My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: East Sooke Park, Coastal Trail

View from the Coastal Trail, East Sooke Park

Location: East Sooke Road, East Sooke, BC, 1 hour drive west of Victoria (download a map on the Capitol Regional District, East Sooke Park webpage)

Hike duration: 5-8 hours

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For my two cents, of the trails to be found on Vancouver Island, the most spectacular day hike by far is the 10km Coastal Trail at East Sooke Park.

You can access the trail from numerous spots along East Sooke Road but if you want to hike the entire trail, you’ll need to park either at the east end at the Aylard Farm entrance off Becher Bay Road, or at the west end at the Pike Bay entrance at the west end of East Sooke Road. Whichever end you choose to start at you’ll need to make arrangements to drop a vehicle off at the far side (expect this to add about half an hour to your trip).

I’ve encountered various views on which side of the park is best to start at and why. Whether you start at Aylard Farm or Pike Bay, you’re in for amazing vistas complete with views of the Olympic Mountain Range across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, wildlife viewing, rest stops at quiet pocket beaches, and a long, challenging hike. Heaven on earth!

By the way, for sake of reference, my favourite multi-day hike is the North Coast/Cape Scott Trail, but that’s another story :)

Coastal Trail, East Sooke Park

Beach at the Aylard Farm entrance

The Olympic Mountain Range across the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Back Alley Jams finale show: Why I heart local campus radio

Versa performing on Back Alley Jams, Jan 23, 2011

This week marks the last official episode of Back Alley Jams which has been broadcasting from The University of Victoria’s campus radio station, CFUV 101.9 FM for little over a year. The show, created and hosted by Ali Lopez in support of the local music scene, features live performances from local bands and musicians every week and was affiliated with the University of Victoria New Music Club.
Since BAJ’s pilot broadcast in May of 2010, I’ve had the pleasure of participating as one of the show’s volunteer techs on a number of live concert broadcasts. To commemorate the show’s finale, below is a list of my favourite BAJ performances (this is in no way meant to be a list of best performances by the way, just a few that for one reason or another I found to be personally memorable).

• Live On-air Jam 1 (May-16-10)
  First one!
• Live On-air Jam 4 (Aug-8-10)
  At the end of this jam I was a little taken aback when I noticed the musicians introducing themselves to each other. Listening to this show again, it’s hard to believe many of these songs were made up on the spot. Magic!
• The Loose Cannons (Dec-5-10)
  I didn’t work the board on this one, but I tuned in. Glad I got to join in on the fun along with the rest of CFUV’s listeners.
• Quoia/ Mindil Beach Markets/ David Ross McDonald – Rifflandia Jam (Sep-12-10)
  One of the numerous shows where an impractically large number of musicians crammed onto CFUV’s little closet of a studio floor (which has a grand total of six inputs). Everyone made the best of the less than ideal conditions and the result was this great show.
• Vital Hands (Feb-6-11)
  Really enjoyed the performance put on by these friendly and talented musicians.

For a full listing of Back Alley Jams episodes visit the BAJ website.

Tune into Back Alley Jams' finale episode on CFUV's website at 5pm PT, Sunday, June 12, 2011.

Being a somewhat recent transplant to this area of the country, BAJ has offered me a unique way of getting acquainted with Vancouver Island’s fabulous local music scene. It’s also been a rewarding counterpart to the other hat I wear at UVic as a member of the university’s web team, allowing me to work closely with some of UVic’s amazing students. For these reasons and many more, I’m sad to see this amazing show come to and end. So long, BAJ. I miss you already!

Support your local campus radio station!!

Sasquatch 2011: Memorable moments

I trust you won’t be too surprised to hear that our recent Sasquatch weekend didn’t quite go as planned. By no fault of our own, of course. This year, we even went as far to draw up a concert wish list.

Of course we missed out on a few concerts, happened upon a few shows unexpectedly, and generally wandered off course repeatedly. And thank goodness we did! Otherwise we would have seriously missed out on those special, unexpected moments and revelations…

We're definitely doing this again next year moment

We reached the gates half way through Friday night’s lineup and finished setting up camp as that night's closing act, the Foo Fighters, were wrapping up their set on the main stage.  As a consolation prize we discovered there’s more to arriving late to this party than just being fashionable. In the interest of not letting the cat completely out of the bag on this well kept secret I’m going to (overflow camping!) stop here.

WTF moment
   
We left the City and Colour concert early hoping to catch an artist signing at the Easy Street Records booth and wandered into this…

In case you can’t figure out what’s happening in this picture, this is a sky full of toilet paper and Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears performing a rocking cover of Surfin’ Bird.

What music festivals are all about moment

I believe everyone who had the privilege of witnessing the Other Lives concert on the Yeti stage on Sunday afternoon will understand what I’m talking about when I say this concert was the epitome of what music concerts are all about.  Hands down my favourite musical performance of the entire festival.  The five piece band, each member playing multiple instruments, sometimes simultaneously, put on one of the tightest, richest sounding shows I’ve heard in a while.  I’d originally planned to leave a little early to try and claim a good spot at a following concert on another stage.  Once they started up though, I just couldn't tear myself away.
   
What was I thinking?! moment
   
Having caught Local Natives in a small club at SXSW earlier this year I had assumed I didn’t need to see them play again at Sasquatch.  As luck would have it, I ended up at their show anyway. Boy, was I wrong!
   
Double rainbow moment
   
A colleague of mine asked about The Flaming Lips show on Sunday night. My description went something like this: At the start of the show, the band members emerged one by one from the centre of a giant eye projected into the middle of the stage. Then Wayen Coyne appeared in a giant plastic ball and walked on the crowd.  The sky was filled with streamers, coloured confetti and giant balloons.  Then the Teletubbies appeared. Oh yes, it was AMAZING!

Giant eye

Wayne Coyne walks on the crowd in a giant plastic ball

Streamers, coloured confetti and giant balloons

Teletubbies

 See more pics in my Sasquatch Festival 2011 Flickr set.

My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: Cathedral Grove

Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island

Living Forest Trail, MacMillan Provincial Park

Location: Vancouver Island, Hwy 4 between Qualicum Beach and Port Alberni (map)

Parking along either side of Highway 4

Time: About two (leisurely) hours, could be shorter if you’re in a rush

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Cathedral Grove!  A pretty, lyrical name that I think suits this little gem of a spot very well. True, not everyone loves Cathedral Grove. To placate the naysayers and to keep everything on the level, I thought it might be apropos to start things off with a quick run down of what Cathedral Grove is not:

1. While hiking is listed as one of the activities to be enjoyed in MacMillan Provincial Park page on the BC Parks site, I believe it’s fair to suggest this is based on a somewhat broad interpretation of the concept of hiking. I expect most will see this as more of a ‘stretch your legs’ kind of experience and not a hiking destination.
   
