After a few weeks of rest at home, it was time to make the trek out to planting. After making her own unsuspecting brother drop us off on the 401 on-ramp, Jenna and I spent three weeks together with our thumbs outstretched on the Trans-Canada. While waiting for rides, time was spent on the shoulder cartwheeling, philosophizing about the correlation of sketchy orange hats to number of rides, raving about bags of butter, and having the occasional dance party in the rain. After experiencing a Saskatchewan sex trade show, getting stuck in Wawa, and hiding out in the ditch from the cops, we finally made it to our destination of Prince George amidst impressions of pregnant cow faces. This is the longest amount of time I have spent with another person on the road, and we had a great time bonding on our cross Canada adventure. She is also one of the few people who really understand my lifestyle and the different things I experience on a daily basis. Cheers to a great trip and a great friend!
These photos were taken on a beautiful afternoon in the Rockies. We stopped for a picnic lunch in the tiny railroad town of Field before continuing on to Revelstoke for the night. (Photos: Jenna)
Big House [May]
One of the most inspiring stops along our route, these guys deserve special mention. Jenna and I felt immediately welcomed into the wonderful community of activists at the “big house”. Whether it was informal living room discussions or organized events, we were continually amazed by their dedication to politics, education and activism. This house exudes an aura of Cuban-inspired generosity, where no matter how little they have, they are always willing to share and take care of each other. With such a warm and open atmosphere, we really enjoyed our stay in Vancouver (not to mention the impromptu reggaeton dance fiestas!) If you want to check out some of their work, follow the links.
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (http://www.mawovancouver.org/) Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (http://www.vancubasolidarity.com/) Fire This Time (http://www.firethistime.net/)
A discussion series put on by MAWO. (Photo: Jenna) Enjoying Ali’s delicious Osh. (Photo: Jenna) Starting the car is a team effort at the house. (Photo: Jenna)
Planting [May – June]
This year marks another spring spent in the forests of B.C. planting trees amidst snot rockets and mom jokes. This is the time of year when I get to hang out with the boys and fully indulge my loud, obnoxious, dirt bag alter ego. This is the person I really want to be all year, but have to hold back on because of the rules of appropriate behavior in normal social contexts. Luckily, my crew seems to be able to tolerate me and they know how to dish it out as well. There were lots of great moments this year, including glow-in-the-dark midnight raves, wild bachelorette parties with Tanya Towers, the usual crew bonding over fine literature, and 5 a.m. missions to ensure the right of drunk, homeless people to packs of cigarettes. Big shout out to all the girls and boys of Venture North, some of the toughest, most down to earth, hardworking dirt bags around. This is one of the few jobs where your supervisor treats you to kegs of beer, and you get to cuss at your boss. Jealous yet?
Noble’s Crew: some of the burliest bad boys around and clearly not to be messed with. (Photo: Jordan) The wonderful wenches of planting… break the law! (Alliterate much?) (Photo: Jenna) Thumbs up to reforestation. (Photo: Jenna)
Yukon [July]
Having heard about the beauty and isolation of the north, I decided to finally take up an offer from some family friends to visit the Yukon for a few weeks. I road tripped from Fort Nelly to Whitehorse in a vintage Volkswagen Van with Keith, an Australian ship captain on his way to Kodiak. We had a great time together, taking time to enjoy the exceptionally beautiful scenery and wildlife and camping along the way. I was immediately impressed by the hip hop scene in Whitehorse, after witnessing some of the local freestyling and breakdancing talent. The Yukon has a great community of creative, outdoorsy people who love to travel. Throughout my stay I was privileged to meet a lot of really interesting people, and felt right at home with my nomadic ways. For the duration of the Dawson City Music Festival, I lived in a tree house. Unfortunately, I never had a chance to meet the local man who lives in a cave. Its definitely one of the only places in Canada where Members of Parliament still pick up hitchhikers in their beat up trucks. That in itself speaks volumes about the friendly, adventurous, and down to earth spirit of the people who live in the north.
On a side note, while waiting for a ride on the highway in Teslin, a UK couple with a young child passed by on bicycles. I would find out several months later from a stranger in Moab, Utah that we were in the same town once again, albeit being several thousand kilometers apart from where we last saw each other. Such is the power of synchronicity in my life these days…
Road tripping on the Alaska Highway complete with herds of bison, raging rivers, and a sign post forest. (Photos: Keith)
Quesnel [August]
August was spent reconnecting with a friend I met on the road last year. I made myself at home in the back of an old pickup truck in her yard for three weeks. We had a great time together picking fresh food from the garden, cooking delicious meals, having slumber parties outside, going on freelance missions, dreaming about the possibilities of the future, and most of all, engaging in raucous fits of laughter. This is the kind of laughter that leaves you rolling around in the grass, gasping for air yet still unable to stop. Luckily, she is able to share this joy with others through her online radio show. As a laughter yoga instructor, she gives workshops allowing groups of people to engage in laughter for the health of it. Feel free to check out her online show at (www.blogtalkradio.com/misslafalot), and join in yourself! We were left nearly in tears several times over the course of the month we spent together. Thanks for all the good vibes Heather and Raffi!
Zi!
ReplyDeleteyou still out and about? ive landed in montreal for now with a handful of friends you met in dawson. how are you? where are you? when will WE travel together? you do remember that spaghetti dinner in halifax some time ago? that hitch hiker and his dog, lilly? and then again in dodge on the friday of music fest? your travels are glorious. you are wonderful. see you down that long white line some day, eh?
may the wind be at your back, friend.
neil doug gregg.