I stopped a bike theft today.
I was driving along Broadway when I saw a guy struggling with a bike lock...more so than one should be if the lock was giving you a problem. Yet no one seemed to be paying any attention. I've seen videos of this before - people stealing bikes in broad daylight and no one noticing/caring - I just never thought I'd witness it.
So I pulled into a gas station and walked back and asked him if it was his bike. He said it was his bike, that it had been stolen and that he was going to put a new lock on it. I then found myself in a difficult situation. How do I prove it's not his bike? He word against mine. It was a shitty bike and he even pointed it out..."Would I steal this shitty bike?" He finally called my bluff and told me I could call the cops and we could sort it out. So I called it right back. I said, "Sure. Ok. Brb." and went to get my cell phone from Walden.
Luckily the real owner of the bike returned just as I was walking back and confronted the guy also. So buddy skulked off across the street. I went up to him and reported what I had seen (he was on the phone with the 5-0).
The cops helped cut the new lock off the bike and the owner phoned and thanked me profusely.
If you see something like this happening - imagine it was your bike - please do something about it. Call the police. If they are truly the owner of the bike....they will gladly talk to the police about it and explain why they are cutting the lock off.
The thing I don't get. Why put the new lock on the bike? Why not just take it?
Wednesday 15 October 2014
Roadtrip Recap
I'm back.
After spending the night at a rest stop in Trinidad CA, I drove north along the 101. What should have been a lovely drive along the coast turned into a bit of a nightmare. The skies opened and let loose a biblical flood in the form of precipitation. If I were a automotive journalist, I'd describe the handling of a 98 Windstar as loose and wallowing. Driving up the coast in the dark of night during the torrential downpour took all my undivided attention and was quite exhausting. I had initially aimed for Lincoln City but made poor time due to the inclement conditions. I deemed it was safer to wait out the storm in Newport and determine whether I should head inland in the morning.
I did just that. The weather didn't look like it was lifting and I didn't want a repeat of the night before. Frankly, I wanted to get back to Vancouver...so I hit the I-5 and drove the 700 odd clicks home. At best, the weather was spotty and caused me to pull off the interstate a couple of times due to dangerous conditions (0/0 visibility). As much as I wanted to make time - it wasn't worth the risk of being involved in a giant pile up.*
So what did I learn?...
In retrospect the last week was an interesting experiment in the open ended road trip concept. It was the first time I had properly been on the road for a while so I was re-learning some vandwelling lessons but also some new ones.
On the planning front. I planned too little and too much at the same time. Initially, I had two potential loops. Vancouver - Reno - Boise - Vancouver or Vancouver - Eureka....then back some how. I ended up changing my a couple of times and did sort of a hybrid of the two. Here is the loop I completed. Point to point, it's around 2800 km...which is a fuck ton of driving for 7 days - even for the 10 I initially planned on.
So, in the future, I think no route should be planned. Just a direction and a time frame. South for 10 days. This leaves it flexible. Throughout the trip I had Reno and driving through Nevada on my mind - so despite enjoying Oregon - I pushed onwards when there wasn't really any need to.
The part I didn't plan enough of was WHAT I wanted to see and do. This could be done the night before. I would research the parks / sites of interest on the next leg of the journey (this would leave planning flexible and spontaneous). In addition I need to be prepared to go out of my way to check out the attractions. I wish I had checked out Smiths Rock State Park north of Bend - but it was north and I was heading south. Everyone has their own focal point for adventures. I'm particularly interested in the bioms that the states has (particularly those that differ from Canada). As the site can be quite vast and remote - I feel this sort of site seeing requires more research in advance than, say, exploring the downtown core of a city.
Staying away from big chains to eat is also tricky...especially in the States where chains reign supreme. They are safe and reliable and I am not an adventurous soul when it comes to food. Even with reviews online, it's hard to tell what places will be good and frankly - every time I've branched out in the States - I haven't been overly impressed. I ate at a pub in Newport and despite solid reviews, it would not have past muster in Victoria or Vancouver. It was ok...but I've been spoiled. I expect things like house made patties in a burger I'm paying $15 for. I guess that is the gamble one should be prepared to take.
American's love their highways. One feature I've overlooked up until living in a van is rest stops. I feel there are more of them south of the border. They allow for 8hr stays and have decent bathrooms (a lot of Canadian stop don't allow long stays, which is counter intuitive). I would rank them in the slot above Walmart parking spots. Safe and reliable. I enjoy that I'm in a position to rate Walmart parking lots and rest stops...
Gas was cheap. That was a nice change.
One thing about this trip that I found particularly hard, was the lack of social interaction. I could only chat with friends and family when online (don't have international texting). Being in the middle of nowhere and driving so much, I didn't interact much with the locals either. In the past, I generally had orienteering events and social reasons for my wanderings (visiting friends etc)...I'm not sure how to over come this, or if I should just embrace it.
* On a side note, American readers, if it's raining - PUT ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS (I seriously can't believe the US doesn't have day time running lights as they seem like a no brainer).
After spending the night at a rest stop in Trinidad CA, I drove north along the 101. What should have been a lovely drive along the coast turned into a bit of a nightmare. The skies opened and let loose a biblical flood in the form of precipitation. If I were a automotive journalist, I'd describe the handling of a 98 Windstar as loose and wallowing. Driving up the coast in the dark of night during the torrential downpour took all my undivided attention and was quite exhausting. I had initially aimed for Lincoln City but made poor time due to the inclement conditions. I deemed it was safer to wait out the storm in Newport and determine whether I should head inland in the morning.
I did just that. The weather didn't look like it was lifting and I didn't want a repeat of the night before. Frankly, I wanted to get back to Vancouver...so I hit the I-5 and drove the 700 odd clicks home. At best, the weather was spotty and caused me to pull off the interstate a couple of times due to dangerous conditions (0/0 visibility). As much as I wanted to make time - it wasn't worth the risk of being involved in a giant pile up.*
So what did I learn?...
In retrospect the last week was an interesting experiment in the open ended road trip concept. It was the first time I had properly been on the road for a while so I was re-learning some vandwelling lessons but also some new ones.
On the planning front. I planned too little and too much at the same time. Initially, I had two potential loops. Vancouver - Reno - Boise - Vancouver or Vancouver - Eureka....then back some how. I ended up changing my a couple of times and did sort of a hybrid of the two. Here is the loop I completed. Point to point, it's around 2800 km...which is a fuck ton of driving for 7 days - even for the 10 I initially planned on.
So, in the future, I think no route should be planned. Just a direction and a time frame. South for 10 days. This leaves it flexible. Throughout the trip I had Reno and driving through Nevada on my mind - so despite enjoying Oregon - I pushed onwards when there wasn't really any need to.
The part I didn't plan enough of was WHAT I wanted to see and do. This could be done the night before. I would research the parks / sites of interest on the next leg of the journey (this would leave planning flexible and spontaneous). In addition I need to be prepared to go out of my way to check out the attractions. I wish I had checked out Smiths Rock State Park north of Bend - but it was north and I was heading south. Everyone has their own focal point for adventures. I'm particularly interested in the bioms that the states has (particularly those that differ from Canada). As the site can be quite vast and remote - I feel this sort of site seeing requires more research in advance than, say, exploring the downtown core of a city.