2. A visit to Cathedral Grove isn’t a ‘get away from it all’ kind of experience, unless your interpretation of getting away from it all includes encountering people.  Possibly lots of people.  To be more precise, possibly lots of tourists. Depending on the time of year you visit the grove, the parking lot and trails will likely be moderately busy to crawling with people.  Furthermore, you should be aware that at most points along the trails winding their way through the grove you’ll be within eyeshot and/or earshot of Highway 4.
   
3. Cathedral Grove is not the only spot on Vancouver Island to view stands of tall Douglas Fir…though it is one of the most accessible spots. I believe taller samples of Douglas Fir can be found in the Nimpkish River Ecological Reserve

Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island

 Per aspera ad astra

Now, let’s cut the doddling and get down to the nitty-gritty with the stellar details! These trees are massive and they’re 800 years old!!! 800 years old!!! To us colonials, 800 years is virtually ancient.  Practically before the universe began. Nay, for intensive purposes, truly before the universe began! America had yet to be discovered, after all.

Beyond being massive and ancient, the trees of Cathedral Grove are beautiful. In my books beautiful enough to warrant the two hour plus trip up Island from Victoria to spend a couple of hours checking them out.  If you’re going to make the trip I’d recommend stopping at the Old Country Market in Coombs, BC (a.k.a ‘Goats on the Roof’) to pick up some snacks and/or taking a side trip a little ways off the highway to the best pub on the Island, The Crow and Gate Pub in Cedar, BC. Order the Cheddar Ploughman. YUM!

Sasquatch checklist: A few music festival packing tips for my friends

Crowd shot of the terrace at the Gorge during the National concert at Sasquatch 2010, a photo by theotherlondon on Flickr.

One week to go to the Sasquatch 2011 music festival and the excitement is almost too much to bear! While the big draw at Sasquatch is, of course, the stellar line-up, a close second is the opportunity to take it all in whilst surrounded by the majestic glory of the Columbia River Gorge. Gobsmacked I tell you!! As with all experiences in the great outdoors, one must be prepared.

If you're wondering what to bring, here's a few things I'd suggest:

• Sunscreen
• Warm clothes for chilly evenings
• A small backpack to bring your stuff to the festival grounds in
• A blanket to sit on...no chairs allowed
• A point and shoot camera...no pro cameras allowed
• Snacks
• Rain gear (just in case)
• Earplugs (if you’re planning on sleeping in the campground)
• Hand sanitizer and wipes

Sasquatch 2010 photos by theotherlondon on Flickr.

Things I learned at SXSWi 2011, part 4: Optimizing content for mobile

Things I’ve learned about making pies

My first strawberry rhubarb pie.

A while back my friend Andrea came up with the awesome idea to get a group of our friends together  on a regular basis so we could teach each other things.  It’s of course also an excuse for us to meet up to enjoy a few beverages and some conversation, but that’s not the main point (at least that’s our story and we’re sticking to it).

Anyway, Andrea started us off with a flower arranging party (if this perks your interest and you live in the Victoria, BC area, check out the workshops at the floral shop Andrea co-owns with her mom, Poppies Floral Art). Next, our friend Carole introduced us to the art of making wontons. Yum!!  We’ve also gotten together to decorate mirrors and dye Easter eggs.  For my contribution, I promised everyone I would organize an evening of group pie baking.

That was over a year ago.

An explanation in my defense

I most recently proposed holding my pie baking soirée in June, but I don’t think anyone, least of all me, is overly serious about the idea that this will actually happen. 2 months ago, I proposed a spring date that has since come and gone.  Yes, this is a recurring pattern. Now before you go passing judgment and blaming me for being a serial friend-disappointer, I want to point out, in my defense, that it has proved extremely difficult to coordinate a night that works for everyone during a week when I have time to make enough pastry dough for 10-15 pies. 10-15 pies!!

Anyway, I fear the time has come for me to rethink my skill-swap strategy.  That said, in the interest of not completely dropping the friendship ball where passing on pie making skills are concerned, I thought I’d offer this post:

How to make pies

Notice I’ve titled this section, ‘how to make pies’, not ‘how to make A pie’.  If you’ve resigned yourself to being a one-off pie baker, I can tell you right now, your pie will probably suck.  How can I be so certain? Well, one of the innate qualities of pie pastry is it’s ability to recognize undedicated novices. Seriously.

Choosing a pastry recipe

I don't believe it really matters which pastry recipe you choose. I’ve tried a few different ones with fairly consistent levels of satisfaction – in the beginning, every recipe I tried produced somewhat miserable results and, with those false starts behind me, every recipe I’ve since come across has been pretty all right. As of late, I most often use the recipe printed on the label of whichever brand of shortening I’ve purchased. The only additional recipe-related comment I would offer is that, despite any claims you might come across, ‘no-fail’ pastry is a pipedream.

Tips for making pies:

• Keep your shortening in the freezer and when you’re ready to use it, cut it into sugar-cube sized cubes before adding it to the flour.
  
  
• When cutting the shortening into the flour, don’t worry about making sure the ingredients are well and uniformly mixed. The less you fiddle with the mixture the better. As outlined in most recipes, stop when the mixture begins to resemble crumbs and small peas. I’ve learned that stopping a little sooner- when the mixture begins to resemble flour with crumbs and peas of various sizes - works too.
  
  
• Wrap your pastry dough in plastic wrap and allow it to rest in the fridge before rolling it out. I usually let dough rest a 1/2 day or overnight.
  
  
• Wrap your rolled out pastry dough around your rolling pin and unroll it into the pie pan.
  
  
• Unless the fruit you’re using is super tart, use 1/2 to 3/4 the amount of sugar the recipe calls for.
  
  
• For fruit pies, assemble the ingredients for your pie filing and let the mixture sit for a bit (at least 15 minutes), then drain off the juice before placing it in the crust.
  
  
• Add a little additional flour, corn starch or tapioca to your pie filling. I usually put in an extra teaspoon or two if the fruit seems very juicy.
  
  
• In my experience, the easiest kind of pie to make is apple.  If you’re trying to decide what type of filling to put in your first pie, go for apple.  Strawberry rhubarb is pretty easy too, but don’t forget to drain the juice before placing the fruit in the crust.

