Category Archives: Travel

More Bella

Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 by bt

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

Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 by bt

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

Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 by bt

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

Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 by bt

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

Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 by bt

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 →

Posted in From School, Travel | Leave a comment

Capitalist Architecture

Posted on Thursday, April 5, 2007 by bt

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 →

Posted in Books, Travel | Leave a comment

An offer you can’t refuse

Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 by bt

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

Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 by bt

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.

Posted on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 by bt

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

Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 by bt

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 →

Posted in Characters, Music, Travel | Leave a comment