Staying away from big chains to eat is also tricky...especially in the States where chains reign supreme. They are safe and reliable and I am not an adventurous soul when it comes to food. Even with reviews online, it's hard to tell what places will be good and frankly - every time I've branched out in the States - I haven't been overly impressed. I ate at a pub in Newport and despite solid reviews, it would not have past muster in Victoria or Vancouver. It was ok...but I've been spoiled. I expect things like house made patties in a burger I'm paying $15 for. I guess that is the gamble one should be prepared to take.
American's love their highways. One feature I've overlooked up until living in a van is rest stops. I feel there are more of them south of the border. They allow for 8hr stays and have decent bathrooms (a lot of Canadian stop don't allow long stays, which is counter intuitive). I would rank them in the slot above Walmart parking spots. Safe and reliable. I enjoy that I'm in a position to rate Walmart parking lots and rest stops...
Gas was cheap. That was a nice change.
One thing about this trip that I found particularly hard, was the lack of social interaction. I could only chat with friends and family when online (don't have international texting). Being in the middle of nowhere and driving so much, I didn't interact much with the locals either. In the past, I generally had orienteering events and social reasons for my wanderings (visiting friends etc)...I'm not sure how to over come this, or if I should just embrace it.
* On a side note, American readers, if it's raining - PUT ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS (I seriously can't believe the US doesn't have day time running lights as they seem like a no brainer).
Tuesday 14 October 2014
Sempervirens
Surprise, surprise - I'm at Starbucks - this time in Crescent City. I overheard the brainless barista beaking about how Canada hasn't done anything important (he was referring to the fact that we're testing the Ebola vaccine). I took that opportunity to get a refill and flash my maple leaf Starbucks card (as good as my passport). I didn't rebut his statement - I just let him serve me my coffee. The maple syrup in my veins has cooled down so I can get on with today's post...
Last night I popped down to a beach called "College Cove" - I was promised by the internet that it was clothing optional. Being a tid bit hippy and in need of a proper bath I figured it was a good spot for me. It was a stunning location - secluded and pretty empty (a few surfers and a group of young adults drinking). I approached the group and inquired about the clothing optional bit (I hadn't seen any signs). They said they didn't think it was but didn't care - and as they represented the majority - in I went!
It was a brief dip....just enough to rinse away the days of stink. I figured there are sharks in the area, and anyone who knows me - they are my kryptonite. I am convinced I am going to die by shark attack, so I didn't dally in the water (I felt they were probably there watching the seal-like surfers). After drying off, the group was suitably impressed and called me 'gangster' - which I can only assume is a colloquial compliment (or they knew exactly how many sharks were in the cove).
After cooking up some soup - I spent some time on some bluffs and at another beach taking photos. I then spent the night at the rest stop north of the town.
In the morning, I got up early and drove north along the 101. The redwood forests lay ahead and I wanted ample time to enjoy them. Enjoy them I did. I spent the morning wandering amongst them and driving the scenic route. Unfortunately - it started to rain which put a bit of a damper on things. Just a reminder that it IS October and what it'll be like in Vancouver.
Last night I popped down to a beach called "College Cove" - I was promised by the internet that it was clothing optional. Being a tid bit hippy and in need of a proper bath I figured it was a good spot for me. It was a stunning location - secluded and pretty empty (a few surfers and a group of young adults drinking). I approached the group and inquired about the clothing optional bit (I hadn't seen any signs). They said they didn't think it was but didn't care - and as they represented the majority - in I went!
It was a brief dip....just enough to rinse away the days of stink. I figured there are sharks in the area, and anyone who knows me - they are my kryptonite. I am convinced I am going to die by shark attack, so I didn't dally in the water (I felt they were probably there watching the seal-like surfers). After drying off, the group was suitably impressed and called me 'gangster' - which I can only assume is a colloquial compliment (or they knew exactly how many sharks were in the cove).
After cooking up some soup - I spent some time on some bluffs and at another beach taking photos. I then spent the night at the rest stop north of the town.
In the morning, I got up early and drove north along the 101. The redwood forests lay ahead and I wanted ample time to enjoy them. Enjoy them I did. I spent the morning wandering amongst them and driving the scenic route. Unfortunately - it started to rain which put a bit of a damper on things. Just a reminder that it IS October and what it'll be like in Vancouver.
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| College Cove |
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| Walden being his usual studly self. |
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| <3 |
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| My side of the mountain. |
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| Wandering amongst the giants |
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| Walden next to a redwood |
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| A mighty redwood |
Monday 13 October 2014
Lava Beds
I spent Sunday morning exploring the Lava Beds National Monument. I didn't see more than 3 people all morning - it was fantastic.
I think pictures along can tell the story:
I think pictures along can tell the story:
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| Left the highway. |
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| My spot for the night. |
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| Morning fog burning off. |
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| Crater |
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| Love the names. 60 natives fought hundreds of yankees - pretty amazing! |
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| Path to the top. |
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| Great view! |
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| Selfie at the ranger station. |
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| Where's Walden? |
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| Skull Cave. Used by the natives to store animals - named for the skeletons removed by the Conservation Corp. |
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| Looking back at the entrance. |
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| Descending into the depths. The ice had been barred off - a little disappointing but it was cool to be in the cave regardless. |
Coastal Air
When giving directions in Dutch 'rechts' means 'right' and 'rechtdoor' means 'straight'. I thought about how confusing this is as I turned right instead of left at an intersection just outside Alden California today. Left lead to Reno, Right to Redding. Yes - this means I've changed my plan once again.
Feeling like a mountaineer who's not going to summit - I made the command decision to head back to the coast to take the 101 for a couple of reasons:
So. after a long drive through some beautiful parks - I have relocated to the coast and am currently in Eureka Ca. The according to Wiki, entire city of Eureka is a state historical monument - so there is lots of old and interesting architecture here (I love it). That said, it does excite the armchair city planner in me; some parts of it needs a coat of paint - perhaps some residential buildings in the core and along the water front (empty parking lots at the moment) - it could be so amazing.
Feeling like a mountaineer who's not going to summit - I made the command decision to head back to the coast to take the 101 for a couple of reasons:
- Time. The main factor here - I want to be back in Vancouver on Wednesday or Thursday. The original plan was doable but would mean a lot more driving / less site seeing.
- I'm not feeling 100%.
So. after a long drive through some beautiful parks - I have relocated to the coast and am currently in Eureka Ca. The according to Wiki, entire city of Eureka is a state historical monument - so there is lots of old and interesting architecture here (I love it). That said, it does excite the armchair city planner in me; some parts of it needs a coat of paint - perhaps some residential buildings in the core and along the water front (empty parking lots at the moment) - it could be so amazing.
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| For a brief moment I though I had stumbled upon a pannenkoekenhuis in Klamath Falls. I think my Dutch fan will appreciate this. |
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| A diner in Alden taunting me. |
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| They do seem to be working at revitalizing the old town. |
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| A cool old theatre. |
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| I love bagels. I bought half a dozen for the road. |
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| The Great Waldini at a American diner. |
Saturday 11 October 2014
Mathematical!
Walden and I just rolled into the bustling metropolis of Klamath. The drive here was pretty uneventful, the weather 'meh' and a little lacking in the scenery department (flat pine forest). I need to start researching my routes _before_ embarking on them - I drove by Crater Lake which in retrospect I probably should've swung by.
Leaving Bend was hard but I was starting to get into a routine so it was time to move on. On the way out grabbed cash. It cost $5 to process (I'm unsure of what my bank will charge) - but now I can live a little in terms of small expenses without always having to charge the old plastic. VISA then locked my card - so when I filled up at the Town Pump - I couldn't pay and had to wait 30 minutes on hold to unlock it. Luckily the dude at the station was really nice and I was on my way south soon after.