Links to pie filling recipes I've tried and liked:

• Apple pie 
• Apple berry pie
• Strawberry rhubarb
• Strawberry
• Peach
• Lemon meringue pie
• Chicken pot pie

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With thanks always to pie baking superstar, Corrie Huys and her son Baasje who gets the first slice of every pie I make.

Things I learned at SXSWi 2011, part 3: The game layer

I really enjoyed attending Josh Williams’, CEO of Gowalla, game-mechanics themed presentation, Chasing Virtual Good in the Real World at SXSWi 2010. That said, I was pleased when Seth Priebatsch’s, Chief Ninja of scvngr, SXSWi 2011 keynote, The Game Layer on Top of the World, was announced. I was keen to see how the inside conversation on game mechanics in the real world had progressed over the past year.

SXSWi 2010: Chasing Virtual Good in the Real World, Josh Williams:
Through discussing his experiences developing PackRat and Gowalla, and sharing some of his observations on user behaviour, Williams provided great insight into what compels people to participate in game type activities online. Williams went on to point out that game play mechanics were not just limited to location based services, but were becoming more and more prevalent in behaviour all over the web, and in the real world, too.

Some of the info Williams' included in his presentation at SXSWi 2010 is covered in this blog post by Andrew Mager on zdnet.com.

SXSWi 2011: The Game Layer on Top of the World, Seth Priebatsch:
I expect this is a bit of a moot point but, what a difference a year makes! Over the past year, it seems game mechanics have gone well beyond ‘creeping into real world behaviour’. In his keynote at SXSW 2011, Priebatsch proposed the game layer might provide solutions for 5 pretty large problems facing our world today, including issues with education systems and global warming.

Things I learned at SXSWi 2011, part 2: Rey Junco's Twitter research

Things I learned at SXSWi 2011, part 1: Updates from Google's Marissa Mayer

Food friends cook for friends when they’re feeling under the weather

Since moving from the east to the west coast a few years back, I’ve observed a few notable cultural differences. Attitudes toward eating, for one. As you might expect on the ‘left’ coast, food choices are generally lighter and healthier than those you’d find out east, though I’ve recently learned there are exceptions to this rule. When I fell ill a short while back, my amazing friends dropped by with dishes that it appears are tried and true standbys no matter what part of the country you live in. Soups and casseroles that make for great stick-to-your-ribs dinners and also reheat well for lunch the next day. As a little thank you, I promised to post links to a few of the recipes for others to try out and share. Call me sentimental (or perhaps, a sentimental little piglet) but in my books, nothing makes a person feel as loved as a gift of food.

Maclaren's Imperial Cheese and Macaroni (thanks, Carole)
This is like mac and cheese turned up to 11 especially if you’re a fan of Maclaren’s Imperial Cheese, the crumbly cheese spread in the red container with the black lid. If that’s not enough to perk your interest, perhaps the addition of mushrooms and bacon will up the drool factor. Where has this recipe been all my life (minus the years I was vegetarian, of course)? Maclaren's Imperial Cheese and Macaroni recipe.

Mom’s Shepherd’s Pie (thanks, Steve)
This dish made frequent appearances on the supper table of my childhood, so I was extra pleased to savour it’s yummy goodness while I was convalescing. A pretty standard recipe with all the usual suspects – potatoes, ground meat and a few additional ingredients for flavour. To me, shepherd’s pie is all about the condiments, so you really want to keep it simple. In addition to gravy, I like to apply a sprinkling of mint sauce AND Heinz 57. Mmmmm! Mom's Shepherd's Pie recipe.

Cocoa Chili (thanks, Cara)
I had no idea you could put cocoa in chili, but apparently a lot of people do and you know what? It makes for pretty fantastic tasting chili. Cocoa Chili recipe.

Chicken Noodle Soup (thanks, Baasje)
Of course. Chicken soup recipe.

Hot Cocoa
One of my favourite rainy day treats. You might be as surprised as I was to hear that hot cocoa is exceptionally good for you. Add a little chili and cinnamon to make it exceptionally delicious. Hot Cocoa recipe.

Great treats and boredom tools (thanks Andrea, Bob and Terra!)

My Top 5 Fave Digital Media/Social Media Researchers

Inspired by an experience I had at SXSW Interactive a few weeks back, below is a list of my top 5 fave digital media/social media researchers – scientists, artists and teachers whose ideas and theories have made the biggest impact on my professional values, changed my life, and oh yes, rocked my world.

Michael Wesch
Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology, Kansas State University

Why I think Michael Wesch is awesome: From my point of view, if digital media research has a pop superstar, it’s Michael Wesch. Wesch conducts cutting edge studies on the effects of new media and then, to leave no doubt he’s got his finger on the pulse, he produces viral content about his research. Having started out on my career path in the mid-nineties, my knowledge and understanding of the Internet was, at first, pretty much limited to pure mechanics. Wesch was one of the first researchers I encountered whose work made me consider what was happening beyond the tools and code.

Research interests: The effects of new media on society and culture

Big accomplishment(s): Several major awards for his work, including a Wired Magazine Rave Award; recently named an Emerging Explorer by National Geographic

I recommend: Michael Wesch’s Digital Ethnography YouTube Channel; don't miss Wesch’s 2007 classic, The Machine is Us/ing Us

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Tim Berners-Lee
Director, World Wide Web Consortium
Senior researcher at MIT's Computer Science and AI Lab

Why I think Tim Berners-Lee is awesome: I don’t think I’d be alone in suggesting the world would be a very different place if Tim Berners-Lee wasn’t one of the good guys. As the inventor of the web, Berners-Lee was/is uniquely positioned to influence the user experience. Where others might have focused on leveraging potential business opportunities, Berners-Lee has concentrated  his attention on championing the protection of human rights and spearheading initiatives related to accessibility, standardization, open access data, and net neutrality.

