YVR to WLG - Part 3

Ed. Note: The following post and those thereafter in this series are copied word for word from my paper journal. I have only edited my thoughts for punctuation and grammar.

[April 27th]

A rainy morning in Puriri Bay

The next morning brought rain showers and cool weather. Although we were originally dismayed at not waking to sun and warmth, as we had become so accustomed, we both realized how lucky we had been to date with the late April weather. I had originally come expecting the rain showers and cool weather that Vancouver is known for, and that NZ in the winter is also known for. So, to have gotten so many warm and sunny days to begin with was certainly a treat. 

However, as we set out for the Bay of Islands, and eventually our DOC near Cape Reinga, the clouds cleared and we were treated, again, to a full day of sun and open windows in the camper.

Our route took us up the East Coast through Russell and the infamous Bay of Islands. ALthough this much hyped destination would be a great jumping off point for an overnight cruise on one of many party boats, the area seemed very quiet at this time of year. Summer had brought the tourists, now the fall welcomed the explorers...

Taupiri Beach, just a grassy knoll away....

Getting artistic on Taupiri Beach

Snapping up the beauty on Taupiri Beach

In fact, just after leaving the DOC, Michelle and I came across Taupiri Beach, a small turn off on the side of the road with promising views. The enticement from the road side only grew as we wound our way down a grassy knoll and onto the dark sands of one of the most picturesque beaches I've seen. Straight out of a movie shoot, Taupiri Beach offered a view so serene, one could not imagine something so peaceful. With an overhanging tree providing shade and a comfy place to sit, plus the pounding surf, I could easily have stayed there all day! Yet there was much more to explore and so on we went.

Stalking the surf in Matauri Bay

Dropping in, Matauri Bay

After a ferry ride (Michelle's first car ferry) and a detour out a promising loop in the track, we came over a ridge to discover one of the coolest surf beaches I've ever seen. Matauri Bay was situated in the middle of nowhere, but the locals sure knew of it. As the 3m swells pounded into the shore, Michelle and I enjoyed a break from driving to snap a few shots of the surfers enjoying the last rays of the afternoon. The view from the beach itself was stunning and it was only the promise of a good Thai dinner that pulled us back to the road.

Classic kiwi beach scenes, Matauri Bay

Lonely Planet suggested a place in Mangonui that was renowned for its quality Thai fare. It sure didn't disappoint. With dishes named 'Sexy Little Duck' and 'Sweet Honey', how can you go wrong?! Both Michelle's noodle dish and my stir-fry were spot on and certainly worth the extravagant prices they were asking. Oh, and the ginger beer? Whoa, one more please!

Back on the road, the cover of darkness saw us again arrive at our next DOC. After a long drive up to Cape Reinga, we were ready to crash and check out the most accessible northern point in NZ.

But nature would not have it so easy. It would appear we parked in the mosquito epicenter of NZ, if not the world. The van was swarmed by the buzzing and biting insects and they somehow seemed to find a way into the sealed van, even after we were convinced the last one had been crushed between hand and roof...

[April 28th] 

After a restless sleep, kept awake by the fear of being sucked dry by morning, I was happy to talk to the guy in the camper next to ours who reported killing 200 skeeters over the course of the night. I'm sure Michelle and I's count wouldn't have been much different from his (assuming similar exaggerations), but it all certainly made for a memorable night!

A sleepless night in Cape Reinga provided this view in the morning.

And so, after quickly wolfing down breakfast (cereal in yogurt and a banana with OJ for me; muffins and potato chips for Michelle) we continued the short trek to Cape Reinga. Though not the most Northerly Point in NZ, as this title goes to North Cape (accessible only by boat), it is the most Northerly our graffitied van would go. The views were mind blowing and it was incredible to see the Tasman sea in the West crash into the Pacific from the East. Turning water, sheer cliffs and a beautiful lighthouse all made for a great photo shoot and an even better place to practice a few yoga movements to loosen up the body. 