I probably could've warned VISA of my intentions - but I did that before going to Europe and they stilled locked my card....so whatever. VISA if you are listening, make an easy and secure way to unlock the card (or the ability to have it unlocked for a certain period)...instead of waiting on the phone listening to horrible music causing a massive jam at a gas station.
Aaaanyways.
My first impression is that Klamath Falls once was a fairly important center - now not so much. Not to say it's not nice, just quiet and a little vacant feeling. I'm expecting more of this as I explore into Nevada (juxtaposed with Reno) - I think it's what I've been looking for - something different.
Google Maps LIED to me...sort of at least...it promised me a Starbucks in Klamath Falls but it turns out it is just a kiosk in a Safeway!
Leaving Bend was hard but I was starting to get into a routine so it was time to move on. On the way out grabbed cash. It cost $5 to process (I'm unsure of what my bank will charge) - but now I can live a little in terms of small expenses without always having to charge the old plastic. VISA then locked my card - so when I filled up at the Town Pump - I couldn't pay and had to wait 30 minutes on hold to unlock it. Luckily the dude at the station was really nice and I was on my way south soon after.
I probably could've warned VISA of my intentions - but I did that before going to Europe and they stilled locked my card....so whatever. VISA if you are listening, make an easy and secure way to unlock the card (or the ability to have it unlocked for a certain period)...instead of waiting on the phone listening to horrible music causing a massive jam at a gas station.
Aaaanyways.
My first impression is that Klamath Falls once was a fairly important center - now not so much. Not to say it's not nice, just quiet and a little vacant feeling. I'm expecting more of this as I explore into Nevada (juxtaposed with Reno) - I think it's what I've been looking for - something different.
Google Maps LIED to me...sort of at least...it promised me a Starbucks in Klamath Falls but it turns out it is just a kiosk in a Safeway!
On a Bender
Bend is really pleasant!
So far I have been pretty impressed with Oregon - gives me hope for the States (generally the media paints a pretty bleak picture). Maybe it's all the beer and cycling here.
I could see myself enjoying living here.
Alas - I'm going to head further south today...I hope to be back some day.
So far I have been pretty impressed with Oregon - gives me hope for the States (generally the media paints a pretty bleak picture). Maybe it's all the beer and cycling here.
I could see myself enjoying living here.
Alas - I'm going to head further south today...I hope to be back some day.
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| DT bordering the river |
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| Bend has a beautiful river side park. |
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| I think fall is my favorite season. |
Friday 10 October 2014
US Food Plan.
I did a big food shop at Walmart last night. I decided instead of eating eat/buying daily while I'm in the states, I will reduce my number of purchases by doing a larger shop of non perishables.
I did my best to get the 'healthier' options...easier said than done in a Walmart.
For the curious - below is a list of what I ended up with:
(I know they are the best options but I had to balance taste with the options available)
I did my best to get the 'healthier' options...easier said than done in a Walmart.
For the curious - below is a list of what I ended up with:
- Raisins
- Grape juice (most of the options were water/high fructose corn syrup maquearading as juice).
- Bread (I already had peanut butter - it's delicious but even the fresh bread at Walmart has a looong list of things in it)
- Soup (Chunk chicken noodle)
- Ravioli
- Instant Macaroni (I know, I know - I was curious how this would turn out made on a stove).
- Unsweetened apple sauce
- Pudding
- Oatmeal
- Ham
- Bolt house smoothie
(I know they are the best options but I had to balance taste with the options available)
Bending It
I've located myself. I'm in Bend Oregon.
As those familiar with US geography might have guess - I've altered my flight plan. Yesterday, after my freak out about not having a solid direction - I decided to relegate decision making to a coin flip. I was torn between the coast to California and heading inland to Nevada. Nevada won out.
While I'm feral, I feel I should be focusing on things I want to try/see. California is an easier sell than Nevada at later date. I skipped through Portland for the same reason - I am going there with my girl in a couple of weeks.
I also am quite happy with the outcome of the flip as it got me off the I-5. I took the 22/20 from Salem to Bend which winds through some beautiful country. I will avoid interstates from here on in. I didn't feel funneled and rushed (there is still room to slow down) and made sure to take some pit stops along the way (Check out Sisters if you are in the area). I finally made it to Bend and regretted not boondocking in the forest along the way (I ended up sleeping at Walmart). I need to let go of the feeling that I need to make ground. With that in mind - I'm going spend a rest day here.
As those familiar with US geography might have guess - I've altered my flight plan. Yesterday, after my freak out about not having a solid direction - I decided to relegate decision making to a coin flip. I was torn between the coast to California and heading inland to Nevada. Nevada won out.
While I'm feral, I feel I should be focusing on things I want to try/see. California is an easier sell than Nevada at later date. I skipped through Portland for the same reason - I am going there with my girl in a couple of weeks.
I also am quite happy with the outcome of the flip as it got me off the I-5. I took the 22/20 from Salem to Bend which winds through some beautiful country. I will avoid interstates from here on in. I didn't feel funneled and rushed (there is still room to slow down) and made sure to take some pit stops along the way (Check out Sisters if you are in the area). I finally made it to Bend and regretted not boondocking in the forest along the way (I ended up sleeping at Walmart). I need to let go of the feeling that I need to make ground. With that in mind - I'm going spend a rest day here.
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| Contractual MSR product placement (in my dreams). ;-) |
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| Aaaah. Open road. |
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| A dam. |
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| Stopped to refill my Nalgene. I need to even out my coffee to water ratio. |
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| Aaaaah. MUCH better than the I-5. |
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| Setting sun. |
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| Drove through a scorched forest as the sun set. Camera couldn't quite capture it. |
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| Sisters OR. A cool little town. Took a stop to walk around and explore. |
Thursday 9 October 2014
My Little Friend
It's been long established that I am a 12 year old trapped in a 31 year olds body. Despite trying to keep things pure and minimal while van-dwelling - I have added a drum fed nerf gun to my kit list (I acquired as payment for Walden's moving services). A drum fed nerf gun. Kids these days are so spoiled.
It's the first thing people notice whenever I show them Walden for obvious reasons.
A border guard would suck at his job if he didn't notice it as it is grossly out of place. For this reason, I wanted to leave it in Vancouver....but didn't.
So while crossing the border yesterday, I was cross examined about it. After going through the regular line of questioning - the guard was like 'You have a nerf gun?'. After answering the query with a satisfactory explanation, he confessed that he 'liked the way I rolled'...
I guess in a country where real assault weapons are legal - a nerf gun toting Canadian is rather comical.
It's the first thing people notice whenever I show them Walden for obvious reasons.
A border guard would suck at his job if he didn't notice it as it is grossly out of place. For this reason, I wanted to leave it in Vancouver....but didn't.
So while crossing the border yesterday, I was cross examined about it. After going through the regular line of questioning - the guard was like 'You have a nerf gun?'. After answering the query with a satisfactory explanation, he confessed that he 'liked the way I rolled'...
I guess in a country where real assault weapons are legal - a nerf gun toting Canadian is rather comical.
South Bound
I'm in Oregon somewhere. Salem?
The weather around Seattle was looking iffy so I cannon-balled down the I-5 as opposed to the original plan of moseying along the 101. I'm not sure that was the wisest idea.