Research interests: Continued development of the web

Big accomplishment(s): Inventing the World Wide Web

I recommend:

• Follow recommendations laid out by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), founded and headed by Tim Berners-Lee
• Read Weaving the Web: The Original Design and Ultimate Destiny of the World Wide Web by its inventor, Tim Berners-Lee, ISBN 0-06-251587-X. Though many things have changed since this book was published in 1999, I’d still suggest it as a necessary read for everyone who works with or on the web (which, these days, could be just about everyone, I guess)

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Florian Thalhofer
Guest Professor and Lecturer University of Leipzig
Inventor of the Korsakow System (software for creating database narratives)

Why I think Florian Thalfhofer is awesome: I expect it might be easy to assume German artist/scientist/inventor Florian Thalhofer to be a token wild card entry on this list, but that isn't the case. I attended a workshop on Thalhofer’s database cinema software, the Korsakow System at a SIGGRAPH Conference in 2006. As you know, at the time the web was as bit of a different place, static content was king, web 2.0 was in pre-explosion mode, the popularity of personal blogs and podcasts were starting to gain steam, YouTube was just coming out of it’s infancy. In this environment, the Korsakow System was, and still is to some extent, a precursory exploration of non-linear, user driven narrative taken to the extreme. A tool designed to deliver all the necessary components of a narrative with minimal structure, where the user can navigate a story in whatever random way preferred. My introduction to the Korsakow System was the first time I considered how much and how little influence the content creator truly has on the audience - an audience with the ability to control their own experience…or so it would seem. As a little additional tit for tat, Thalhofer chose to name his system, invented way back when in 2000 by the way, after Korsakoff’s Syndrome, an affect of extreme alcoholism characterized by apathy, an inability to maintain focus, memory loss and invented memories. How’s that for visionary?

Research interests: Non-linear, interactive narration

Big accomplishment(s): Inventor of the Korsakow System; numerous international awards and exhibitions

I recommend: Download the open source Korsakow System software and give it a try

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Rey Junco
Associate Professor, Lock Haven University

Why I think Rey Junco is awesome: I’ve repeatedly experienced first hand the difficulties associated with introducing social media tools and services in a higher education environment. In fact, it’s been the bane of my existence for the past six or seven years. I am indebted to Junco whose research appeared as a light at the end of a long, dreary tunnel when I had the pleasure of attending his presentation at SXSW Interactive 2011. Junco uses quantitative methods to assess the effects of social media on student development, engagement, and success. His revealing studies are the first I’ve encountered to reliably bridge the gap between the rigid ideals and expectations of academia and the pragmatic, laissez-faire attitudes that permeate online culture. Not an easy feat.

Research interests: Social media in higher education

Big accomplishment(s): The best higher ed related presentation I’ve ever attended at a digital media conference; numerous awards and publications

I recommend:

• Check out Rey Junco’s blog, Social Media in Higher Education
• Follow @reyjunco
  

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Tim Blackmore
Professor, Faculty of Information and Media Studies

Why I think Tim Blackmore is awesome: For many current and former Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS) students at The University of Western Ontario, Tim Blackmore is that memorable professor who wakens enthusiasm and kindles interest enough to make all the years of struggle and hardship worthwhile. When I decided to return to school in 2004, I’d already worked in the web industry for almost a decade and I felt I had a pretty good grip on how things were put together on the web. It was a huge eye opener for me when I began the 3-year MIT program in FIMS. Blackmore’s introductory course, then titled MIT025, was the first course I took. The material we covered helped me gain a much broader perspective of the web and other digital technologies, a stronger understanding of why and how the web had evolved to it’s present state, and a better idea of where things were going.

Research interests: Ways that culture and cultural products revolve around each other

Big accomplishment(s): In my books, Blackmore is the most awesome professor ever; numerous awards and publications

I recommend: Blackmore’s introductory Media, Information and Technoculture course offered at The University of Western Ontario.

While composing this list, I realized it would probably be appropriate to put together a corporate counterpart ‘My Top 5 Fave Digital Media/Social Media Business Leaders’. Stay tuned…

Fast, Cheap and Out of Control: An Errol Morris Inspired Take on Hot Topics at SXSWi 2011

SXSWi Display Screen. Photo originally
posted in my SXSWi 2011 Flickr set.

South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of film, interactive and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas. In 2011, SXSW commemorated it’s 25th year and was held  March 11 to the 20th.

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Hot Topics at SXSWi 2011

There were three main ideas I took away from SXSWi this year. Themes which are coincidentally paralleled in the title of my favourite Errol Morris documentary, Fast, Cheap and Out of Control:

1. Fast: Publishing content to multiple platforms
   
   Many sessions this year focused on methods and best practices for designing for multiple platforms and devices. Of the talks I attended, the folks who seemed to have the best grip on the situation were the technology design team at NPR, their basic approach summed up in a handy acronym for their content publishing strategy: C.O.P.E., Create Once Publish Everywhere
   
   
2. Cheap: The benefits of giving it away for free
   
   From Julie Cohen's polished and info packed presentation, Radical Openness: Growing TED by Giving it Away to Blake Mycoskie’s keynote address to the many discussions regarding new models of education, it seemed everyone was up for promoting 'free' as a worthy business strategy this year.
   
   
3. Out of Control (kind of): Curating content
   
   A fair portion of the sessions at SXSWi 2011 focused on the ins and outs of curating online content. Notable sessions I attended included:
   

• NYT reporters, Brian Stelter and Jennifer Preston's core conversation on social media and the Middle East
• Margo Bloomstein's presentation, Creation, Curation, and the Ethics of Content Strategy
• Social Ranking: Finding Interesting User-Generated Content

I’d be remiss not to mention what appeared to be this year’s catch phrase du jour, ‘The Game Layer’, huge in the spotlight of hot topics at SXSWi this year and subject of Seth Priebatsch's March 12th keynote address . That said, I can’t realistically list it as one of my take away highlights as I work in an industry where we’ll probably guffaw over this one until the 11th hour is upon us.

As a surface summary, I'll also offer that my second year at SXSW Interactive was way less overwhelming, and subsequently a bit more illuminating, than my deer-in-the-headlights initiation last year. I should point out that I’m still every bit as worn out - any energy I saved through planning and foresight was quickly folded into a ramped up social schedule centered around reconnecting with people I’d met last year.  Well, I've got plenty of time to recover before SXSW2012. Can't wait!

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart performed a set so smokin' hot at Sapient Nitro's Mix at Six, SXSWi 2011, one of the stage monitors caught fire during the finale. Photo originally posted in my SXSWi 2011 Flickr set.

My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: McKenzie Bight, Mount Work Regional Park

McKenzie Bight, Mount Work Regional Park
Originally uploaded by theotherlondon

Location: Mount Work Regional Park. Trail head for the McKenzie Bight trail can be accessed near the Mount Work parking lot

Distance: About 3km

Time: 1 - 1.5 hour(s)

Parking: Parking lot/street parking Mount Work Provincial Park

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If you've only got time for a quick outing close to the city, I'd say this is an excellent choice. All the usual suspects are here, gorgeous dense green vegetation, a breathtaking seaside vista (a bit on the brief side), bubbling brooks, pretty waterfalls plunging over cliffs steps from the trail, a grind of a climb (mercifully on the brief side), etc., etc. It's also a great walk to enjoy with a group of friends as most sections of the trail are fairly wide.

