Category Archives: Travel

More Bella

Come to think of it, the Catholicism in Bella is a lot like the Catholicism in New York, where it’s set: all you can point at is a nun here and a handful of palm leaves there, and yet it … Continue reading

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Wokkpash River

So I just got back from a three day, 50 km hike into an isolated boreal lake. Too many stories for now, but here’s the summary: two healthy paramedics and a young veteran of the Chilkoot Trail were thoroughly embarrassed … Continue reading

Posted in North of 58, Travel | 2 Comments

Liard Hotsprings

OK, I can’t not post this stuff. The intersection of the Liard River and the Alaska Highway is four hours north of town, in the geographical centre of no-where. The water from the springs is hot enough to support an eerily … Continue reading

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Forest Fire Crew Boss

On fighting fires in Australia: “No, I didn’t go. The guys who went were telling stories about crazy-ass spiders and crocodiles in pump sites and shit. I’ll take mosquitoes and black-bears any day.”

Posted in Characters, Stories from the ditch, Travel | Leave a comment

Confidence booster

When I interviewed at Dalhousie, I had somehow managed to be one of 50 applicants from a pool of 400 who interviewed for 9 out-of-province spots. With stats like that, Dal gets to pick the absolute cream of the out-of-province … Continue reading

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Capitalist Architecture

I grumble about Chapters, Starbuck’s and Walmart as much as the next guy, but that doesn’t prevent my appreciating a clever turn of physical marketing when I see one. For example, when you enter the Barnes & Noble on Broadway … Continue reading

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An offer you can’t refuse

First year Dalhousie Med student on the difficulty of failing out of med school: “Yeah, they say this profession is like the mob: It’s a bitch to get in, but once you’re in you can never leave.”

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Bus tips

I’ve finally discovered how to keep the seat next to you on the bus unoccupied while maintaining a decent state of hygiene: when the bus comes to a stop, all you have to do is be sincerely and unfeignedly asleep on it. … Continue reading

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Looking like a bum has its advantages after all.

Like the other night, when I finished up a ten hour lab day in Calgary, stumbled out into the snow, and wandered through the streets looking for a burger joint. No burger joint appeared, and I slowly became aware that I had … Continue reading

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Hostel Kitchen

The hostel’s heating system had broken during the day, so we sat in our coats in the second floor kitchen, watching a bitterly cold Edmonton wind tear down the dark street below. A greying Newfoundlander, eyes droopy with sixty years and one very hard night, weakly swayed … Continue reading

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