
2010-08-14	Regina, SK, CA	146.00	$20.00	Chart
2010-08-13	Davidson, SK, CA	114.76	$40.40	Chart
2010-08-12	Saskatoon, SK, CA	9.52	$266.00	Chart
2010-08-11	Fiske, SK, CA	120.13	$23.80	Chart
2010-08-10	Alsask, SK, CA	98.40	$16.94	Chart
2010-08-09	Youngstown, AB, CA	88.04	$8.92	Chart
2010-08-08	Delia, AB, CA	67.50	$46.12	Chart
2010-08-07	Drumheller, AB, CA	100.84	$22.32	Chart
2010-08-06	Stettlin, AB, CA	130.29	$16.24	Chart
2010-08-05	Hay Lakes, AB, CA	71.85	$119.00	Chart
2010-08-04	Edmonton, AB, CA	10.00	$74.00
2010-08-03	Edmonton, AB, CA	0.00	$107.00
2010-08-02	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$262.00
2010-08-01	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-31	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$65.00
2010-07-30	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$62.00
2010-07-29	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-28	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-27	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$61.00
2010-07-26	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-25	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$34.00
2010-07-24	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-23	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	1.00	$0.00
2010-07-22	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	1.60	$32.00
2010-07-21	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-20	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	3.60	$65.00
2010-07-19	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-18	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$102.00
2010-07-17	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	0.00	$0.00
2010-07-16	Edmonton, AB, CA	39.85	$260.83	Chart
2010-07-15	Stony Creek, AB, CA	129.86	$22.86	Chart
2010-07-14	Carot Creek, AB, CA	211.47	$94.25	Chart
2010-07-13	Jasper, AB, CA	0.00	$0.00	Chart
2010-07-12	Jasper, AB, CA	106.37	$2.90	Chart
2010-07-11	Columbia Icefields, AB, CA	96.24	$9.00	Chart
2010-07-10	Bow Lake, AB, CA	100.37	$90.00	Chart
2010-07-09	Banff, AB, CA	5.91	$90.00	Chart
2010-07-08	Banff, AB, CA	2.10	$62.00	Chart
2010-07-07	Banff, AB, CA	104.78	$10.00	Chart
2010-07-06	Crooks Meadow, BC, CA	95.50	$79.29	Chart
2010-07-05	Fairmont, BC, CA	115.59	$63.13	Chart
2010-07-04	Cranbrook, BC, CA	75.71	$49.15	Chart
2010-07-03	Kragmont, BC, CA	0.00	$0.00	Chart
2010-07-02	Kragmont, BC, CA	0.00	$0.00	Chart
2010-07-01	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	13.27	$693.88	Chart
2010-06-30	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	8.15	$32.00	Chart
2010-06-29	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	36.81	$32.00	Chart
2010-06-28	Prelude Lake, NWT, CA	36.81	$16.00	Chart
2010-06-27	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	10.89	$20.00	Chart
2010-06-26	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	20.20	$29.00	Chart
2010-06-25	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	6.89	$4.75	Chart
2010-06-24	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	6.50	$60.00	Chart
2010-06-23	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	34.79	$4.00	Chart
2010-06-22	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	18.15	$11.00	Chart
2010-06-21	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	29.46	$82.25	Chart
2010-06-20	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	76.12	$21.00	Chart
2010-06-19	Yellowknife, NWT, CA	122.67	$34.25	Chart
2010-06-18	North Bend, NWT, CA	111.44	$0.00	Chart
2010-06-17	Chan Lake, NWT, CA	100.36	$38.00	Chart
2010-06-16	Fort Providence, NWT, CA	122.61	$20.00	Chart
2010-06-15	N61.25927/W122.46255, NWT, CA	123.99	$0.00	Chart
2010-06-14	N60 26.122/W123 21.198, NWT, CA	124.03	$0.00	Chart