The trip is actually comprised of two trails - the McKenzie Bight Trail and the Cascades Trail. And, as you may now be suspecting, old friend, the Cascades Trail is the reason I've included this spot as one of my favourite places on Vancouver Island. Not just because of 'the cascades', which are beautiful, of course! We are such sentimental creatures...




Yann Tiersen-live aux eurock rue des cascades, Eurockéennes de Belfort, 2001

“There are hundreds and hundreds of dollars to be made in the Canadian music industry”: Making it count when purchasing music online

Brasstronaut at Market Square, Rifflandia 3
Originally uploaded by theotherlondon

I’d like to send this one out to the person who burst my bubble this week. You know who you are. We had a conversation during which you pointed out the Internet has broken the music industry and there’s no money to be made in it anymore for anyone. If I remember correctly, your main arguments were that iTunes and other au current music distribution platforms are a colossal disaster, at least terms of potential for generating any semblance of an income for artists – though not for facilitating the sale of iPods – and that musicians can’t make money from selling concert tickets or merchandise.

The gory details

Further investigation led me to the following articles (by the way, if you’re at all interested in the impact of digital technologies on the music industry the second article in particular should be an interesting read):

• The iTunes Effect and the Future of Publishing, Scott Berinato, The Harvard Business Review, January 12, 2010
• Three bits of bad news for the music business. And it's not improving, Charles Arthur, The Guardian, February 8, 2011

Pop

or rather, pfffffffffffffffffffft.

Yes, this is terrible news for musicians…and might I offer, a little deflating for someone who regularly lists ‘music' amoungst her largest monthly expenditures. Terrible news.

A case in point implicating yours truly

The comment I’ve quoted in the title of this post was made by a member of Canadian band, Brasstronaut at their performance at Rifflandia 2010. Though I’ve attended a couple of their concerts, regularly include their music in my Blip.fm stream, voted for their entries in online contests and have interacted with @Brasstronaut on Twitter, I admit, I haven’t purchased any of their music (yet). Before continuing I’d also like to point out that I’ve never illegally downloaded any of their music either. But that’s beside the point, isn’t it?

I can hear you tsk-tsking from here.

I do buy music. Quite a bit of it, I might add. In fact, all the albums on my top 10 of 2010 are albums that were recommended to me online that I eventually purchased…though yes, the total number of albums I purchased last year, amounts to just a fraction of the bands I listen to online.

Does it matter that I probably wouldn’t have heard of the majority of the bands I listen to had it not been for the Internet? Didn’t think so.

Support your favourite artists...for real

Anyway, all I can offer is this – music buyers, if you really want to support your favourite artists I’ve learned the best way to do this is to buy CDs directly from the artist or from CD Baby. MP3 downloads don’t really amount to squat in terms of revenue for the artist. For the purchaser, there are additional benefits to buying a CD you may or may not care about - read more in ZDNet’s geek tome Ed Bott's Microsoft Report, Who owns your digital downloads? (Hint: it's not you).

For a better understanding of what to do/avoid when purchasing music, check out this great graph on Information is Beautiful for a pretty, visual representation of how much money musicians get paid in the new digital marketplace.

One little tip I might offer to CD Baby, it would probably be good on you to up your marketing efforts for your download cards. Being a music lover, I regularly get iTunes gift certificates from friends and family, many of whom are conscious consumers who would probably choose you over iTunes if they understood the difference. Just sayin’.

Update, February 20, 2011 - Seems I forgot when I was writing this post that there are two sides to every coin. See article below. Thanks @dbarefoot.

• Infographic Does A Great Job Misrepresenting Opportunities Of The Digital Era, techdirt, April 14, 2010
  

My Favourite Places on Vancouver Island: Niagara Trestle, Goldstream Provincial Park

Niagara Trestle, Goldstream Provincial Park
Originally uploaded by theotherlondon

Location: Goldstream Provincial Park. Trail head for the Arbutus trail can be accessed from the Goldstream campground.

Distance: About 5km

Time: 2.5 hours with lots of time at the trestle for sight seeing and picture taking.

Parking: Day use parking adjacent to the campground and additional parking on Sooke Lake Road.

---

I feel so guilty! I do! Paired with the title above, I'm sure you can guess where this is going. You in the throws of winter, and me, marveling at the returning but forever new, tender growth that accompanies the first signs of spring. I'll at least spare you a plea for forgiveness, though I'm afraid I'm helpless to refrain from reporting that the snowdrops and tulips have begun to bloom.

But enough of that.

Our copy of 'Hiking Trails I, Victoria & Vicinity' (which I would encourage anyone living on or visiting Vancouver Island to pick up), rates Goldstream's Arbutus Loop Trail as 'easy' and the Gold Mine Ridge Trail as 'moderate'. As I am additionally apt to measure the difficulty of a trail by comparing it to the hellishness of the three days we spent hiking 46km of mud-slide chaos on the Juan de Fuca in April 2009, I will include that these trails are also dependably dry. The only-slightly-muddy-even-in-the-springtime route ascends and descends through shadowy, mossy stands of Douglas fir, fantastic in the spring fog. While there's a notable lack of viewpoint vistas (uncharacteristic for a ridge top hike in this part of the country) I must say it is, in my mind, one of the most scenic hikes on the south end of Vancouver Island.

To perk up the monotonous glory of the forest glades, points of interest appear at regularly spaced intervals along the journey. Not just one, but two springs, 'Hidden Spring' and 'Miner's Spring', are located close to the trail. Though I'd expect it's unlikely you'll need to replenish your water supply at all on a 5km hike, both sites are worth a stop to appreciate the pretty, little (and I do mean little) water falls. As if that's not enough, there's also an abandoned gold mine on the trail - also little, so keep your eyes peeled or you might miss it.

The money spot on this hike is the reason this is one of my favourite spots on Vancouver Island. The trestle! I'm not going to go on too much about it because you really must see it for yourself, and I'm also going to insist that you do your best to go on a foggy day. One glimpse between the railway ties into the mist shrouded 125m drop below and you'll see what I mean. Gobsmacked I tell you!

You could help me out,
You could slow me down,
You could show me things,
That otherwise I would just pass by.
- Breathe Owl Breathe, House of Gold from Magic Central (2010)

A few of my favourite albums in 2010

To begin, I’m hoping you can answer me this (oh, goddess of literary terminology): How does one refer to this decade? ‘The ‘10s’? Doesn’t quite roll off the tongue, does it?  Well, if this year was any indication of what’s in store for, um, the next ten years, I believe we’re in for a bit of a treat musically speaking, but enough dilly-dallying.

