Back On the Road - Tofino or Bust

We left Salmon Arm for the coast Monday morning a little worse for wear. But thanks to some quick thinking on my part we picked up a couple of hitchhikers headed to Vancouver. It was a good decision because Lauren slept practically the whole day and if it hadn't been for Megan and Kyle I might not have made it to Hope, B.C. I wish I had a picture of them, but I was so out of it that I didn't even think of taking one.

Lauren did manage to get one of me eating tuna out of the can. Thanks for that Lo. Nice hair me.

Oh were havin another car party, in Blanche, our new ride. (Actually Blanche, the van belongs to Terry but who's keeping track.)

Lauren and I looking lovely in the tent. I am embarrassed to say that this was the only night we spent in the tent, for the rest of the week. Instead we stayed at the Petti Fairmont, otherwise known as Blanche. Yup, we slept in the van.

Lauren and I couldn't resist having our picture taken in the Hope sign. Notice how I am the burly man at the front guiding us downstream and Lauren is my woman doing all the work. By the way, Lauren and I have named the authoritative man inside of me.* His name is Tripp.

O yea

Vancouver we're almost there!

We made it to Vancouver, and proceeded to drive through the dodgiest part of town, felt a bit like home.

Some contemporary art in the park.

What a beautiful day for a stroll through the marina.

Vancouver really is a beautiful city, especially when it's sunny.

OMG the ocean.

Getting on the ferry to Nanaimo.

Serious car parties on the ferry.

Um perfection? Yup!

Opps, sorry about the flash there, it was very windy on the ferry.

Lauren has quit smoking, (pause for dramatic effect.) Yes you heard that right she has quit. I am so proud of her, but I also thought her opening the Nicoderm box was classic smoker behaviour. She really needed that patch.

On the island.

TOFINO!!! I think it might be heaven on earth.

o yea and you can surf...

You see this tree I am holding up, yea it's been around since the 17th century. That's what the sign says anyway. The sign also says that the town of Tofino has been fighting to save its oldest resident from becoming a hazard, and that is why they have built this amazing brace system. Pretty cool eh?

Fisherman delicious, o wait, I mean fish delicious.

It was a short visit, and then back on the road. Boy they really do a lot of road construction in B.C.

Which means they also do some pretty awesome car partying.

You can't tell from this picture but these guys were from Nova Scotia.

The most awesome seafood at the Clam Shack in Port Alberni. Amazing fish and chips.

waiting for the ferry to Horseshoe Bay

We spent the next night in Whistler, where I had nightmares about getting arrested for sleeping in our car and peeing in public. I guess Whistler just brings out the snob in me. From there we took HWY99 home, which was so beautiful.

Check out the train tunnel.

The Petti Faimont in action.

And we're home again!

* The authoritative man inside of me is an inside joke, that you are all going to be in on now. Earlier this summer Lauren, Ash and I had our Tarot cards read and the first card I flipped over was the Prince of Swords, who, I was informed, represented the authoritative man in my life. Well that was baffling since my father is about as mild mannered as they come and there aren't any real authorative men running my shit, so I was about to conclude that Tarot is bullshit, when my reader said perhaps the most powerful thing of life. "The Prince of Swords might also represent the authoritative man inside of you." Just like that so nonchalant. Well I nearly died, how on earth did he know about the authoritative man inside of me. Tarot might possibly be the most accurate personality guage ever. Anyway I've named him Tripp and if you have met me than you have probably met Tripp too.

Salmon Arm - Roots, Blues, and lost all my shit

Here's what I love about Canada...

Last weekend Lauren and I went with Darryl (D-Money) and his buddy Chase and Chase's lady Sabrina to the Roots and Blues festival in Salmon Arm, B.C. Not only did we see Serena Ryder, Bedouin Soundclash and SAM ROBERTS, but I lost every important piece of ID, plastic and electronic that I own. And all in different places at different times. I know, shit show. Anyway, there I was California ID-less, iphone-less and debit card-less. Sunday morning I was feeling pretty low about it, but, by the grace of Canada, by Sunday afternoon I had gotten not one, not two but all three of those valuable possessions back! Can you believe that? How awesome are Canadians? I mean I have lost my drivers licence so many times, and every time I have gotten it back. And believe me it is not easy to return my California drivers licence to me, it takes multiple steps. So thank you festival going Canadians for being so awesome and taking the time to turn in all my crap.
Anyway, I digress, here are our shots from the festival. You may be wondering why none of them are of the actual festival, and while that may seem like a logical question all it implies is that you haven't been to a weekend-long festival in a while, if ever.

We depart from Chinook, about two hours later than we had hoped but you know how these things go.

D-Money took the ride as an opportunity to catch up on some much needed sleep. And Lauren and I used that time as an opportunity to play girly pop music.

Check out the anchor, it's in some town I can't remember. But I do remember thinking it was ironic given we weren't anywhere near a large body of water.

Friday night, that's the night I lost my ID, if you're keeping track.

Sabrina's chair had the sneaky pouch. Very useful for sneaking your own drinks in to places, not that we would ever do that.

Bro-mance

I guess Lauren isn't a fan of the early morning candid photo shoot.

O yea, Friday night when Serena Ryder went on, Lauren and I ran down to the front of the stage and promptly fell right on our asses in ankle deep mud. Very Woodstock, oh yea it was the anniversary of Woodstock so we meant to do that. Only problem for me was that was my only pair of pants, o well. Fuck pants!

The view from our tent.

Some sibling affection.

o another shot of me in a Porto-potty. Looking a bit drunk, wait did I take that myself?

We are hardcore

But not as hardcore as this dude. Rock on brother, and nice cane might I add.

I thought these three were the best dressed of the festival.

My phone's amazing return. Some points of interest here. A.) I have no idea how this picture happened, seems impossible to me to take a photo of your screen with a camera that is on the opposite side of the phone. B.) I don't think I had my phone at 1:46 am, could be wrong though. and C.) How was it plugged in????? All very mysterious. Looks like I am pretty popular though. Next stop TOFINO!!!!