Cape Reinga and the clashing seas

Climbing back into the van, I knew we had a long drive ahead of us before the next DOC in the Waipoura Forest. Following the roads South along the West coast, we passed onto Ninety Mile Beach (actually only 88kms long) and across Hokianga Harbour via another (expensive) car ferry. Once on the Kauri coast and in the Waipoura forest, Michelle and I took the short trek from the roadside parking lot, to the King of the Forest, Tane Mahuta, and the Four Sisters, the giant Kauri trees that bring the tourists by the droves in the warmer months. These behemoths of the forest are native to New Zealand and at 51m high, are nothing to pass by. Unable to fit the massive trees into our lenses, Michelle and I spent out time with the giants practicing the Tree Pose (yoga) in front of the iconic NZ trees!

Finally, a long, windy and gravelly road brought us to Trounson Park, our DOC for the night and our first DOC with power available for use. Oh, and don't let me forget the hot showers! I hadn't showered (still haven't actually as I write this before dinner...) since leaving Hekerua Lodge on Waiheke!

YVR to WLG - Part 2

Ed. Note: The following post and those thereafter in this series are copied word for word from my paper journal. I have only edited my thoughts for punctuation and grammar.


April 25th, 2012

The beginning of an adventure...

Today, New Zealand and Australia celebrate ANZAC day, or Australia and New Zealand Army Corps day. This National Holiday means most businesses are closed and that everyone (it seems) wants to get out of the city! Michelle and I headed out of Waiheke to catch the 11am ferry to Auckland where we made the short jaunt from the ferry terminal to the Escape Campervan depot.

We had decided before leaving that the best way to explore the Northland of NZ was by car, but in order to make this the most economical choice, we decided to rent a campervan! Escape is a family run company with a fleet of 200 uniquely painted vehicles plying the roads of NZ. The roomy Toyota Hi-Ace vans sleep 2-3 and are pretty good on gas (which is good with petrol at $2.19/ltr at the moment!).

Michelle and I met the lovely attendant at the depot around noon and we were quickly on our way North. We pulled over at a tourist junction before a toll road to set our route and determine where we would sleep each night. We decided to stay at Department of Conservation (DOC) sites along the route as they were most convenient and economical with our camper. For less than $20/night the two of us could park alongside a beach or close to important attractions and have access to toilets and showers (albeit cold ones) whenever we pleased.

Sunrise from a different perspective

The first day took us up the East coast through Orewa, Mangawhai and Waipu (yes, pronounded why-poo) before we reached our DOC site on Uretiti beach. None of the towns along the way held much in the way of sites, but the scenery and long, winding roads along the coast and through the small mountains were more than enough entertainment.

Arriving at Uretiti Beach, we checked in with a friendly gate attendant who gave us the low-down on DOC camping... Find a spot, park and go! And after a quick loop of the facilities in the waning light of the day, we found a nice spot near what we assumed was the beach.

[April 26th, 2012]

Uretiti Beach at Sunrise

I awoke before sunrise, just as daylight was making our surroundings visible, [so] I grabbed my camera and headed to the beach. Our camper was right beside a short path that led over the dunes and to the beach. The few clouds in the sky and the incredibly strong ocean soon made for some unreal sunrise shots. I had never before sat and watched the sun come up out of the water, and it is also something I will never forget. Certainly one of the most serene and peaceful moments one could have, alone on a kiwi beach.

Michelle and I gathered up things in the van before heading North again to Whangarei. Here we dropped into the local i-site where an incredibly cute kiwi showed us a map of the town and pointed us in the direction of a good hike and caving site.

Whangarei Falls

We stopped for groceries first, then headed to the Whangarei Falls hike. After a quick 30 minute jaunt along a river we ended up at what is supposedly the most photgraphed waterfall in NZ. Certainly a nice setting and as Michelle pointed out, it was developed in such a way that the natural beauty was not lost.