New albums in heavy rotation on my iPod in 2010

10. Leif Vollebekk, Inland
9.  Avi Buffalo, Avi Buffalo
8.  J. Tillman, Singing Ax
7.  Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
6.  Raised by Swans, No Ghostless Place
5.  Beach House, Teen Dream
4.  Fredrik, Trilogi
3.  Mimicking Birds, Mimicking Birds
2.  The National, High Violet
1.  Horse Feathers, Thistled Spring

The house concert experience or why I love the Internet

Okay, I'll admit, the title is a bit of a stretch, but being the good, old friends that we are, I hope you will bear with me as I recount my recent initiation with the house concert experience and coincidentally relate a little folderol in the cannon of my come-on-the-Internet-isn't-that-bad arguments.  I promise by the time this post wraps up, all the dots will have been connected...in a round about way at least, and isn't that just the way we like it?  But, I get ahead of myself.

To start, or rather, jump back, to the beginning, I went to my first house concert about a month ago and it was every bit as unforgettable as the initiated (myself, now included) claim. In case you're not familiar with the house concert experience,  I'll clarify before we go any further that the moniker is pretty much self explanatory - house concerts are musical performances that take place in someone's home.  On the bill that night was an Australian musician named David Ross Macdonald. You should check out his music if you get the chance (*well meaning and earnest promotional plug: you can download a free EP if you sign up for his mailing list on his website*), I know you're going to like it.  The concert took place in a lovely, old home in the Fernwood area of Victoria, which is the city's equivalent to our favourite bario, Wortley Village.

Now, where to start with the stellar details? Oh yes, they have yet to begin! You, being every bit the music lover that I am, can well imagine the joy of listening to music well played in an intimate setting. It's slightly akin to those times you and I would sit in your apartment passing your guitar back and forth while warbling to each other's musical stylings, only with music of a much higher calibre (at least where my input was concerned as you are, of course, a fantastic musician). Yes, it's like listening to a friend tell stories and give an amazing musical performance, except you've most likely never met the musician before and, as with my experience, may also be newly acquainted with the homeowner. But still and all, the illusion of familiarity is pretty darn convincing. I was hooked, and you know how hard it is for me to get carried away where music is concerned.

And this is where my little tarradiddle, as the case may prove to be, comes back around to my original suggestion. Being a newcomer to this city, there's no way I would have been drawn into an event like this had it not been for the Internet.  On a semi-related note,  I stumbled across an interesting article, The punter is the star on these nights out, in the Independant about  'immersion experiences'.  It would appear, at least from my back-water point of view, that the popularity of the grassroots participatory experience is on the rise.  I suppose we could extrapolate as to how these things might be advertised without the use of the Internet - printing press perhaps? 

If you'd like to learn more about house concerts by the way, I came across a great resource on a site produced by a musician named Bob Bossin. Though I've learned that the related logistics - ticket prices, split of the proceeds, concession arrangements, etc. - can vary based on the artist's agreement with the homeowner, the basic idea is that arrangements are kept pretty simple and most or all of the proceeds raised go to the musician, just as it should be.

Gobsmacked, I tell you!

The fantastic John Mann (Spirit of the West) 

house concert I attended just this past weekend.

The Other UVic LipDub Project

UVic lipdub, choreography practice
Originally uploaded by theotherlondon

In the eight plus years I've worked in higher ed I've come across a fair number of instances where I've been pleasantly taken aback at the lengths students will go to in the name of school spirit.  I'm not talking about the gewgaw of costumed athletics fans cheering in the stands at football games and the donning of extreme hair styles during orientation week, I'm referring to the undertaking of projects of such momentous and lofty scope as to make me wonder how the students involved a) didn't consider the improbability of success; b) came up with the idea in the first place; c) managed to find time to do their homework; and d) all of the above (sorry about that, I couldn't resist).

If such displays of school spirit are any indication of how much the students involved love the institution they attend, then going by what took place on filming day for the UVic lipdub project this past weekend, it's fair to say that I haven't come across any students who love their university as much as the students at UVic - and I'm not just saying that because I work there and I'm supposed to say stuff like that.  Come on, you know me...

The lipdub phenomenon and 'the other UVic'

The libdub phenomenon has been glee-ly weaving it's way around the Internet for a number of years.  The 'official' lipdub site reports that the first lipdub production was filmed at Hochschule Furtwangen University in Germany and lists charming slightly-lost-in-translation advice on how to produce your own lipdub video. A good number of higher ed institutions around the world have answered the site's call to 'Join it!' by developing and broadcasting lipdub videos to varying degrees of success.  In Canada, perhaps the most successful example is the L'Université du Québec à Montréal's 'I gotta feeling' video' that has currently received almost 7 million hits on YouTube.

In May of 2010, a lipdub video was produced by UVic, not the University of Victoria, in Victoria British Columbia, but the less-abbreviated Universitat de Vic in Spain. Reports on the web suggested the video had most people (including Perez Hilton, I kid you not) believing it had been produced at the Canadian UVic. Being the socially sensitive, humble, west coast institution it is, the general response at the University of Victoria was to an extent, one of slight moral confusion. The Spanish version received fairly positive accolades world wide - and rightly so - but while I think it's fair to say many members of the University of Victoria community appreciated the unintentional praise received by way of the success of the other UVic, the truth of the matter was, the video fell short of accurately reflecting the true spirit of the community and environment to be found at Canada's UVic. In short, some felt that our own UVic could do better.

The University of Victoria (UVic) lipdub project

The following exert is taken from the UVic lipdub news release posted on the official UVic lipdub website.  Visit the website to view information on the amazing accomplishments of the group of UVic students who organized the project.

When Shawn Slavin, a University of Victoria undergrad, saw UVIC Spain’s video, he decided that his UVic (“the real UVic”) should and could do bigger and better. Slavin’s project is shooting for a Guinness record by hopefully inspiring over 3,000 members of the community to sing, dance, and perform on UVic’s campus on Saturday, September 25. Slavin says, “I also hope this project unites the university community in a way I’ve never seen before. This is an opportunity to make a name for both UVic and the city of Victoria.” Read more.

It's 9 am on a Saturday, I'm tired, my head hurts and I'm learning choreography to a Michael Buble song.

Thus it came to be that I woke up at 6am on Saturday, September 25, 2010 to head down to campus for filming day, participating simply as an extra in the big dance number to be featured at the end of the video. As weekends usually go for me, it didn't start out as one of the best of morning experiences.  I posted the above status update to Facebook soon after I reported for registration to my assigned classroom.