Without a defined destination and a lack of local knowledge - I'm finding there is a funneling effect when on the highway. I'm reluctant to leave it because whenever I do - it inevitably ends with my circling a cluster of box stores and fast food chains. I need to buy a map.
So far, it's just been highways, exit signs and missed opportunities disappearing in the rear view. I need to relax.
I have been trying to determine the best method of acquiring USD currency at the best rate (while still regarding the opposite sex*). Paying for everything with VISA seems like it might be the most convenient but most costly? I need money**.
If it sounds like I'm questioning if this was a good idea - I am...I need a plan.
If anything. This is a good opportunity to be uncomfortable and examine why. I've been here before - I know that the discomfort I'm feeling is caused by my being ripped out of my routine. The reason I'm not keenly driving forward into unknown territory because, unlike the summer, I'm leaving something behind. Walden and I are no longer a self contained metal box of awesome on wheels. We are missing a piece - my copilot. Not trying to be sappy or anything but I need to come to grips with this before I can enjoy myself.
On the van-dwelling side of things, I'm re-learning lessons from the summer (or a least being reminded of them). Walden had got a little messy being a soccer mom city mobile. I spent this morning after waking up (spent it at a rest stop on the I-5) - reorganizing everything to where it was this summer. Everything in it's place. Anxiety: N - 1.
The hyper-loft sleeping bag seemed to perform much better than my down bag in damp conditions. I slept well.
* If you don't get that joke. Don't worry about it.
** I also made a pleasant discovery. Starbucks Cards, if loaded with CAD - convert at the current rate, without conversion fees - to USD. Quite handy.
The weather around Seattle was looking iffy so I cannon-balled down the I-5 as opposed to the original plan of moseying along the 101. I'm not sure that was the wisest idea.
Without a defined destination and a lack of local knowledge - I'm finding there is a funneling effect when on the highway. I'm reluctant to leave it because whenever I do - it inevitably ends with my circling a cluster of box stores and fast food chains. I need to buy a map.
So far, it's just been highways, exit signs and missed opportunities disappearing in the rear view. I need to relax.
I have been trying to determine the best method of acquiring USD currency at the best rate (while still regarding the opposite sex*). Paying for everything with VISA seems like it might be the most convenient but most costly? I need money**.
If it sounds like I'm questioning if this was a good idea - I am...I need a plan.
If anything. This is a good opportunity to be uncomfortable and examine why. I've been here before - I know that the discomfort I'm feeling is caused by my being ripped out of my routine. The reason I'm not keenly driving forward into unknown territory because, unlike the summer, I'm leaving something behind. Walden and I are no longer a self contained metal box of awesome on wheels. We are missing a piece - my copilot. Not trying to be sappy or anything but I need to come to grips with this before I can enjoy myself.
On the van-dwelling side of things, I'm re-learning lessons from the summer (or a least being reminded of them). Walden had got a little messy being a soccer mom city mobile. I spent this morning after waking up (spent it at a rest stop on the I-5) - reorganizing everything to where it was this summer. Everything in it's place. Anxiety: N - 1.
The hyper-loft sleeping bag seemed to perform much better than my down bag in damp conditions. I slept well.
 |
| I promised I'd take lots of photos. |
* If you don't get that joke. Don't worry about it.
** I also made a pleasant discovery. Starbucks Cards, if loaded with CAD - convert at the current rate, without conversion fees - to USD. Quite handy.
Wednesday 8 October 2014
Over the line.
I'm embarking on my trip down the coast today.
I have no destination and no plan. Stay tuned.
I have no destination and no plan. Stay tuned.
September Sit Rep
Time for another gas expense report (August 31th to September 30th)
Days: 30
Spent: $445.06
Dollars/Day: $14.8
Mileage: 3228k
Current odometer reading: 164230k
Remaining Volume: Just under half a tank.
Notes: I mainly stuck around Vancouver in September, the road trip to Cranbrook, a few day trips and a couple days in Squamish being the exception.
Days: 30
Spent: $445.06
Dollars/Day: $14.8
Mileage: 3228k
Current odometer reading: 164230k
Remaining Volume: Just under half a tank.
Notes: I mainly stuck around Vancouver in September, the road trip to Cranbrook, a few day trips and a couple days in Squamish being the exception.
Thursday 2 October 2014
Vandweller Con 2014
I just returned from visiting my folks on the Island. Up there, I picked up another sleeping bag and some provisions for winterizing Walden. I left him with a babysitter and walked on - which meant taking the bus home. It's been a while since I've been on mass transit - I've forgotten how cozy it gets sometimes...this time the ride back downtown turned out to be kind of fun:
The guy sitting to my right struck up a conversation. He commented on the Dutch phrase book I was pouring over and we start talking about traveling. Turns out he was just back from Asia, technically homeless and doing the couch surfing thing - so naturally we start talking about the pros and cons of living in a van.
We then learn that the woman sharing the bench with me is also living in a van and joins the conversation. Theeeeeennnnnn the guy standing in the aisle next to her leans in and says that he's living in a bus at the moment and that he's going down to Cali next week like me - great minds think alike. Finally, the woman standing chimes in that she lived in a bus and van with her husband for some time.
Within arms reach. I had 4 people who were past, present and potential future vandwellers - weird right?
The guy sitting to my right struck up a conversation. He commented on the Dutch phrase book I was pouring over and we start talking about traveling. Turns out he was just back from Asia, technically homeless and doing the couch surfing thing - so naturally we start talking about the pros and cons of living in a van.
We then learn that the woman sharing the bench with me is also living in a van and joins the conversation. Theeeeeennnnnn the guy standing in the aisle next to her leans in and says that he's living in a bus at the moment and that he's going down to Cali next week like me - great minds think alike. Finally, the woman standing chimes in that she lived in a bus and van with her husband for some time.
Within arms reach. I had 4 people who were past, present and potential future vandwellers - weird right?
Monday 22 September 2014
Back in the Saddle
Walden and I have hit the dusty trail once again for a small walkabout. We've wandered up to our old summer haunt of Squamish* BC in a bid to relive the glory of yore.
It's been a while - the last 20 days or so allocated to couple stuff in and around Vancouver. Spending time with my girl means curtailing my wanderings - but now that I've had a taste of freedom, I can't help but empathize with Rilke's panther when I'm inside too long.
I've lost my edge - grown soft with creature comforts, ice cream and a soft, warm body to embrace. Jokes aside, I'm trying hard not to lose the ground I made during the summer - but it's really difficult.
Things like:
So, out here, alone in a darkened Walmart parking lot...I can't help but feel relief that life is once again parred down - if temporarily. If I've learned anything, it is that normal life, is fantastic but intricate.
Things have changed since I last was out and about. The dog days of summer are long gone. It's wet - luckily I don't melt in the rain (I'm not THAT sweet). Sun sets by 7:10, which is far too early for bed, so I've spent the last couple of hours practicing my Dutch on Duolingo in the Walmart parking lot (Mijn meisje spreekt nederlands, dus ik leer het).
I expect for me to be out on my own more often as midterms approach. In fact - I plan on a run down the coast during her exam week in October.
*Side note: I swung by the Howe Sound Brewery and got my grubby paws on a bottle of beer called Megadestroyer - a licorice imperial stout (10%). If that isn't a home run, I don't know what is!
