Tobermory ... waiting for a boat

Quick update from the road. I'm doing well, I'm sunburnt, dirty, sore, and basically having an awesome time. Internets are few and far between so far, apologies for lack of updates. See facebook and the tour page for more photos.

Nothing too adventurous to tell about yet. A couple nights ago I had a nocturnal visitor around 4:30am at my camp site rooting about in my trailer (I was not practicing Brian Shean's recommended food caching techniques, for shame!). Being woken up in the great outdoors by creatures huffing and clawing in the darkness is a bit nerve wracking. In my mind it was obviously a bear, in reality it was a raccoon. I chased him off before he got to the good stuff but he took everything from my handlebar bag, wee punk!

Yesterday I got caught out on the road in a thunderstorm and without a tarp. I pulled off the road and hid under my tent fly (thanks again Wade!) then made camp in the rain on a disused logging road. For those who weren't sure, making camp in the rain is not much fun. Today I bought a tarp. For those who aren't sure, buy a tarp.

Taking the ferry to Manitoulin this afternoon and my laundry should be done at the coin wash across the street so I better get moving!

on the go

I've decided to try something a little different this summer, I'm going mobile, geek on wheels at your service so to speak. My last day in the cube farm is this Friday, after which my focus will be preparing to ride a bicycle to the Pacific. Specifically, I would like to cap the summer off with a photo of me at Mile 0 of the Trans-Canada highway in Victoria.

For those who are interested or overcome with concern that I may be eaten by wild beasts (hi Mom!) I will be posting updates, photos, stories, and anything else that I can as opportunity allows. I will also provide more info on how to keep in touch while I'm out and about but for the moment the facebook and email are best bets.

Among other things, a personal goal for this trip is to meet people, make friends, and try to make myself useful. If you happen to find yourself living somewhere along the way, or know of folks who are and have a summer project on in the works that could use a seasoned geek, a strong (ish!) back, or an extra pair of hands for a few days by all means get in touch or pass along my details and we'll work something out.

At the moment plans are still being formed but my intention is to be departing mid June. I have quite a bit to do before then so don't expect me to vanish overnight. I'll be around a while yet, drop a line if you wanna hang out before the rolling starts and we'll grab a beer.

step one

Free Spirit + Burley Nomad: Check!

More to come soon, for the time being this page should cover the basics of my plans for the near future. Watch this space for updates!

nearly now

It's been pretty quiet here lately, but not for a lack of writing. I've been spending some time trying my hand at short / flash speculative fiction on a seperate blog I created for just that purpose. It's mostly nerdy and mostly crime related and mostly just for fun. If that sounds like your sort of thing, by all means stop by.

so that happened

I recently discussed free weights with a friend who takes his fitness pretty seriously, and I mentioned to him that my apartment building has a modest gym that I hadn't really checked out. He suggested I stop by and take some pics of the equipment so he could judge its worthiness. I looked in on it with cameraphone in hand other day on the way to work, but it was in use so I let it go for a couple days.

Today my friend messaged me when I got home.

Chris 05:23:09 PM
You get them photos?

Rob 05:23:11 PM
Ah fuck.
Aight well I gotta hit the laundry room, I'll detour the gym on the way back.

Chris 05:23:54 PM
Ya, do that.

Rob 05:24:53 PM
But srsly if theres ppl in there I'm not standin around takin pics like a creeper.
I'll be the guy with the laundry detergent and the bleach gettin the fuck outta there.

15 minutes later ...

Rob 05:40:52 PM
So that went well.

I walked in and there were two hot chicks doing some kind of aerobic thing in front of a mirror that pointed at me and a chick on a bike facing the door.

They all stared at me in my work shirt and jeans holding a jug of laundry soap.

At which point I was realizing that I had gone down and forgotten my phone up here.

So they all got an eyefull of a tableau I'm calling: confused idiot with soap.

If I'd had a camera I'd have taken a picture of that, it would have been great I'm sure.

Chris 05:42:52 PM
That is some of the best performance art I've heard of.

Rob 05:43:00 PM
Hahah, maybe I missed my calling?

Chris 05:43:12
Never too late.