Next stop today was at Abbey Caves. I had read that this was the place to go for the budget traveller looking for a glow-worm experience. It surely did not disappoint! The completely undeveloped cave network is accessed by a small road-side trail that winds down a hill and through a couple rocky pastures before pointing you in the direction of the first cave. Organ Cave required a quick drop through a rocky out crop on the side of a hill, which required some pretty adept skill to get into. I had forgotten my headlamp in the van at the top of the trail, but luckily Michelle had remembered her small torch. Though the head lamp would have been nice, the torch did its job as we quickly lost the daylight. We tried to remain as dry as possible (though the cute i-site girl did warn us our feet would be getting wet), but it was all for nothing as we were ankle deep in a stream within ten metres of the cave entrance. The little trek was quite something as we were quickly shown the length of the cave by the small, indigo glow worms. Though we only ventured 75 mentres into the cave, we spent about 45 minutes exploring all the nooks and crannies, and trying to capture the insane beauty of this underground labyrinth with our cameras. Michelle conquered her fear of the impenetrable darkness and I, well I was just glad the torch batteries didn't die out...

Again, we continued our travels north along the Twin Coast Discovery Highway from Whangarei through Helena Bay, Oakura and into Whengaruru. Also again, Michelle and I finished our days travel under the cover of darkness arriving at Puriri Bay well after the dinner hour. The drive was insanely windy and long. Long because the road was so windy and constantly changing elevation as it followed the coast. I made a quick spaghetti dinner (Wattie's Gourmet Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce) and crashed early.

YVR to WLG - Part 1

Ed. Note: The following post and those thereafter in this series are copied word for word from my paper journal. I have only edited my thoughts for punctuation and grammar.

Auckland Sunset

April 23, 2012
Well, here I am on day 5 of this expedition and I have only just realized the importance of keeping a journal! Michelle, my current travel partner, has been keeping one since day one, but I figured in 2012 I would have better access to my blog, facebook page and twitter. Although access to these 21st century journals would be nice, the simple pen and paper may be nice to reflect on in future years!

We arrived here in Auckland on a Thursday morning. The overnight flight from Vancouver and LA was nice as it did not mess with our internal clocks too much. I had spent three days in Vancouver with Steph before meeting Michelle in LA and I must say those were some of the best 3 days I have had to date. We spent our time together hiking the North Shore, exploring the city and enjoying some terrific food and wine along the way. My only regret of our time together is that it wasn't long enough! Perhaps she can meet up with me again in the future, but regardless, I am sure I will be seeing a lot of that amazing woman in the years to come.

Oneroa Beach, Waiheke Island

As I write this I am sitting on Little Oneroa Beach, located on the North Shore of Waiheke Island. But let me take some time to explain how I got to this small island paradise... Auckland was a good start to this journey but I can see why those who had been before did not rave of this Northern Kiwi metropolis. The city itself is clean, friendly and large enough to house a vibrant and interesting culture. However, it was not much unlike Toronto, and perhaps a bit boring.

Michelle and I spent the first day sorting out logistics. I received my BNZ  EFTPOS card and deposited the cash I'd brought with me. Michelle also set up her phone for service here in NZ, but I'll have to wait a few more days before I can do the same with my iPhone.

SkyTower, Auckland

The next day we went downtown to check out the SkyTower. A beautiful view of the city and its surroundings, but only so during the day. Neither Michelle or I were impressed with the view at night when we returned later the same day.

View from the top - Rangitoto Island, Auckland

What did impress me was the incredible hike up Rangitoto Island. Just a 25min ferry ride from Auckland lies the youngest of the Auckland Volcanic Field's peaks. You can hike to the peak, over jagged volcanic rock, in under an hour and the views are worth the effort! Probably the highlight of my time in Auckland as it was the least city-like of the things I did!

The following day, Michelle and I visited the Auckland domain and the Auckland Museum. Both were quite stuning on the outside, but failed to impress from within. Auckland Museum has a terrific collection of Maori pieces from over the years, but they really failed to convey the Maori history to the museum goers. The incredible tension between the Maori and Kiwi's is evident even in the way the pieces descriptions are written. There is certainly room for improvement here, and perhaps the Kiwi's can learn from Canada and how we have come to appreciate and respect our native history and culture.

