This (most recent) journey began back in late April. A bumpy ride in a big white truck from San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala to Antigua, Guatemala. Then to Guatemala City. From there, a big winged beast transported me first to Houston then to Calgary. From there, a rental car delivered me to Cochrane. Then, 12 days later, the same car returned me to the airport where I caught a flight to Montreal and then Halifax. Another rental car brought me out to Hammond's Plains, where I've been hanging out for the past week.
Today is the final leg of the journey: I'm driving from Halifax to Pugwash, NS. And there I will remain for six months. Excepting, of course, running back to Halifax to pick up some stuff not available in Pugwash and, a week from now, returning the rental car to the Halifax airport... only to take a bus back to Oxford and then figure out how to get to Pugwash. At this point, I will not have a vehicle (not counting the bike I bought yesterday) for my stay along the shores of the Northumberland Strait.
And where is this Pugwash, you ask? Right here:
View Larger Map
More to come...
Showing posts with label nova scotia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nova scotia. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Roadspill Turns 8
Roadspill is 8. Wow. Time flies.
For the past eight years, interesting bits of my life (or censored versions of it) have been captured on this blog. The ups, the downs, the challenge of make a living on my own while travelling this big planet.
Lately I haven't been writing posts as often as I should (blame Facebook), but I will make an effort to do so in the coming months.
Roadspill (spilling my guts, tales from the road) is the place where I announce the big things happening in my not-so-normal life: Moving to Africa. Moving to Guatemala. Moving to Edmonton. Moving back to Guatemala. And today, another announcement:
It's not permanent -- but it is long term. Six months, in fact. May 4-Nov 8. After which, I'll likely move back to Guatemala for the winter.
This has always been my evil plan: Live on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala for the winter and on one of Canada's coasts for the summer/fall. I always thought a return to Canada would mean a return to the Pacific coast. But not this time. This time it's the East Coast.
As you may know, I've been trying to get back to Nova Scotia for a long time now -- 17 years -- but it's never really worked out.
Even though I know half of the media and PR professionals in the province, I've never been able to make things click.
I've often wondered why this was -- and I think it may have been fear. It's a pretty big chance to take -- just moving back to a place that you've been away from for so long -- hoping to find work and having enough cash to cover the expenses if things don't work out right away.
I've visited Nova Scotia many times over the years and each time that I returned on holiday, familiar feelings would well up inside. A love of place. A sense of belonging. It was as if my former home was calling me back, punctuated by many close friendships that hadn't faded.
I've been to a lot of places, but Nova Scotia -- Halifax, The Valley, Cape Split, Cape Breton -- all of it -- has always had a special pull. I enjoy it more than any other place on earth. If I ever had to put down roots and stay still, I know where that place would be.
I often think that this connection is odd. While I was born in Halifax (a Grace baby), Nova Scotia was never really the place I came from. I grew up in Manitoba and only lived in Nova Scotia for 6 years as an adult. But the connection is definitely there and it only seems to grow stronger as the years pass.
Friends in Pugwash, up on the Northumberland shore (warmest waters north of the Carolinas, don't ya know) have made this possible. While they head to the cottage for the summer, I get their house. The bonus: I'm centrally located between all the places I want to visit.
My flights are booked (April 22 to Calgary, May 4 to Halifax, Nov 8 to Guatemala City) and everything is in place. This is going to be a kick-arse summer.
So, on this, Roadspill's 8th birthday, here's a line from the classic tune Farewell To Nova Scotia to sum things up:
But I won't be for long.
Cheers, byes!
Where the travel bug first bit:
Halifax airport - Waiting to fly to Portugal - 1993
Lately I haven't been writing posts as often as I should (blame Facebook), but I will make an effort to do so in the coming months.
Roadspill (spilling my guts, tales from the road) is the place where I announce the big things happening in my not-so-normal life: Moving to Africa. Moving to Guatemala. Moving to Edmonton. Moving back to Guatemala. And today, another announcement:
I'm moving to Nova Scotia!