2010-06-13	N59 35.826/W123 06.925, BC, CA	119.94	$38.00	Chart
2010-06-12	Fort Nelson, BC, CA	3.57	$152.77	Chart
2010-06-11	Fort Nelson, BC, CA	103.95	$120.88	Chart
2010-06-10	Tetsa River Regional Park, BC, CA	96.30	$42.25	Chart
2010-06-09	Toad River, BC, CA	114.06	$14.25	Chart
2010-06-08	Liard Hot Springs, BC, CA	114.84	$18.50	Chart
2010-06-07	N59 52.580/W127 24.341, BC, CA	103.33	$28.11	Chart
2010-06-06	Watson Lake, YT, CA	23.49	$85.29	Chart
2010-06-05	Watson Lake, YT, CA	124.72	$18.35	Chart
2010-06-04	Rancheria, YT, CA	103.43	$32.00	Chart
2010-06-03	Morely Creek, YT, CA	39.93	$11.85	Chart
2010-06-02	Teslin, YT, CA	73.99	$43.50	Chart
2010-06-01	Squanga Lake, YT, CA	92.66	$25.25	Chart
2010-05-31	Whitehorse, YT, CA	33.64	$9.68	Chart
2010-05-30	Whitehorse, YT, CA	13.64	$122.30	Chart
2010-05-29	Whitehorse, YT, CA	0.00	$56.28	Chart
2010-05-28	Vancouver, BC, CA	2.58	$93.50	Chart
2010-05-27	Cranbrook, BC, CA	10.86	$356.11	Chart
2010-05-26	Cranbrook, BC, CA	112.20	$19.65	Chart
2010-05-25	Creston, BC, CA	96.66	$20.00	Chart
2010-05-24	Riondell, BC, CA	32.65	$35.00	Chart
2010-05-23	Nelson, BC, CA	106.60	$68.55	Chart
2010-05-22	New Denver, BC, CA	105.55	$63.50	Chart
2010-05-21	Fauqier, BC, CA	122.93	$16.00	Chart
2010-05-20	Lavington, BC, CA	74.37	$22.00	Chart
2010-05-19	Westbank, BC, CA	68.98	$32.50	Chart
2010-05-18	n50.17.531/w119.23.599, BC, CA	120.90	$16.50	Chart
2010-05-17	Kamloops, BC, CA	85.39	$23.00	Chart
2010-05-16	Barrierre, BC, CA	131.73	$25.60	Chart
2010-05-15	Avola, BC, CA	132.10	$60.00	Chart
2010-05-14	Valemont, BC, CA	86.00	$20.00	Chart
2010-05-13	McBride, BC, CA	100.00	$41.00	Chart
2010-05-12	Dome Creek Rest Stop, BC, CA	134.90	$28.50	Chart
2010-05-11	Prince George, BC, CA	2.86	$12.75	Chart
2010-05-10	Prince George, BC, CA	145.17	$22.25	Chart
2010-05-09	Fort Fraser, BC, CA	169.54	$27.50	Chart
2010-05-08	Houston, BC, CA	94.74	$24.55	Chart
2010-05-07	Moricetown, BC, CA	103.80	$24.40	Chart
2010-05-06	Kitwanga, BC, CA	110.00	$21.50	Chart
2010-05-05	Terrace, BC, CA	63.38	$22.00	Chart
2010-05-04	Exchamisks River, BC, CA	95.33	$23.36	Chart
2010-05-03	Prince Rupert, BC, CA	20.38	$72.00	Chart
2010-05-02	Queen Charlotte, BC, CA	137.10	$6.75	Chart
2010-05-01	Agate Beach, BC, CA	90.32	$28.00	Chart
2010-04-30	Port Clements, BC, CA	95.88	$12.00	Chart
2010-04-29	Queen Charlotte, BC, CA	17.97	$101.30	Chart
2010-04-28	Ocean, BC, CA	11.88	$151.00	Chart
2010-04-27	Port Hardy, BC, CA	100.12	$15.05	Chart
2010-04-26	Woss, BC, CA	67.00	$18.25	Chart
2010-04-25	Sayward, BC, CA	95.76	$42.70	Chart
2010-04-24	Miracle Beach, BC, CA	100.26	$18.95	Chart
2010-04-23	Parksville, BC, CA	79.73	$51.00	Chart
2010-04-22	Chemanius, BC, CA	105.22	$15.22	Chart
2010-04-21	Port Renfrew, BC, CA	68.74	$10.25	Chart
2010-04-20	French Beach, BC, CA	73.85	$5.25	Chart
2010-04-19	Victoria, BC, CA	24.00	$26.00	Chart
2010-04-18	Victoria, BC, CA	0.00	$40.00	Chart
2010-04-17	Victoria, BC, CA	7.79	$11.00	Chart
2010-04-16	Victoria, BC, CA	11.52	$32.00	Chart
2010-04-15	Victoria, BC, CA	6.09	$63.00	Chart
2010-04-14	Victoria, BC, CA	10.03	$42.00	Chart
2010-04-13	Victoria, BC, CA	42.99	$44.50	Chart
2010-04-12	Galiano Island, BC, CA	51.80	$64.50	Chart
2010-04-11	Galiano Island, BC, CA	34.62	$18.90	Chart
2010-04-10	Mayne Island, BC, CA	40.62	$46.70	Chart
2010-04-09	Saturna Island, BC, CA	27.67	$28.00	Chart
2010-04-08	Saltspring Island, BC, CA	0.00	$0.00	Chart
2010-04-07	Saltspring Island, BC, CA	73.72	$30.00	Chart
2009-07-08	Ucluelet, BC, CA	25.00	$
2009-07-07	Port Alberni, BC, CA	45.00	$
2009-07-06	Coombs, BC, CA	102.00	$
2009-07-05	Saltery Bay, BC, CA	82.00	$
2009-07-04	Robert’s Creek, BC, CA	66.00	$
2009-05-25	Vancouver, BC, CA	61.70	$
2009-05-24	Abbotsford, BC, CA	55.70	$
2009-05-23	Surrey, BC, CA	35.30	$

