July 2010
4 posts
WatchNormal
Created in 24hrs for the Calgary 24hr Film Race 2010. http://filmracing.com
Team Dink Pajama Party
Theme: Obsessed Surprise Element: Looking out a Window
Winner of:
Best Film Audience Favourite Best Direction Best Female Actor Best Ensemble Cast Best Cinematography Best Writing Best Editing Best Set Design Best Makeup
Cast: Wil Knoll - Doctor Rachel Gertz - Saran Fetishist Travis...
1 tag
Great Fail, MT
This is the last written post of our trip. And thank you for making me aware that we’ve been home for almost a month now. Whatever.
It is written.
In a delirious bid to get back in time for my mommy’s graduation,* we swung through Big Sky Montana. Don’t laugh but I had to watch A River Runs Through It (filmed in Missoula) to try to capture that big open wilderness feeling...
My interview with Mike Blanchard on CHQR 770 AM...
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Rushmore. Leave Soon.
Eery shot of Mount Rushmore Lighting Up at Night
We swivelled like a dust vacuum through quite a few places during those last weeks of Walter. Stopped to see Chicago for an afternoon, Sioux Falls, Mount Rushmore, Bozeman, Billings, and Great Falls. Of these locations, I can only suck out the marrow of two: Mt. Rushmore and Great Falls. This isn’t because these were the most notorious, or...
June 2010
9 posts
1 tag
Warm-Up to Finale
You thought we were done? Sheesh, we go quiet for a week to ‘domesticate’ and suddenly people think we’re all done with adventure and the like. Absolutely not. And if you ever call it ‘domesticating’ again, we’ll beat you.
We’ve spent the last week and a half constructing some sort of semblance of sentient life in Calgary. Walter is still parked out...
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Indy Inspires: Calgary Awaits
Day 232
Writing this after three hours of driving today, three yesterday, six hours the day before, six before that, four a lifetime ago. The brain has a bit of tunnel vision. Apologies.
A little over a week ago, Torrey showed us Indianapolis in all its unfettered glory. He also inspired us to try to build a stronger creative community in Calgary. A generous thank you to our un-lemming leader!
...
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Four More Days
Day 230
Four days from home —15 hours of driving in the last two and a half days.
I saw the blue Rocky Mountains rise from the hills of Wyoming today, and for the first time, the reality that this trip was ending stung my throat. You see, the Rockies rise all the way up through America and Canada like a blue blade of ice. They’ll snatch away your breath with their unapologetic...
Ann Arbour
Day 226
We owe the beauty of our afternoon in Ann Arbor, Michigan all to Ben Turner. Yes, Ben who needs no introduction, save for this beautiful moment at SXSW. He’s the one swapping a shot of liquor with another man after gargling it. Well played, chap. Well played.
Ben, you met on a moments notice, dined us at Zingerman’s (only the most fantastic place we have ever eaten) and...
WatchNiagara Foam
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Second Best London. Maybe
Day 226
London Ontario. It has its umm, —charm.
But let’s not talk about the city. Let’s talk people. Awesome ones. We know awesome people residing in London. Hello Mathew and Jen, and hello little Ferris and (toothsome) Pearl.
We had a fabulous night with you folks watching the fireworks raining down on us for the Victoria Day (the queen had something to do with this,...
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Niagara Balls
Day 225
Niagara is a commercial whore. She started out as a piece of pristine nature. An overwhelming testament to the raw power of water and rock and the distance between basin and ledge. But lo and behold, in the 1800s European settlers moved in, peed their chemicals on her, and painted her up like a clown. In a mere 300 years of human contact, Niagara has been transformed from a gem to a...
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Toronto: New York of the North?
Day 226
We’ve both been to Toronto before, but decided to try and approach it like we’ve approached nearly every other city on this journey. Like a couple of noobs acting like spies. Here’s the rundown:
Day One
Our first mistake was trying to slide obese Walter through the narrow streets of urban Toronto in search of an inner city camp site (aka parking lot). It was like trying to squeeze an...
Home Run
Day 226
Just reporting for your glorious interest…
Only 9 more days of this wonderful, mind altering trip. Who needs run-of-the-mill uppers when you can just sell your house, buy and RV and travel the damn country?
Side effects may include: emptying your own sewage on your shoe. Twice.