Gladly, I soon realized that no attention to detail had been spared, including the provision of coffee and breakfast and the understanding that most participants would require additional instruction if they were to master the choreography developed for the video (I meant to practice more, honest I did). By the time our group, last name ending with the letter P, made our way over to the UVic fountain at 9am for the shooting to begin excitement was high and all seemed clear that we were going to go for it...big time!

Filming of the big finale wrapped up around noon and with it, my brief participation in the UVic lipdub project came to an end. I headed home with a new appreciation of the talent and earnest dedication to be found in UVic's student population. The experience was by far the most overt demonstration of school spirit I have ever witnessed, manifested in the core group of students who pulled it all together and the 900 or so UVic community members who followed their lead. Congrats to Shawn Slavin and team, and thank you for an amazing experience.

Can't wait to see the video! It's going to be awesome (way better than that other UVic lipdub)!

My UVic Lipdub Flickr Photoset

I love your music, but do I really care about your new t-shirt?: A letter from a fan to a musican I follow on Twitter

I recently had the opportunity to meet a musician I'm now following on Twitter.  I'm fascinated by the impact the Internet is having on the music industry and was very interested in hearing about the grassroots marketing techniques musicians are using these days. Our conversations made me think about how  I use the web as a music listener/purchaser, what I like and what I don't like and how I behave online.  With the purpose of it maybe being helpful I wrote a little piece about it.

How I use the Internet as a music listener/purchaser

Here’s a rundown of the music sites I use, why I use them and what I like about them. Though I know there’s a lot of additional sites and services out there, and I’ve tried out more than the ones I’ve listed, these are the ones I’ve continued to use.

twitter.com

Generally I don’t actively seek out musicians to follow on Twitter. The musicians I follow are mainly ones who have contacted or followed me first. If I see a new band or musician is following me on Twitter I’ll check out their feed and if their feed looks interesting I might check out their music on last.fm or myspace.  I like feeds that include reflections on tours (thoughts on countries visited and venues played in), info on upcoming projects, and some creative writing is nice. If I like the music, I’ll follow the musician, and I have followed up on tweets I’ve received to download music and purchase merchandise. That said, I think there’s a little luck involved with Twitter. It’s kind of touch and go as to whether I’ll actually see everything (or even anything) a band or musican posts. I heard a good tip when I attended SXSWi this year, which was to tweet important items multiple times (the specific suggestion was three times). The second and third tweets are to catch any followers who may have missed the message the first time around. 

myspace.com

I’m going to guess I’m not your typical MySpace user.  For one thing, I don’t participate in the myspace community.  I only use it to access music by musicians I’ve never heard of before, and last.fm is kind of taking over in this category. I most often use it to check out new bands, especially local bands, who are opening at concerts I’m going to.

last.fm

Again, I’m not a typical last.fm user as I don’t actively participate in the community, but I use last.fm a lot to check out new bands I’ve never heard of before and, to a small extent to check into bands I notice other last.fm users suggest.

facebook.com/iLike

I first hear about a fair number of concerts that I attend through iLike on Facebook.

facbook.com fan pages

I come across the majority of info I hear about about upcoming concerts, new releases, merchandise and special offers through Facebook’s fan pages. Most of the music and merchandise purchases I’ve made have started with a Facebook post. Of course, I don’t think I’d be too keen if all the info a band posted on FB had to do with ways I can spend money.  I like reading about projects, reflections on current events, checking out photos of concerts, and news items.

blip.fm

I use blip.fm a lot to learn about new music from other users who like the same bands I do. It’s where I get the majority of tips on new bands to check out - in fact, I’d estimate at least 75% of the new bands I heard about this year were suggested to me by blip.fm DJs.

CBC Radio 3  (radio3.cbc.ca)

I love the CBC Radio 3 site. If the other music sites I participated in offered a Canadian only area, that would probably suffice, but as it is, Radio 3 is the only source I’ve come across that provides in-depth info on what’s new and happening in the Canadian music scene.  As the majority of concerts I attend are in Canada, that’s important to me.

Band sites I use regularly

I can see how it’s necessary to have a site to provide resources for media and a store, but to be honest, there aren’t a lot of band sites out there that I’ve found have warranted more than a very occasional visit (once or twice a year).  All the information about concerts, new releases and special offers I’ve ever followed up on have come from the sites and services listed above.  That’s not to say I don’t think it’s important to post this information on a site, I just think there’s more exposure to be had from posting this information elsewhere.  There are two exceptions, I will frequently return to the two sites listed below.  Great Lake Swimmers because they update their site frequently (very frequently) with news and announcements (more than a monthly basis) and Billy Bragg because he’s an amazing man-of-the-people and I’m fascinated by what he’s doing with social media (heavy on the ‘social’ aspect’, with ‘media’ only an aside).

greatlakeswimmers.com
billybragg.co.uk

All the way east: Wot we does in Trinity, Newfoundland, Part 2

Buildings in Trinity, Newfoundland
Originally uploaded by theotherlondon

Coffee at the Mercantile

If you’re craving a coffee and some conversation Ian’s is the place to go. I would hazard that, on any given day, it’s safe to say every person in Trinity - locals, townies and people who ‘come from away’ alike - will stop by Ian’s at some point during the day. If the beverages, baked goods, sandwiches or cool coffee-culture inspired souvenirs aren’t enough to tempt you, the town’s only public access to the internet may seal the deal (I’ve also been told the library provides internet access, but with four visits to Trinity under my belt I have yet to see the library open).

Rising Tide Theatre

I like to take in at least one production put on by Rising Tide Theatre every time we visit Newfoundland. The company focuses on plays that are distinctly east coast and often by and about characters and people who have lived or are living in the area. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local history, culture and dialect. Some of the productions are held outdoors, including the company’s staple the, ‘Town Pageant’ that explains the history of Trinity (my guess is it won’t be your cup of tea, but there are plenty other offerings, and I think at least one or two that might perk your interest). There is a dinner theatre production offered each Saturday evening during the theatre season - also probably not your cup of tea (I’m guessing there won’t be much in the way of vegetarian options for diners, it being all about the seafood here), but I thought I’d mention it anyway.


Photo trekking around town

Trinity is arguably the most photogenic of the collection of small villages dotting the shores of Newfoundland’s Bonavista Peninsula. Just about every typical east coast image you can imagine can be found here in beautifully restored technicolor glory - with of course, a few weather worn examples preserved for the sake of authenticity. Brightly coloured clap-board homes, root-cellar doors peering out from grassy fields, freshly painted wooden fishing boats lined up in the harbour, an old lighthouse and fort on the other side of the bay, lines of crisp, clean laundry flapping in the wind. Get the picture? ;) It’s a photographer’s paradise I tell you! Oh, excuse me - it’s a photographer’s paradise, dat’s wot I says!