It's been a while - the last 20 days or so allocated to couple stuff in and around Vancouver. Spending time with my girl means curtailing my wanderings - but now that I've had a taste of freedom, I can't help but empathize with Rilke's panther when I'm inside too long.
I've lost my edge - grown soft with creature comforts, ice cream and a soft, warm body to embrace. Jokes aside, I'm trying hard not to lose the ground I made during the summer - but it's really difficult.
Things like:
- Waking early and fully utilizing the day,
- Minimizing time wasted on the lowest common denominator (Netflix, Reddit)
- Reducing my junk food intake.
So, out here, alone in a darkened Walmart parking lot...I can't help but feel relief that life is once again parred down - if temporarily. If I've learned anything, it is that normal life, is fantastic but intricate.
Things have changed since I last was out and about. The dog days of summer are long gone. It's wet - luckily I don't melt in the rain (I'm not THAT sweet). Sun sets by 7:10, which is far too early for bed, so I've spent the last couple of hours practicing my Dutch on Duolingo in the Walmart parking lot (Mijn meisje spreekt nederlands, dus ik leer het).
I expect for me to be out on my own more often as midterms approach. In fact - I plan on a run down the coast during her exam week in October.
*Side note: I swung by the Howe Sound Brewery and got my grubby paws on a bottle of beer called Megadestroyer - a licorice imperial stout (10%). If that isn't a home run, I don't know what is!
Tuesday 16 September 2014
Where in the World is Walden?
I'm back, baby.
Ever have that friend that disappeared the moment a girl entered his life? In my late teens I had a friend literally vanish after getting a girl pregnant - twelve years later - I still have no idea where he is. That example is on the extreme end of the spectrum, normally it's simply because their routine has shifted to center around said girl.
I've got a girl in my life once again. The ramifications of this on my vandwelling are large. It feels like a new chapter in Walden's and my saga has started - complete with new challenges and rewards.
The rewards are pretty obvious...I now have a co-pilot - someone to explore with.
How does one attract a girlfriend while being homeless? I once read about a guy who lived in a tree, who met and retained a girl (retention is key!) - so if he can do it, living out of a van should be relatively simplistic. Luckily for me, I skipped this step. We met in April (pre-Walden) while training for the Vancouver marathon. We parted ways for the summer and have now picked up where we left off. She wasn't always cool with the idea but reading this blog won her over.
I thought that getting approval to continue would be the difficult part...
So it's not a question of if I can continue to live in Walden but a question of how to balance it with a relationship. Ideally, she'd just hop in we'd just drive to wherever our hearts desired. Unfortunately, this is RL and she has school and a future career to think about...this means she's in Vancouver for the foreseeable future. Proximity plays a large role in relationships, so that means this is where I must be (for the majority of the time at least). No problem - I like Vancouver.
If you go on a hike or run - inevitably people's first question is how long it was and how long it took you - as if those are the most important factors. Perhaps this is because time vs distance is a metric easily conveyed - or perhaps it's because we are competitive on an innate level. Taking things slowly or stopping to enjoy the view/rest is often seen as 'cheating'. This attitude misses the point - life isn't a competition.
I'm no longer spending every night sleeping in Walden...deal with it. :-)
If I'm honest, it felt different - forced - the last couple of times I've stayed in Walden.
I am acutely conscious about becoming too 'at home' at her apartment - all the while - being unable to 'host' at mine. We've opened a discussion about this. How do we balance our time together and apart? A standard question but I feel my flexibility and homelessness pose some unique challenges.
In past relationships, I've found one home is usually preferred over the other - for whatever reason - however the inability to easily host at mine is a sticking point. What Walden does offer is mobility...
Juxtaposed to finding personal space, I now feel that she should be with me on my adventures - so it will feel weird going out on my own. Her school will get busy so I am planning a trip down the coast to keep me out of her hair.
What role does Walden now play?
Can I eat my cake and have it too?
Ever have that friend that disappeared the moment a girl entered his life? In my late teens I had a friend literally vanish after getting a girl pregnant - twelve years later - I still have no idea where he is. That example is on the extreme end of the spectrum, normally it's simply because their routine has shifted to center around said girl.
I've got a girl in my life once again. The ramifications of this on my vandwelling are large. It feels like a new chapter in Walden's and my saga has started - complete with new challenges and rewards.
The rewards are pretty obvious...I now have a co-pilot - someone to explore with.
How does one attract a girlfriend while being homeless? I once read about a guy who lived in a tree, who met and retained a girl (retention is key!) - so if he can do it, living out of a van should be relatively simplistic. Luckily for me, I skipped this step. We met in April (pre-Walden) while training for the Vancouver marathon. We parted ways for the summer and have now picked up where we left off. She wasn't always cool with the idea but reading this blog won her over.
I thought that getting approval to continue would be the difficult part...
So it's not a question of if I can continue to live in Walden but a question of how to balance it with a relationship. Ideally, she'd just hop in we'd just drive to wherever our hearts desired. Unfortunately, this is RL and she has school and a future career to think about...this means she's in Vancouver for the foreseeable future. Proximity plays a large role in relationships, so that means this is where I must be (for the majority of the time at least). No problem - I like Vancouver.
If you go on a hike or run - inevitably people's first question is how long it was and how long it took you - as if those are the most important factors. Perhaps this is because time vs distance is a metric easily conveyed - or perhaps it's because we are competitive on an innate level. Taking things slowly or stopping to enjoy the view/rest is often seen as 'cheating'. This attitude misses the point - life isn't a competition.
I'm no longer spending every night sleeping in Walden...deal with it. :-)
If I'm honest, it felt different - forced - the last couple of times I've stayed in Walden.
I am acutely conscious about becoming too 'at home' at her apartment - all the while - being unable to 'host' at mine. We've opened a discussion about this. How do we balance our time together and apart? A standard question but I feel my flexibility and homelessness pose some unique challenges.
In past relationships, I've found one home is usually preferred over the other - for whatever reason - however the inability to easily host at mine is a sticking point. What Walden does offer is mobility...
Juxtaposed to finding personal space, I now feel that she should be with me on my adventures - so it will feel weird going out on my own. Her school will get busy so I am planning a trip down the coast to keep me out of her hair.
What role does Walden now play?
Can I eat my cake and have it too?
Thursday 4 September 2014
Finding His Voice.
I didn't name Walden to be cute for this blog - I name all my vehicles. It's kind of weird when you think about it...like, I haven't named my coffee mug...but then again, cars are easily personified. Still, people are 50/50 when it comes to how they approach bonding with steel and wheels.
I definitely get my love of vehicles from my Mom - my Dad is very pragmatic about them...point A to B. To boot, my mom is a borderline crazy cat lady (as per the DSM V Coles Notes) - I feel personifying cars is a natural extension of that. I grew up with Vov the Volvo, Vanna Green the Caravan, Chloe the Camry and Harry the Honda. The only car that didn't get a name was the 'gold Volvo' (always said with some bitterness) which imploded before it was Christened.
There are some loose naming conventions that one must follow. Alliteration is preferable or some sort of pun (Vanna Green) - though sometimes it's a bit of a stretch. Sangria the Seven was almost Ralph the Rex because she puked coolant everywhere on the first day I had her (a harbinger of what was to come)...but then the gender of the vehicle kiboshed that idea.
Gender and sex of a vehicle is the same. I haven't met a trans-gendered car yet...maybe they are out there, so I'll refer to it as sex. The sexing of a vehicle usually is straight forward and is based on design but sometimes they are androgynous. Walden theoretically could be female or male as he has some effeminite features. Sangria is definitely a girl, Vov, Evenrude and Erskine definitely boys.