See you soon
xo
May 2010
14 posts
1 tag
Parliamentary Comparisons
Day 223
Having spent 98.9% of our adult lives growing up and living in the True North, we gnawed eagerly on the competition that good ole’ Ottawa spit out once we arrived. We couldn’t wait to size up Ottawa against the older, more widely-known government buildings of Washington DC. Travis had our nation’s capital as a youngster and told me it was pretty cool. But I, myself,...
Watch
Day 220
We did it! Travis explains how to cross the border in style.
Rachel agrees.
Border Penetration (by Travis Gertz)
WatchDay 219
Hey Meg, Remember when we used to do this in the cold gutters of Calgary, just as the ice melted? Well, we tried it in Florida. Not the same. Miss you and love you. xox Rach & Trav
Popsicle Sticks (by Rachel Gertz)
Featured: “Our Age” by Constantines (Kensington Heights)
The Home Stretch
Day 218
Although we’ve haven’t yet related potent details about our stays in Ottawa, Toronto, and Niagara, I have to intercept.
This is the home stretch, folks.
We’ve been on the road for over seven months and are now a mere 16 days from our Alberta hub. Oh Calgary, you spawned this crazy idea of traveling in a Winnebago to escape winter, and now we’re coming back to...
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Tongue Tied
~Love stuck to a fence in front of Montreal Expo ‘67
Day 216
You can not sum up Montreal.
It is above ground and underground. It is French and it is English. It is poutine and it is King crab. We. Loved. It.
We were raised in Alberta. Blue collar with a touch of white. Cowboy hats worn in July for Stampede. Anglophones. Alberta taught us all of the following things about Montreal...
To Noble Ottawatians
Day 212
An exuberant thank you goes out to our family friends and fellow former-Edmontonians, Wendy and Chris. You certainly topped our tour expectations this week. What with the gardens and waterfalls and cobblestones —and let’s not forget that delicious micro-brewed beer… it felt like we explored the underbelly of Greece, not our nation’s capital (that’s Ottawa,...
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What the French Call, "Québec City"
Day 209
I’m a bit behind on the posties, I am. But if you think you’re going to get an apology for that, forget it! We’ve been too busy freezing off our tooshes and enjoying the sites and sounds of Frenchland to even think about it. That’s Québec, for the rest of yas.
The mighty roar of this French province is a force to be reckoned with. Even if you’re...
Lobster Proper
Day 206
I know you’ve eaten lobster tail. Everyone earns a right of passage by munching on the rubbery tail of this archaic animal at some point or another. But how many of you braves have voraciously attacked the fresh Pinchie in his claw and head and antennae glory? Oh, and how many of you have picked at the parts of this noble creature while in New Brunswick —specifically...
How To Live Like A Spy
Day 204
Count how many spies you know. We’re talkin’ first name basis, comes over for beers on Friday nights and has a totally hot girlfriend named Debra. Zero? Yeah, thought so. Now how many people want to be spies? Ever single damned one of ya, that’s who. Because, let’s not kid ourselves. Who wouldn’t want to live the life of a spy? We’ve all watched James Bond and Jason Bourne do it. Spies...
WatchDay 204
A little out of sequence. But here you have it. Waterfalls, man. Waterfalls.
These Falls Are Grand (by Travis Gertz)
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Getting the Halifax Straight.
Day 202
I had no idea that Halifax was such a cool city. My only frame of reference was from watching Street Cents while growing up. The only thing I knew was that it was small, cloudy, and filled with smart teens who knew how to question advertisers and combat materialism. Also, Trailer Park Boys (if you are not familiar, I implore you to GET familiar. You won’t regret it). Now that ain’t a...
Big Mussels in Amherst NS
Day 199 Oh my Gawwwwd!
Seems we have family in Amherst, Nova Scotia. Not the blood tie kind, but we certainly will be having the Smiths over for some mussels and some fine Nova Scotian beer when we have a home to offer, won’t we Jeff & Krista? I think they call this ‘bffs’ in French.
We were welcomed warmly with Maritime charm, a jaunty driveway, and a ridiculously...
WatchDay 197
Travis on B&B’s
Jump in the Carrr, Maritimes
Day 196
We’ve spent the last week moseying through the beautiful Maritimes: New Brunswick, PEI, and soon to Nova Scotia. Bad weather has broken a bit of our spirit. So, we’re toying with the idea of a do-over for the whole east coast.