Mt. Eden, Auckland

Perhaps the most unique experience of our time in Auckland was on a run I did one morning from the hostel. Having seen Mt Eden from our walks about town, I decided to try and get to its peak on our second day in Auckland. Upon reaching its peak I was gifted with one of the most beautiful and serene views imaginable. The dormant volcano made for a terrific vantage point of the city, allowing for views in all directions. I will certainly return here one day if my travels ever bring me back to NZ.

And so, after our first 3 days abroad, Michelle and I hopped on a ferry to the Island of Waiheke. This has turned out to be the best decision of the trip! The island is only 45 minutes from Auckland but feels as though it is a world away! With beaches aplenty, the island has a tropical feel to it, despite the fact that we're surely deep into the Autumn season here! The temperatures are in the high teens, but with the glaring sun, you'd think it were ten above that! And though the beaches are worth the trip, the wineries are something else!

We hit up three wineries today on the island, all located within a 5 minute walk of each other and within 30 minutes of the hostel. The first was Jurassic Ridge and although tasting Lance's (the winemakers) take on Italian wines would have been cool, they were actually on their last day of harvest and unable to do a tasting.

Located right beside Jurassic Ridge is Mudbrick Vineyard. This winery has a long, sloping driveway up to it's amazingly well manicured grounds. The cellar door is located in their old cellars and the rest of the property is devoted to a restaurant/patio. The view here was great as you looked back on the Auckland skyline. At the tasting we were introduced to a young woman from the south island who took us through their standard tasting menu.

Highlights for me were their 2009 Cab/Merlot blend which we tasted alongside the same blend but in a 2010 vintage. Our guide told us that the 2010 vintage was incredibly warm and dry and much longer than the normal summers. 2009, on the other hand, was a standard Waiheke summer. The 2009 was a terrific "Bordeaux Blend" and certainly ready for the glass right now, but the 2010 was in need of some serious cellaring. It had yet to settle down and the tannins were much too rough for easy drinking. It could easily be cellared for 3 to 5 years with the latter guaranteeing a nice, smooth wine.

Cable Bay Vineyards, Waiheke Island

Next on our tramp was Cable Bay Vineyards. A large and well awarded NZ winery, and perhaps the most infamous on the island. Like Mudbrick, they grew many grapes at the Waiheke property, but also used contract growers in Marlborough and Central Otago. Highlights included:
- 2009 Chardonnay. Grown on the island, this chard has just the right amount of oak and great acidity balanced with the residual sugars.
- 2010 Pinot Noir - Central Otago. This pinot was reflective of what NZ pinot should be. A subtle nose, well balnaced acidity, and easy on the palette. Cherry was overwhelmingly present in this glass.

Cable Bay Vineyards, Waiheke Island 

The winery features a stunning hilltop location with views back to Auckland. The restuarant and surrounding gardens are worth the visit.

Michelle and I then spent the remainder of the day on the beach in Oneroa and decided to book another night at the lodge. The next day we hopped on a bus from the lodge (backpackers) and made the trek across the top part of the island to Onetangi. A long, sandy beach lay in wait for us, but even better for me, a couple wineries were also close by! I left Michelle on the beach shortly after arriving and began the trek up the hills behind the beach to where I suspected the wineries would be. The small map I had helped in this endeavour but I am never too reliant on something that could have been drawn by a talented 6 year old!

Regardless, the wineries soon appeared but unfortunately 2 out of 3 were closed. The first was the Hay Paddock which looked promising, but just like Jurassic Ridge the day before, they too were out harvesting. So I continued on along a high road to where Casita Miro (little house of Miro, a famous Spanish artist) lay. This small winery had a beautifully located tapas restaurant built into a hill above a number of their vines. I was the only one there as it was a Tuesday around noon and not much seems to happen on this part of the island on even the busiest days.