Personality isn't always there. Chloe the Camry was as dull as her design and ride characteristics. I find that comes when you spend an inordinate amount of time with (and rely on) the vehicle. Evenrude was used as a delivery vehicle so I depended on him for my lively hood and spent a ton of time driving the snot out of him. He developed a fully blown personality, even more so than Sangria (who frankly is a bit of a bitch)...right down to a voice.
The voice usually appears when I've got passengers. I think it's hilarious...much to their chagrin.
While Evenrude (aka The Flea) was as you'd expect, spastic and grating - Walden's voice is more of a jaded Eeyore (of Winne the Pooh fame). He tends to claim to have traveled extensively and had crazy adventures - but usually they are just popular stories/movies with him as the protagonist. For example: "Did I ever tell you about the time I sailed up the congo and went too far up the river...?" or "Once, in the Andes and I had to rappel into a crevasse, even though I had no idea if there was a way out at the bottom..."
I'm embarking on a 10hr road trip with a passenger on Friday (you guessed it, more orienteering!) - hopefully she doesn't kill me...
I definitely get my love of vehicles from my Mom - my Dad is very pragmatic about them...point A to B. To boot, my mom is a borderline crazy cat lady (as per the DSM V Coles Notes) - I feel personifying cars is a natural extension of that. I grew up with Vov the Volvo, Vanna Green the Caravan, Chloe the Camry and Harry the Honda. The only car that didn't get a name was the 'gold Volvo' (always said with some bitterness) which imploded before it was Christened.
There are some loose naming conventions that one must follow. Alliteration is preferable or some sort of pun (Vanna Green) - though sometimes it's a bit of a stretch. Sangria the Seven was almost Ralph the Rex because she puked coolant everywhere on the first day I had her (a harbinger of what was to come)...but then the gender of the vehicle kiboshed that idea.
Gender and sex of a vehicle is the same. I haven't met a trans-gendered car yet...maybe they are out there, so I'll refer to it as sex. The sexing of a vehicle usually is straight forward and is based on design but sometimes they are androgynous. Walden theoretically could be female or male as he has some effeminite features. Sangria is definitely a girl, Vov, Evenrude and Erskine definitely boys.
Personality isn't always there. Chloe the Camry was as dull as her design and ride characteristics. I find that comes when you spend an inordinate amount of time with (and rely on) the vehicle. Evenrude was used as a delivery vehicle so I depended on him for my lively hood and spent a ton of time driving the snot out of him. He developed a fully blown personality, even more so than Sangria (who frankly is a bit of a bitch)...right down to a voice.
The voice usually appears when I've got passengers. I think it's hilarious...much to their chagrin.
While Evenrude (aka The Flea) was as you'd expect, spastic and grating - Walden's voice is more of a jaded Eeyore (of Winne the Pooh fame). He tends to claim to have traveled extensively and had crazy adventures - but usually they are just popular stories/movies with him as the protagonist. For example: "Did I ever tell you about the time I sailed up the congo and went too far up the river...?" or "Once, in the Andes and I had to rappel into a crevasse, even though I had no idea if there was a way out at the bottom..."
I'm embarking on a 10hr road trip with a passenger on Friday (you guessed it, more orienteering!) - hopefully she doesn't kill me...
 |
| Putting a face to a name - this is Evenrude |
Brace Yourself Winter is Coming
The days are noticeably shorter than they were when I started and are only going to get shorter. Seeing that I have been rising and resting with the sun - this affects my day to day - if I were to keep this up, soon I'd be hitting the sack at 6pm!
I haven't spent much time in Walden working but I feel that this will change. My laptop has good battery life but I do think that an inverter could come in handy. This would further free myself from my reliance on having to find a plug...
I haven't spent much time in Walden working but I feel that this will change. My laptop has good battery life but I do think that an inverter could come in handy. This would further free myself from my reliance on having to find a plug...
 |
| Man in van in van t-shirt... |
Knives and Need
Ever try to cut excess refined sugars out of your diet? You probably didn’t last long (if you did, good job…hippy). After a indeterminate time - cravings inevitably set in - and the next thing you know you’re elbows deep in a giant cinnamon bun, face covered in icing…
I’d like to say we stray back to the dark side because we are soft and weak willed…however, as a certified arm chair psychologist, I’d say it had something to do with dopamine We go back cause it feels so good and our brain talks tricks us into it with reasoning and trickery. More times than I’d like to admit I blackout and wake only to find myself in the line at McDonalds. This repeatedly happens despite knowing damn well that no good will come of it and disappointment is at the end of the rainbow.
I’ve long given up on giving up treats, sweets and horse meat - however I’ve discovered I get similar cravings when it comes to spending. I’m no raging consumerist but who doesn’t like buying something that you don’t really need but DO need (you know what I’m talking about). Dopamine is released here too. In a world filled with choice, the possibilities are endless and hunt is all that much more exciting. You’ll always need something…
Lately, I’ve been contemplating buying a knife. I examined why and I attributed it to a combination of things:
⁃ Waking up with a creepy feeling in North Vancouver* and the delusion of safety that a large knife brings.
⁃ Disappointment with my current knife. It folds and is small and difficult to clean
⁃ I want to buy something
The first two points make logical sense - though the first one is a pretty weak argument. The second point is weak in terms of buying a 7 inch Ka-Bar - really I just need a fixed blade equivalent to my current knife. The third eclipses the others and is really the main drive…my setup is pretty solid - possibly already overkill (in terms of outdoor equipment). I can’t say I really NEED anything. I want to need something. I think the whole ‘let’s buy’ something thing is exacerbated by the fact I have a lot of time to think about it and I’m starting to reap the financial benefits of living in a van.
A new knife would have very little impact on my life. Here’s the kicker - I’ve found myself agonizing over which model to get. At first I thought this was because knives aren’t cheap and there are lots of design options. I like this aspect of shopping, trying to determine which is the absolute best purchase - but have found it gets pretty ridiculous sometimes. Sometimes you need to shit or get off the pot.
An interesting article popped into my RSS feed today.
It was about Fredkin’s Paradox. It states that the closer two options are to each other, the less likely choosing one option over the other will have any impact - which means more time will be spent agonizing over minutiae (this would be when my agonizing gets ridiculous). In my case, the impact a new knife of any design would have on my life is pretty negligible - especially for what I really need it for, I probably could get away with a plastic butter knife.
I'm generally trying to keep my purchases pared down - so I figured if I truly need something - it will be glaringly clear (ie. the belt showing through my tread). With this in mind - one strategy I could use is to just keep fantasizing about it, so that I don’t move onto the next “need”.
*aka “The Man In a Van Getting Creeped Out” paradox
I’d like to say we stray back to the dark side because we are soft and weak willed…however, as a certified arm chair psychologist, I’d say it had something to do with dopamine We go back cause it feels so good and our brain talks tricks us into it with reasoning and trickery. More times than I’d like to admit I blackout and wake only to find myself in the line at McDonalds. This repeatedly happens despite knowing damn well that no good will come of it and disappointment is at the end of the rainbow.