It's not permanent -- but it is long term. Six months, in fact. May 4-Nov 8. After which, I'll likely move back to Guatemala for the winter.
This has always been my evil plan: Live on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala for the winter and on one of Canada's coasts for the summer/fall. I always thought a return to Canada would mean a return to the Pacific coast. But not this time. This time it's the East Coast.
As you may know, I've been trying to get back to Nova Scotia for a long time now -- 17 years -- but it's never really worked out.
Even though I know half of the media and PR professionals in the province, I've never been able to make things click.
I've often wondered why this was -- and I think it may have been fear. It's a pretty big chance to take -- just moving back to a place that you've been away from for so long -- hoping to find work and having enough cash to cover the expenses if things don't work out right away.
I've visited Nova Scotia many times over the years and each time that I returned on holiday, familiar feelings would well up inside. A love of place. A sense of belonging. It was as if my former home was calling me back, punctuated by many close friendships that hadn't faded.
I've been to a lot of places, but Nova Scotia -- Halifax, The Valley, Cape Split, Cape Breton -- all of it -- has always had a special pull. I enjoy it more than any other place on earth. If I ever had to put down roots and stay still, I know where that place would be.
I often think that this connection is odd. While I was born in Halifax (a Grace baby), Nova Scotia was never really the place I came from. I grew up in Manitoba and only lived in Nova Scotia for 6 years as an adult. But the connection is definitely there and it only seems to grow stronger as the years pass.
Friends in Pugwash, up on the Northumberland shore (warmest waters north of the Carolinas, don't ya know) have made this possible. While they head to the cottage for the summer, I get their house. The bonus: I'm centrally located between all the places I want to visit.
My flights are booked (April 22 to Calgary, May 4 to Halifax, Nov 8 to Guatemala City) and everything is in place. This is going to be a kick-arse summer.
So, on this, Roadspill's 8th birthday, here's a line from the classic tune Farewell To Nova Scotia to sum things up:
"For it's early in the morning I am far, far away."
But I won't be for long.
Cheers, byes!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Abandoned Places
I'm not sure why I'm so fascinated by abandoned buildings and places. For some strange reason empty homes, deserted shops and former Soviet military complexes speak to me.
I've been lucky to visit a few of these. The creepiest was the area around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant -- abandoned for nearly 25 years, it now looks and feels like the set of a zombie movie.
Then there is the former Soviet Naval base at Paldiski, Estonia. And the abandoned satellite uplink station on Nova Scotia's South Shore.
Many of these places require a special (and expensive) trip. A case in point: Taiwan's UFO houses.
The houses are part of a never-completed hotel complex. Started in the 80s, it was abandoned after only a few months. Why? Some say ghosts, some say design.
Regardless, it still looks like a fascinating place to explore and photograph. Who's coming?
I've been lucky to visit a few of these. The creepiest was the area around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant -- abandoned for nearly 25 years, it now looks and feels like the set of a zombie movie.
Then there is the former Soviet Naval base at Paldiski, Estonia. And the abandoned satellite uplink station on Nova Scotia's South Shore.
Many of these places require a special (and expensive) trip. A case in point: Taiwan's UFO houses.
The houses are part of a never-completed hotel complex. Started in the 80s, it was abandoned after only a few months. Why? Some say ghosts, some say design.
Regardless, it still looks like a fascinating place to explore and photograph. Who's coming?
Friday, June 18, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Photo of the Day: May 30, 2010
May 30, 2010
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Back from Nova Scotia -- from a seaside BBQ to snow in Edmonton. Today's photo of the day shows the installation of a private dock at Blind Bay, NS. Just in time for summer!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Photo of the Day: May 29, 2010
May 29, 2010
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
No particular place to go. St. Margaret's Bay, NS.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Photo of the Day: May 27, 2010
May 27, 2010
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Is the universe telling me something? As seen at the Seaforth Community Hall in Seaforth, Nova Scotia.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Photo of the Day: May 14, 2010
May 14, 2010
Originally uploaded by borderfilms (Doug).
Shaded relief. Near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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