Anyway, here ya go.
Fredericton, New Brunswick
After pulling through the Canadian border, we bedded down here. In the morning, we tried to find...
1 tag
Canada Crossing
Day 195
It’s been almost a week in Canada.
We were thinking there’d be a whole falootin’ cavity search, Who-is-your-daddy-and-what-does-he-do 20-Question game at the border, but we can’t offer to spare you the drama. Know why?
There was none.
We sweated and cleaned and boxed and sorted, working out Walter’s kinks the best way we could. We wanted him to look like a...
April 2010
14 posts
A Reflection. Pt 2: What we’ve learned.
Day 192
The other day I posted the raw stats of this glorious trip so far. Here are some of the things we actually learned. The finer points, if you will:
The RV life is a secluded one. We thought this trip would be a continuous social event involving retirees, travellers, locals, and everyone in between. The truth is, RV people like their privacy. RV parks are generally quiet places with...
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A Reflection. Pt 1: By the Numbers
Two days ago we hit a major milestone on this trip. We completed a full six months touring the amazing US of A. Here is the trip by the numbers. Maybe when we’re done I can make some sort of crazy infographic, but for now, here is the raw data:
Travel
Amount of days on the road: 190 Amount of days in America: 177 Number of states we hit: 23 Number of cities we stayed in: 69 Hours...
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Salem Girls Are A Whole Lotta Trouble
Day 190
When I was little, I used to have terrible nightmares about a witch. Not a typical green faced, slovenly looking thing, but one with a bald bony skull and long gnarled fingers. In this dream I had (often on rainy nights) she would hover just outside my window sans broom, tapping the glass, the wind howling demonic slander. I knew it would happen every time, but I couldn’t make it...
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Weekend at Berni’s
Day 189
Just want to make a huge shout out to Mr. Kevin Berni, his lovely wife, Becca… and the crazy animals they live with.
We’ll always have Lily’s poo burps, beers at Dharma Buns, Vic’s Waffles, and Val, you know —the one that introduced yous, to comfort our memory in the cold Canadian dark.
Our readers might not know this, but we were in some serious trouble when we...
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Things to Do in Boston When it Rains
Day 184
It’s a light spattering, but it’s consistent. It has been raining off and on for three days. And it’s officially colder than Calgary. Well. We’ll have to cash it in, what with not being used the rain and all. Catch that sarcasm? ‘Cause I’m laying it on pretty thick.
Not that we can’t handle our rain, but I can say this. It feels like...
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The Countdown.
Day 183
I think this is the suggested official day that we’re supposed to be back across the border. But we don’t really know because the information posted on the interwebs is so contradicting, it’s like seeing someone else’s reflection in the mirror in front of you. If anyone is interested in visiting the US for over 90 days, do some research, okay?
At any rate, because...
1 tag
Is This a Test?
Day 1—what the hell day is this?
It’s been a bit of a rough week. After missing out on the glory of New York, we dodged our way across the Bronx, past Greenwich, and into Providence, RI. Quaint little town. Didn’t see much of it, as we were embedded in the lining of Walter’s insides for three days straight, frantically tidying up some loose project ends. They have nice...
Big Apple, No Time
(the view from Liberty Harbor RV & Marine Park, NJ)
Day 178
Okay, I’m callin’ it. As much fun as a person could have sitting in a shitty RV park in Jersey City when they were supposed to be dizzying up the sights and sounds of New York; that’s how much fun we had. Now, we did leave the RV a time or two (only the equivalent of one full day out of six). But our content is...
Heart to Heart in West Chester
(from the backyard)
Day 175
This is to our soulful friends in West Chester. Drew, Danielle, & little cherub —baby Jette. We’re on the same page. We think the same way. Let’s meet up and do it again.
Thanks for a wonderful escape into Amish country on Monday night. Thanks for the Indian food, the wine, and the fantastic conversation. Thanks for the hilarious stories....
Philly. The Musical.
Day 172
Ever go to a city and just feel like it sings to you? Philadelphia was a musical. From the time we entered to our departure, the mirthful music of joyful encounters, random traffic tolls, and Apple Store lust resounded in our ears.
Here’s how it went (picture this to ‘Orphan Annie musical’ music)
Cue music.