I’ve long given up on giving up treats, sweets and horse meat - however I’ve discovered I get similar cravings when it comes to spending. I’m no raging consumerist but who doesn’t like buying something that you don’t really need but DO need (you know what I’m talking about). Dopamine is released here too. In a world filled with choice, the possibilities are endless and hunt is all that much more exciting. You’ll always need something…
Lately, I’ve been contemplating buying a knife. I examined why and I attributed it to a combination of things:
⁃ Waking up with a creepy feeling in North Vancouver* and the delusion of safety that a large knife brings.
⁃ Disappointment with my current knife. It folds and is small and difficult to clean
⁃ I want to buy something
The first two points make logical sense - though the first one is a pretty weak argument. The second point is weak in terms of buying a 7 inch Ka-Bar - really I just need a fixed blade equivalent to my current knife. The third eclipses the others and is really the main drive…my setup is pretty solid - possibly already overkill (in terms of outdoor equipment). I can’t say I really NEED anything. I want to need something. I think the whole ‘let’s buy’ something thing is exacerbated by the fact I have a lot of time to think about it and I’m starting to reap the financial benefits of living in a van.
A new knife would have very little impact on my life. Here’s the kicker - I’ve found myself agonizing over which model to get. At first I thought this was because knives aren’t cheap and there are lots of design options. I like this aspect of shopping, trying to determine which is the absolute best purchase - but have found it gets pretty ridiculous sometimes. Sometimes you need to shit or get off the pot.
An interesting article popped into my RSS feed today.
It was about Fredkin’s Paradox. It states that the closer two options are to each other, the less likely choosing one option over the other will have any impact - which means more time will be spent agonizing over minutiae (this would be when my agonizing gets ridiculous). In my case, the impact a new knife of any design would have on my life is pretty negligible - especially for what I really need it for, I probably could get away with a plastic butter knife.
I'm generally trying to keep my purchases pared down - so I figured if I truly need something - it will be glaringly clear (ie. the belt showing through my tread). With this in mind - one strategy I could use is to just keep fantasizing about it, so that I don’t move onto the next “need”.
*aka “The Man In a Van Getting Creeped Out” paradox
Sunday 31 August 2014
August Sit Rep
Time for another gas expense report (July 31th to August 31st)
Days: 31
Spent: $376.05
Dollars/Day: $12.13
Mileage: 2580k
Current odometer reading: 161002k
Remaining Volume: About half a tank.
Notes: Expenses were considerably lower this month - something I am happy about, but feel they will continue to drop (hopefully!). I did get an oil change, fixed some electrical issues and bought new tires, but as my brother pointed out - I would incur incidental expenses living in an apt, so I'm not going to include them in the grand total (just try to keep them as low as possible).
Ideally I would track food costs also. I'll see if I can work on that.
Days: 31
Spent: $376.05
Dollars/Day: $12.13
Mileage: 2580k
Current odometer reading: 161002k
Remaining Volume: About half a tank.
Notes: Expenses were considerably lower this month - something I am happy about, but feel they will continue to drop (hopefully!). I did get an oil change, fixed some electrical issues and bought new tires, but as my brother pointed out - I would incur incidental expenses living in an apt, so I'm not going to include them in the grand total (just try to keep them as low as possible).
Ideally I would track food costs also. I'll see if I can work on that.
Friday 29 August 2014
Souper Time
I took some photos to try to capture super time last night:
Stopping to Smell the Flowers
I like to people watch.
I saw a man today stop to smell some roses...while smoke from his cigarette slowly escaped his nose. He shook his head, as if disappointed. I'm not entirely certain what he was expecting...
It did remind me to examine my actions and make sure I'm not just going through the motions while missing the point.
I saw a man today stop to smell some roses...while smoke from his cigarette slowly escaped his nose. He shook his head, as if disappointed. I'm not entirely certain what he was expecting...
It did remind me to examine my actions and make sure I'm not just going through the motions while missing the point.
Thursday 28 August 2014
New Shoes
The next time you see Walden, be sure to complement him on his new shoes.
After debating the cheapest, yet safest, route to replace Walden's dangerously worn front tires - I found had multiple options of where to source cheap tires:
The wrecker option was too sketch, generally people don't replace their tires enough (should be every 5 years)...I did poke around a couple in the Valley - but nothing stood out as overly promising.
Craiglist had quite a few options...it would still be a bit of a coin toss. I'd still need to find someone to mount/balance the tires (cheapest I saw was $28 for the two - at Walmart).
I tried a few used tire dealers in Abbotsford. No one had my size in stock. My theory it's because most people running 205/70 R15, have them on utilitarian vehicles and use them until they pop. I suspect the price would be close to the Craigslist option but would come with some sort of warranty. They advertise prices starting at $10 a tire but I'm unsure if I would want to admit I was rolling on rubber that cheap.
Finally - Crap Tire or Walmart logically would be the cheapest of the chains. I went with Walmart as they were a little cheaper ($215 vs $176) and I like their policies regarding over-nighting in their parking lots. Tires are a safety item...so there is that to consider also.
The Weathermaxx tires themselves, despite being cheap and Chinese, should do the trick - after all - all tires need to meet Canadian safety specs..........right.........?
So far, they don't seem overly bad...not that I've be out on the skid-pad, rock crawling or drag racing with them (not that I intend to either and that's the point). We'll see how they handle wet conditions and how noisy they are when it's dry (I generally have the radio cranked anyways). Plus they come with a 100k warranty - hard not to justify new tires.
< For my records odo reading is ~161k >
After debating the cheapest, yet safest, route to replace Walden's dangerously worn front tires - I found had multiple options of where to source cheap tires:
- A wrecker: $30 per tire + mounting/balance fees
- Craigslist: $40 per tire + mounting/balance fees
- Used tire dealer: ?? (see below)
- Brand new tires from a box store like Crappy Tire/Walmart. (Crappy tire: $215 | Walmart: $176)
The wrecker option was too sketch, generally people don't replace their tires enough (should be every 5 years)...I did poke around a couple in the Valley - but nothing stood out as overly promising.
Craiglist had quite a few options...it would still be a bit of a coin toss. I'd still need to find someone to mount/balance the tires (cheapest I saw was $28 for the two - at Walmart).
I tried a few used tire dealers in Abbotsford. No one had my size in stock. My theory it's because most people running 205/70 R15, have them on utilitarian vehicles and use them until they pop. I suspect the price would be close to the Craigslist option but would come with some sort of warranty. They advertise prices starting at $10 a tire but I'm unsure if I would want to admit I was rolling on rubber that cheap.
Finally - Crap Tire or Walmart logically would be the cheapest of the chains. I went with Walmart as they were a little cheaper ($215 vs $176) and I like their policies regarding over-nighting in their parking lots. Tires are a safety item...so there is that to consider also.
The Weathermaxx tires themselves, despite being cheap and Chinese, should do the trick - after all - all tires need to meet Canadian safety specs..........right.........?
So far, they don't seem overly bad...not that I've be out on the skid-pad, rock crawling or drag racing with them (not that I intend to either and that's the point). We'll see how they handle wet conditions and how noisy they are when it's dry (I generally have the radio cranked anyways). Plus they come with a 100k warranty - hard not to justify new tires.
< For my records odo reading is ~161k >
Battle Stations
I drove my brother back to Yaletown last night after orienteering. After getting some Chipotle (if they were as common as Starbucks, I might have a problem) - I drove over to North Vancouver and parked for the night.
By the time I rolled into North Van, it was super late and past my bed time (~2130hr-2200hr). I picked the first quiet street I could find, which happened to be in a in an commercial/industrial area. I generally don’t choose areas like it because they creep my out at night.