Yet, I was still asked to pay the 15$ tasting fee for a flight of 5 wines! Despite the inklings of a tasting bound to leave a bad taste in my mouth, I was pleased to find a couple gems...
- 2009 Syrah Viognier
This estate grown wine had an incredible nose to it and was I was immediately captivated by that alone. Balanced and smooth, with no hard tannins, this wine was beautifully done.
  *I later saw this bottle at a shop for 75$, so the 15$ tasting wasn't so bad after all!
- Madame Rouge Aperitif NV
A very nice sherry-like wine that was just the perfect amount of sweetness and easily drinkable. It would also do well in many food dishes when reduced as a syrup.

I was a bit disappointed by the lack of knowledge the tasting guide exhibited, but as I read later on in my lonely planet guide, knowledgeable staff are hard to come by on the island and often managers are left to hire whatever comes in the door looking for a pay cheque. Which is fine, but at least make sure your sole person responsible for selling your wines knows where the grapes are from and which ones are in the bottle she is pouring. I had a small chuckle when the Mexican woman working the counter informed me that the Cabernet grapes in the Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec blend were not the Franc or Sauvignon ones they use in other bottles, but the specific 'Cabernet Merlot' that is grown on premise. In any regard, she taught me a good lesson on the importance of ensuring your front line staff are prepared!

Next, and last, on the trek was Obsidian Winery. Unfortunately they too were also closed for harvest, but showed great potential judging by their primo vineyard location and upkeep.

I joined back up with Michelle for a late lunch which quickly became one of the best salads I've had in a long time! Chorizo, calamari, and rocket was the simple descriptor on the feature board at Charlie Farley's. Located on Onetangi beach and with an excellent patio, this traditional beachside eatery served up some great grub. The aformentioned salad was terrific! The calamari was cooked and seasoned to perfection and the plate came together beautifully despite the many competing flavours. Michelle had a great example of NZ fish and chips, though I am not sure what type of fish it was.

We finished up the afternoon at the beach, the returned to the hostel for dinner and drinks with the rest of the Hekerua lodge guests. It was our last night before getting in the camper for the Northland so it was good to get some kiwi advice on our impending road trip from Thomas, the owner, and Johnny, his best-mate, while watching the NZ Breakers (basketball) beat Perth's NBL representation in the league championship. Although the game was low scoring (it finished in the high 70's) and akin to NCAA skill, it was quite exciting to see a championship come down to just one game.

My new home... WLG

3-23b Maida Vale Rd. Roseneath, Wellington, NZ 6011

I come to you today from the sitting room of a flat in Wellington, NZ, or as I have come to call it, home. And yes, that is the view from here... Nice, eh! It's been forever since I last posted on here, and so I must apologize to my many loyal followers who I had promised many a story as I traveled south. Ah, who am I kidding, facebook more than made up for my absence on here and frankly, I doubt I have a single follower I could call even slightly loyal to this blog!

My last post was from the middle of April and long before life had taken me to so many great places. I had intended to update my blog periodically through my travels, but lack of a computer or even an internet connection through most of NZ made this an impossible task. Instead I kept a hand-written journal of my time from Vancouver to Auckland and eventually down to Wellington. Over the course of the next few posts, and a few weeks to be sure, I intend on getting those scribbles on here for you all to read and, hopefully, enjoy.

First, let me get started with a summary of sorts. What my journal entries will tell you are of a country that taught me so much more than I expected. Leaving behind loved ones was not easy, but how quickly I came to feel at home here was simply incredible. I spent near a month traveling the northern regions of this small, southern country before settling down in my new home. That month showed me what travel is all about and how easy it is to get away from it all.

Now I am in Wellington, settled and content. The travel bug still itches but the many small excursions I have taken here have provided a perfect ailment for the time being. This capital city has provided me with the perfect base to explore the many wine regions, culinary hot spots and scenic places that this country is renowned for. Over the coming months my travel plans will take me North again to Auckland, down to the South Island for my first summer Christmas, and over the pond to Aus in the new year for a sommelier certification course and culinary adventures in Melbourne.