Scene 1, On the Road
Me: Oh look. I think I see it. The RV...
Old Bay Day
Day 168
We got the tour upon arriving in Maryland. Popped into Baltimore to meet up with our friend, Brian. That’s ‘ian’ not ‘yan’. The ‘yan’ Bryan’s are often evil. Think about that one. There’s some truth in it.
Anyway, nice Brian showed us the dirty canal, the broken bottle in the parking lot, the LensCrafters. We nearly fired him as our...
The Sin of the Tripod
(photo shot sans tripod)
Day 167
We’re like spies. A few days ago, we strolled into Washington, DC. That’s Washington in the District of Columbia. Weird, right? So we’re staying an hour away in the closest RV park possible. We take the bus 50 miles into town loaded up with our back pack, headphones, books, camera… and a tripod. The ill fated tripod.
Important tendril...
Cavernous Secrets, VA
Day 164
Now you will learn about caves. Actually caverns. A cave is different than a cavern. I bet you didn’t know that.
Humans have determined the distinction between caves and caverns based on human relativity. What I mean is, to name the thing either a cave or a cavern, we have to describe how we as humans can penetrate it. Don’t believe me? Check out the difference between...
March 2010
13 posts
12 tags
Nashville. The Equation.
Day 161
What makes a city worth settling in? We pondered that question in Nashville. We spent two days (in the rain no less) pondering that question and here’s what we came up with. 1. A city worth settling in has an aura to it. You know that aura —well, actually if you live in Calgary right now, you probably don’t. It’s the one that makes you feel like you’re...
WatchRachel with the horses at Graceland Mansion.
Not much more to say here.
Elvis Horses on Vimeo (via Vimeo)
6 tags
Hunka Hunka Burning Sludge
Day 156
Oh, did I mention that we also went to Memphis? We were there for a couple a days and we’re seeing some themes across the board. I think you should know: Graceland sucks.
Graceland, or the land of Elvis, as you have come to know it, is over the top. If I ever hear a slightly overweight, thick, arrogant voice singing, “I’m All Shook Up” ever again, I will...
6 tags
Blazing Austin Saddles
Day 155
A little recap: I said I’d fill you in about Austin, so even though we’re in Nashville, I’m going to pretend we’re not. I’ve glossed over lots of little booger towns; little holes in the wall not worth mentioning. Folks, Austin is most definitely NOT one of these places. You know how every province or state has a place that changes your opinion of the...
WatchDay 153
What would thou doest for a Unicat shirt? Our noble champions have stepped forward at SXSW to prove their love for the beast. They have done things that can only be shown via the secrecy of live video broadcasting. Be privy to the magic… In the name of the The Stray Muse’s mighty Unicat; we salute you!
Glory to the Unicat T Champions on Vimeo (via Vimeo)
Scurvy's Uglier Side
Day 150
Don’t tell, but we might have a new favourite city. I’ll fill you in as soon as I get over this pesky South by Scurvy that is doubling my vision and making my back slick with sweat (probably oozing the last of the booze I drank, too). It’s Rach, in case you’re wondering.
Stay tuned for some much anticipated video of our debauchery in Austin.
XOX
SXSW: A Woman's Perspective
Day 147
It’s my first time.
This has been a response men have become accustomed to hearing from me this week. I am a minority at a yearly festival that gets Twitter aflutter, Gowalla & Foursquare spitting mad points of interest, and men of all ages giddy for weeks. What is it that makes South By Southwest such an addictive draw?
Is it the conference panels unfolding their future...
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Work For Your Shirt.
Day 143
If you haven’t heard, Rachel and I pooled some cash from our spamaroni fund and got some lovely purple and green Unicat t-shirts printed up for SXSW. Since we were only able to get 20 of these “limited edition” gems made, we had to come up with a creative way to fairly distribute them to our fellow dot-comrades.
The Unicat, you see, is more than just a cheeky logo....
6 tags
SXSWalter
Today we arrive in Austin, TX for one of the single most anticipated events of this entire trip. South By Southwest (SXSW). SXSW is a music, film, and interactive festival held every March in Austin. Geeks, musicians, and film nerds flock from afar to learn, converse, and drink their faces off for ten days in balmy Texas.
This is the first year I am attending without an actual conference pass...