I fall asleep immediately…however in the middle of the night….0300hr or close. I have a dream in which I’m trying to warn someone of some danger - “Wake up” was repeated until I woke into RL with a jolt.
I generally don’t wake myself via dream so I spent the next 10 minutes manning the .50 cal, worried that it was actually my subconscious trying to warn me of imminent danger...turns out it was a false alarm (I think).
I feel it's inevitable that someone will come knocking in the middle of the night...
By the time I rolled into North Van, it was super late and past my bed time (~2130hr-2200hr). I picked the first quiet street I could find, which happened to be in a in an commercial/industrial area. I generally don’t choose areas like it because they creep my out at night.
I fall asleep immediately…however in the middle of the night….0300hr or close. I have a dream in which I’m trying to warn someone of some danger - “Wake up” was repeated until I woke into RL with a jolt.
I generally don’t wake myself via dream so I spent the next 10 minutes manning the .50 cal, worried that it was actually my subconscious trying to warn me of imminent danger...turns out it was a false alarm (I think).
I feel it's inevitable that someone will come knocking in the middle of the night...
Wednesday 27 August 2014
Over the Line
I popped over the border while I was in Abbotsford for some cheaper gas and got to break in my brand new passport.
The border wait was about 10-15 minutes in each direction - so it wasn’t terrible…but I wouldn’t want to wait much longer than that.
Got grilled by the guard a bit;
“Where are you going”
“Going to get some gas”
<points to gas station>
“Do you have any luggage in the vehicle?”
“Luggage?”
“Yes..luggage”
“Uh. Yeah. I have a bunch of camping gear”
“Where you going? Why do you have camping gear?”
“Uh. I’m on a road trip in Canada - all I want is some cheap gas”
“Carry on.”
“Thanks!”
Frankly, I was tempted to get into my life story and how I was a transient with no fixed address.
“I am a homeless man in a van. I come in peace. I just wanted some sweet, sweet, cheap gas….”
“Step out of the van sir”
Any way I look at it, I don’t think it would have ended well. Probably with van and cavity search - though that would make for a more interesting post.
Anyways. I filled at 3.76 which is about 107…gas in the valley was about $1.34/L. So I should come out ahead, even with VISA fees and time wasted in the line.
The border wait was about 10-15 minutes in each direction - so it wasn’t terrible…but I wouldn’t want to wait much longer than that.
Got grilled by the guard a bit;
“Where are you going”
“Going to get some gas”
<points to gas station>
“Do you have any luggage in the vehicle?”
“Luggage?”
“Yes..luggage”
“Uh. Yeah. I have a bunch of camping gear”
“Where you going? Why do you have camping gear?”
“Uh. I’m on a road trip in Canada - all I want is some cheap gas”
“Carry on.”
“Thanks!”
Frankly, I was tempted to get into my life story and how I was a transient with no fixed address.
“I am a homeless man in a van. I come in peace. I just wanted some sweet, sweet, cheap gas….”
“Step out of the van sir”
Any way I look at it, I don’t think it would have ended well. Probably with van and cavity search - though that would make for a more interesting post.
Anyways. I filled at 3.76 which is about 107…gas in the valley was about $1.34/L. So I should come out ahead, even with VISA fees and time wasted in the line.
Balding Walden
Extending past the end of summer requires retooling for rainy conditions. Clothes will need to be swapped out for warmer ones, I’ll switch out my sleeping bag for my Hyperloft one (down doesn’t do well in damp conditions - plus it’s rated to -7ºC).
Most importantly, I need to prep Walden to tackle the elements. His lights have developed cataracts and need to be polished. The most pressing issue is that he needs new shoes - up front in particular, his front passenger tire is balding. Based on the wear, I suspect it’s scrubbing due to alignment issues. The steering doesn’t pull to one side but the tread is really worn on the outside of the tire.
I knew it was pretty low for a while, but seeing as I wasn’t sure if I’d be doing this into the winter - figured I’d go until I couldn’t. When Darren pointed it out as we worked on Walden…I agreed, it needed to be replaced (it’s down past the wear bars).
The cheapest new fronts I could find are around $215 for a pair mounted (courtesy of Crappy Tire)…so naturally I started to inquire at used tire dealers. No joy - so after an afternoon of putzing around Abby…I decided it probably could wait a little longer while I sourced some tires (I have a bad habit of agonizing over larger purchases).
I set course for Vancouver and hit the warp button.
Fast forward to me hanging out in a parking lot near Ikea killing some time. I decided to inspect the tire further to see just how much time I actually had.
Sticking my head into the well, I was immediately greeted with bare belt. Shiiiieeeet.
I noted earlier that the spare had plenty of tread and that despite it’s age is unknown - it would be better than the tire currently on there (I need to check the date of manufacture today).
Luckily changing tires is one of the few manly man skills I possess. My first day with Evenrude (my Firefly) - I had tread remove itself on the highway. In fact, my first reaction to seeing the belt this time around was “Aaahhh, that’s not THAT bad”. Evenrude was a loveable but derelict shit box and had old tires…He lost more tread off another tire later on the way to a date. I was late and performed what I felt was the fastest tire change in history.
It’s been a while but I still got it - I swapped the spare onto Walden in a Staples parking lot. It was a good opportunity to try my Joby Gorilla tripod (the magnetic/flexible kind). I’d recommend opting for the magnets - I’m not sure how often I’ll utilize them - but they are really handy when you do (sticks to Waldens fenders nicely).
Pictures of the operation:
Most importantly, I need to prep Walden to tackle the elements. His lights have developed cataracts and need to be polished. The most pressing issue is that he needs new shoes - up front in particular, his front passenger tire is balding. Based on the wear, I suspect it’s scrubbing due to alignment issues. The steering doesn’t pull to one side but the tread is really worn on the outside of the tire.
I knew it was pretty low for a while, but seeing as I wasn’t sure if I’d be doing this into the winter - figured I’d go until I couldn’t. When Darren pointed it out as we worked on Walden…I agreed, it needed to be replaced (it’s down past the wear bars).
The cheapest new fronts I could find are around $215 for a pair mounted (courtesy of Crappy Tire)…so naturally I started to inquire at used tire dealers. No joy - so after an afternoon of putzing around Abby…I decided it probably could wait a little longer while I sourced some tires (I have a bad habit of agonizing over larger purchases).
I set course for Vancouver and hit the warp button.
Fast forward to me hanging out in a parking lot near Ikea killing some time. I decided to inspect the tire further to see just how much time I actually had.
Sticking my head into the well, I was immediately greeted with bare belt. Shiiiieeeet.
I noted earlier that the spare had plenty of tread and that despite it’s age is unknown - it would be better than the tire currently on there (I need to check the date of manufacture today).
Luckily changing tires is one of the few manly man skills I possess. My first day with Evenrude (my Firefly) - I had tread remove itself on the highway. In fact, my first reaction to seeing the belt this time around was “Aaahhh, that’s not THAT bad”. Evenrude was a loveable but derelict shit box and had old tires…He lost more tread off another tire later on the way to a date. I was late and performed what I felt was the fastest tire change in history.
It’s been a while but I still got it - I swapped the spare onto Walden in a Staples parking lot. It was a good opportunity to try my Joby Gorilla tripod (the magnetic/flexible kind). I’d recommend opting for the magnets - I’m not sure how often I’ll utilize them - but they are really handy when you do (sticks to Waldens fenders nicely).
Pictures of the operation:
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