Jigging for cod

This summer we got to go cod jigging with 82 year old Boyd in the boat he built. It was made of wood and Boyd used a traditional hand line (I cheated a little and used a rod). We caught 10 cod between us which will be dried and salted to be consumed in the winter. How cool is that?

View my Newfoundland, Canada photo set on Flickr

All the way east: Wot we does in Trinity, Newfoundland, Part 1

Buildings in Trinity, Newfoundland
Originally uploaded by theotherlondon

Hiking up Gun Hill

For ‘people from away’ who are used to a regular exercise routine, the closest thing to a local gym in Trinity is a hike up Gun Hill. It’s a great way to work off all that hearty, though perhaps not ‘heart smart’, Newfoundland fare, pork scrunchions, fish and chips, fish and brewis, steamed pudding with brown sauce, and the town looks lovely from the summit. There are many interesting reminders of the town’s history to be discovered along the way. Not the least of which being the ‘guns’ - abandoned cannons left on the hillside after the war of 1812. Yes, I said the war of 1812. One of the town’s oldest cemeteries is located about half-way to the summit. Our friend, Eric’s, great-great-great-great-great grandfather - a Norwegian sailor who jumped ship off the shore of Trinity in the 1700’s, swam to shore and decided to stay - is buried there.

Beach combing

On a good day, within a few moment’s beach combing on any one of the town’s many beaches one can find a handful of clay pipe stems , pieces of pottery (one piece I found was date-stamped 1849!), black beach glass that I’ve been told is from seltzer bottles, mixed among more common beach finds like sun-bleached urchin shells and anemones.

Sea of Whales whale watching tour

Chris Prince owns and operates the Sea of Whales whale watching tour company based in Trinity, and his tours are fabulous. Why are they fabulous? Well, first off his boat rocks - it’s the most awesome zodiac I’ve ever seen. Secondly, along with the many species of whales, dolphins, puffins and eagles that can be viewed along the shores of Trinity Bay are some pretty impressive sea caves and waterfalls AND, if you go in the spring and early summer, you can view icebergs that have floated into the bay from the Arctic. Chris will even take you close enough to the icebergs to pick ‘popsicles’ out of the water so you can suck on the most pristine water on the planet. When there are icebergs to be seen, if you ask nicely, Chris will take you out in the early morning or at sunset when they glow an unreal turquoise blue in the slanted sunlight. Thirdly, Chris is super friendly and his wife packs great snacks and meals for Chris to share with his fellow sailors. The chicken salad sandwiches are particularly tasty and there are even vegetarian options.

Blueberry picking

I wouldn’t really say I’m a fan of blueberry picking, but I am a huge fan of Newfoundland steamed blueberry pudding. Here’s a recipe:

Blueberry pudding

Cream together three tablespoons of sugar and three tablespoons of butter. Add on beaten egg. Add one and a half cups of flour, a dash of salt and two teaspoons of baking powder. Mix with one half cup of milk. Fold in blueberries. Place in steamer and boil for one and half hours. Serve with brown sugar sauce. (Recipe courtesy of Trinity resident, Rosalind Cooleridge taken from her self-published memoir, ‘Sufficiently Blessed’.)


Lunch or dinner at the Dock Marina

The best place to eat in town is, in fact, one of the only places to eat in town - did I mention that Trinity has a year round population of 28? Don’t let the lack of competition fool you, the quality of the food here would make it a standout in a place a hundred thousand times larger (which would put it in the range of a medium-large size Canadian city). Try the fishcakes, made fresh every morning or Trinity Bay scallops, or the fish and chips…in fact, anything on the menu is pretty delicious.

Drinks at Rocky’s

All parties in town wind up at Rocky’s, as did a wedding reception we attended last year. When I remarked at one o’clock in the morning - after the reception had gone on for an epic ten hours - that I was glad last call was coming up as I was about ready to call it a night, one of the locals laughed hysterically. “You guys are so cute (and by ‘guys’, she was grouping me into the category of ‘people from away)! You think last call is at two? Last call is when everyone goes home!” The proprietor, Rocky, is everyone’s friend and has a dandy mustache. ‘Quite the crowd’ at Rocky’s can mean the place is packed to capacity or there are five people hanging out around the bar, it really doesn’t matter. Get the picture?

View my Newfoundland, Canada photo set on Flickr

All the way east: Trinity, Newfoundland

Buildings in Trinity, Newfoundland
Originally uploaded by theotherlondon

I arrived in Newfoundland via the red-eye from Victoria yesterday afternoon. You know, I’m a big fan of traveling at night. Overnight flights, train rides, bus trips, even driving through the night. I find night travel quiet and dreamy in all the best ways.

I’ve been looking forward to this trip for weeks, even months, even perhaps fourteen months, starting when we left at the end of our last visit. Trinity is one of those places you miss as soon as you leave, you look forward to returning and then within a few seconds of being back, it’s like you never left. It’s like everything you did in between when you last left and the moment you return suddenly ceased to exist.

We woke up this morning and ate breakfast and left the house with a loose plan to go to stop by the Mercantile to meet up with Baasje’s mother and have coffee, then maybe go for a hike up Gun Hill. Our plans soon changed unexpectedly when we happened to walk by Boyd and Rosalind’s at Pie Corner in time to see Boyd and Tony starting to pull away from the dock in the little wooden fishing boat that 82 year old Boyd built last year.

Drying cod in by the bay in Trinity Newfoundland

A few minutes later, we were in the boat with Boyd and Tony heading out to the narrows beyond the lighthouse to jig for cod. We caught ten fish, mostly small ones and a couple of big whoppers. We’ll probably have one for dinner tomorrow night and Boyd will salt the rest. When we ran into Rosalind upon our return she mentioned the small ones are very tasty salted and that they particularly enjoy them in the winter. After chatting with Rosalind about salt cod and the book she just published - a memoire of her experiences growing up in nearby Trouty called, ‘Sufficiently Blessed’ - we headed up to the house for some supper (which means lunch here). Then we lit a fire and I made some pastry dough and it started to rain. I expect this afternoon we’ll walk to the store at the edge of town to buy bread and cream then Karen and Eric will come by for dinner, after all their guests have checked in at the B&B.

Maybe we’ll go up Gun Hill tomorrow, or the next day. Well, all in due time, dat’s wot I says.

View my Newfoundland, Canada photo set on Flickr