Stay tuned for these updates, but first, let me provide some entertainment... From Vancouver to Wellington, the coming posts should be quite the read!

D.

From Vancouver with Love

Best friends, exploring the rainforests of Coastal BC

I sit here eating hot porridge and sipping a coffee while I reflect on my past three days in this amazing city. Since an epic cycling trip back in my high school days, Vancouver has had a stronghold on the ever-expanding list of Derek's favourite regions. Yeah, Barcelona was a cultural hot spot and Honolulu was so tropically comfortable, but no city has ever captured my heart quite like Van has.

Maybe it's the access to some of the best wilderness adventures in the world. A simple 30 minute drive from the city and you are suddenly lost in the damp rainforest of coastal BC. Endless hiking, cycling, skiing and of course water-sports translate into an easy sell for me. But it's more than that...

Maybe it's the relaxed nature of it's residents who have seemingly built this region to highlight the natural beauty that surrounds it. With infrastructure that could rival the largest cities in the world, transit is convenient and fast, and a food culture that seems to focus on local and fresh, again, it's no surprise Vancouver is number one. But, it still seems to be more than that...

Maybe it's the people I know here. Some of the coolest people I have met live in this city or were born and raised here. Whether you born in the foothills of the North Shore or moved here to find the right 'fit', it's perhaps those select few who help this city take the top spot.

Whatever it is, I will surely never forget how I began this worldwide adventure. With a lifelong, best-friend and adventures that could certainly rival those to come, Vancouver's reign could really last forever.

So thank you Vancouver, you will forever be loved! Now, let's find you some competition!

#NZ2012

And so it begins! After many months of planning and waiting, and a little more waiting, my travels abroad are just a few short days away! Final packing lists have taken shape, loose ends have been tied up and well wishes are being made. The only thing left to do is leave!

As I go, I will be keeping this blog up to date as a journal of sorts. My main goal of this trip is to experience the cultures and tastes of afar and so this blog will be a reminder of sorts of what has been had and what has been seen. For those of you on facebook (everybody?!), please check out and 'like' this page: http://www.facebook.com/derekgoesabroad. From there you will get updates on my adventures and links to photos, blog updates and tweets.

I hope you are all as excited about this adventure as I am! You can also follow me on twitter if you like @dbeirnes, and I will be tagging most of my posts with #NZ2012 to start the adventure.

cheers!

Thirty

A few years ago I was introduced to the social-networking site Linked-in by a business colleague. I set up a profile and was directed to summarize my business acumen and biography in a few short paragraphs. I finished this summary with the following words... "I intend to build off of my experiences, and the skill sets I have obtained through school, to achieve my goal of being a recognized leader by the age of 30."

More recently I was approached by a former professor of mine, but still a good friend and mentor, Bruce McAdams. He informed me that he had personally nominated me in the Ontario Hostelry Institute's (OHI) 'Top 30 Under 30' awards for 2012. The OHI then reached out to me for a portfolio containing my resume, career achievements and a couple of reference letters. I put all these these together, along with a terrible picture of myself, and forwarded them off to the panel of judges for consideration.

I heard back this past week and was pleasantly surprised to have been chosen by the committee as a 2012 recipient of the Top 30 Under 30 award! Now, I am hardly a leader of my industry, but as the OHI says on their website, the award recognizes "future generations of hospitality leaders who are and will make a difference". I hope I will one day make a difference, and I strongly believe I can. With 5 long years remaining until I turn 29 for the second time, there is a lot to do and a lot more left to learn before I feel comfortable calling myself a 'leader'.

I just want to thank those who supported me through this process. My friends who were convinced I'd get there, my current and former bosses who were more than kind in their letters of reference and of course to Bruce who got this ball rolling in the first place. I am looking forward to continuing my work in building the food service industry into a sustainable and profitable industry that attracts the best and brightest of the worlds future business graduates.