None of the above

Dave — Mon, 02 May 2011 03:00:38 +0000

None of the above
Posted on: Monday, May 2nd, 2011 at 12:00am

This isn’t news for 30% of my readership – but today May 2nd, 2011 is the day that we as Canadian Citizens choosing who is the most capable party to lead our country. Unlike the United States directly below us, we have multiple parties with significant support which has made our past few governments result in a minority government causing endless bickering between parties, laws not being passed, and a whole series of deceptive activities by the party with the most votes. Parliament sessions have been stayed and delayed, questions left unanswered and new federal elections have been called more often than we’d care to have. In Fact, this is the 4th election since 2004 that we’ve had to deal with, being bothered at 6pm by politicians banging on our front doors attempting to convince us that they are truly here to serve us and the people and want to lead us into a new phase of our countries growth.

To be frank, I’ve had enough of the rigamarole, the corruption and the details of our government misleading the public that continue to seep out of the cracks, misappropriating funds, and threatening to overturn laws and regulations that inflict on basic human rights. Corporations seem to have more leverage than the individual and our liberties are starting to erode over time. When the election was announced due to our existing government found to be in Contempt of Parliament (this is a 1st in all our our 41 previous sitting of parliament) the first 2 weeks of the election campaigns all one would hear is constant mudslinging from one party about how the other party did something wrong in the past, but still didn’t come out with any ideas on how they were going to solve the problem on its own. Over the course of our 143 years of being unified as a country the politicians have backpedaled from their promises, misappropriated our limited resources, and recently altered our perception globally with military engagements morphing Canada into a 5 legged monster with wavy arms, with the people at the end of the finger tips.

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I’ve yet to vote in any election in my life, but have a sneaking suspicion this may be the last thing I do while in Canada, to head into a voting booth and choosing the final option ‘None of the Above’, because I don’t really hold any regard for any of the leaders to effectively manage our country, but also since I’m so out of touch with my regional riding way back in Vancouver, BC. If I was to make a decision and vote for a general leader of the country I’d say let’s have the New Democrat Party take the reigns for a bit and muck things up, they haven’t had a chance for a few years to really screw things up royally. Laws and rules benefiting the corporations take days to implement but decades to reverse - Let’s take the money out of it and stop doing things such as importing Idaho Potatoes into Prince Edward Island, milking cows in Lavington, BC before sending it by big truck for processing in another province only to have it return 15km away for sale 2-3 days later for starters – lets put more focus into our education system which seems to be getting bludgeoned more and more every year and make sure our youth are adequately prepared for their adult years by holding them back (read: failing them) if they aren’t catching onto the concepts and curriculum as opposed to pushing them through in order not to hurt their feelings and finally lets see some accountability by all of the politicians elected to be forced to be required to address our nation and answer questions that are posed to them, take action by providing us with timely updates as to their progress and finally, enforce real criminal punishment to these leaders who willfully do not serve the needs of their citizens.

Anyways, this isn’t a political blog, so I’m going to stay away from ranting too much more, but would like to present to you how I really feel about politics in this country:

This is the pool of the black star, in the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg. The room seems to be very special with lots of rumors that it contains many hidden meanings as it was built by the masons. If you look directly up you can see the top of the roof where the Golden Boy, a modified version of the Greek God of Hermes who is now carrying a bushel of wheat, covered in gold. It is also said that the room is harmonically tuned to the 5th transforming ones voice.. Photo taken by Jennifer Darkly.

This is the “Room of No Secrets” in the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly built in 1999. The room is specially designed so that even whispers are heard from across the room, which is the way it should be in the caucus room. Photo taken by Lindsey Reddin.

Here we are in the Province House located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. You can see where the speaker generally stands when they are announcing new laws, regulations and guidelines as they look out for the residents of this province. This is the oldest legislative assembly in all of Canada, over 300 years old.

Let’s keep this one a secret, here’s the Newfoundland Confederation Building in their capital, St John’s which was built in the early 1950′s as they were the last province to join our country. This is the caucus room, and somehow I managed to get a picture on top of their table. Photo taken by Sarah Crocker.

Our smallest province, Prince Edward Island has another Province House in their capital Charlottetown. It has the history of where Confederation was signed, and has a great set of old historical and blocked off areas for your viewing.

This is the spiral staircase in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly building in Fredericton built in 1882. The carpet is a wonderful velvety plush substance which allows for wonderful cushioning of your hands. Photo taken by Kelsey Wilson.

Before you can go really out of bounds, you need to head up the staircase here in the Ontario Legislative Assembly building which is in Toronto. There are intricate carvings including some political comics of the Queen of England, which was unveiled at the last minute depicting her smiling like a joker. She was known for not smiling, and if she had noticed the carving, she would have had the room demolished and rebuilt. Photo taken by tour guide.

Oh Quebec, we love your fierce devotion to the French Language, your insistence on retaining your culture and your wonderful way of living. The National Assemblage building is actually located in Quebec City is heavily guarded from top to bottom and contains impressive architecture.

One can’t deny the rich colours of this photo, unfortunately do to the fact that I ran into the area to get this photo snapped it did not come out as clearly as possible in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in Regina. I was promptly asked to leave the building. Photo taken by Steven Kowalsky.

Oh Canada, how I love thee, I wouldn’t change my citizenship for anything, but let’s just keep things clean k? Best of luck to all the candidates. The headstands were a fun part of visiting all of the Canadian Legislative Buildings, and were done in challenge not a jest. After all, Pierre Trudeau was well known for his headstands, don’t you remember?

I managed to do a headstand in every building in Canada, with the exception of Aberta, where I was removed from security and barred from re-entry. Lighten up Oilbertans. More pictures to appear on this entry as soon as I can find them!

Oh, and you know how Stephen Harper likes cats?

Little did you know, that there is a cat sanctuary on Parliament Hill where the government resides in Ottawa, Ontario. It is being run by volunteers, and receives no funding from the government whatsoever. Harumph.