To see the digital portfolio that I created for the committee, please follow this link to Prezi. And for more information on the award, please see the OHI website.

Just Do It

My previous post on here (though quite some time ago) referred to my bucket list of life-goals. Well, like a strategy is only words until it is put into action, my list needs some action.

Today, after much internal debate, I have decided to resign from my post as Beverage Manager at Borealis and begin work on my quest for food & wine enlightenment. I plan to live and work abroad in the worlds most popular culinary regions; beginning in March with the stunning fjords, mountains, and, of course, wineries of New Zealand.

As so many have told me, the opportunity to leave behind everything you know is never easy, but it only gets harder the older you get. I will miss everything that is Ontario and Canada greatly, but I am most certain I will return with a far greater appreciation for everything that makes this country so great.

New Zealand is only my first stop... Australia, SE Asia, China, South Africa, France, Italy... culinary tours de force and soon, a stop on this whirlwind (and incredibly budget conscious) itinerary of mine!

Wish me luck, and I hope to see you somewhere else on this beautiful planet!

Go and do: My Bucket List

I think, at one point or another, every person has said, 'before I die, I would like to (inset legendary action here)'. I personally know that I have said this about one thing or another many a times before.

I have, of course, lived a pretty awesome life to date. If I died tomorrow, I would die a happy, albeit young, man. I have travelled across Canada racing my mountain bike, surfed in Hawaii, hiked in the Canadian Rockies, strolled through Central Park and crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. I have waded into the frigid waters off both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, conquered the Grouse Grind and caused the Capilano Suspension Bridge to sway. I have ridden my bike across dew soaked mountain roads in BC, kayaked in the Bay of Fundy, run around Diamond Head Crater in Honolulu and SUP'ed our majestic cottage-country lakes. I have skied in the Rockies and the Eastern Townships, ridden from Niagara Falls to Niagara-On-The-Lake and back (with a few beverage breaks on the way) and rafted the mighty Ottawa River.

I have, you could say, lived a very privileged life. And I would not disagree with you. However, it is by looking forward that bigger and better things get done. So, I present to you my bucket list. Something I have created over the past few weeks upon realization that without some idea of what life means to you, you are only wasting away your precious time here.

I have stolen some of these ideas from others previous adventures, and I have stolen some from an Outside magazine article. Though, despite this, this list is entirely my own. This is purely me as honest and bold as I can be. I encourage you to do this yourself and post yours in the comments. Just don't be upset with me if I steal the odd idea.

Life is not short, it is the longest thing you will do. So fill it with awesome...

1. Climb Mt. Everest
2. Climb the highest peak on each continent. (probably before no. 1)
3. Learn an instrument. (Not a guitar, or something of the like, but something different, like a Didjeridu or an Ektara)
4. Volunteer to build a school in a third world country.
5. Volunteer after a disaster abroad.
6. Go on an African Safari, and see the Big 5.
7. Stay overnight on Antarctica.
8. Ride a Tour de France stage (or two, or three, or all...) including Alpe d’Huez.
9. Run the NYC, Walt Disney and Boston marathons.
10. Live abroad for at least a year (see no. 12).
11. Learn to sail, then sail across an ocean.
12. Work on a vineyard, sheep farm and cattle ranch. (Abroad)
13. Race/ride the BC Bike Race.
14. Learn to fly a plane.
15. Hike the Pacific Rim Trail on Vancouver Island.
16. Surf in Tahiti, Fiji, California and Tofino.
17. Volunteer/work at the Olympics.
18. Swim in every major Ocean, naked.
19. Work/Volunteer at an animal sanctuary/orphanage.
20. Go deep sea fishing. (And catch a fish.)
21. Learn to Scuba Dive.
22. Skydive on every feasible continent.
23. Fill a passport to the point of completion.
24. Visit the wine regions of France, Italy, Greece, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, British Columbia and California.
25. Ski the worlds best, most renowned ski hills (Whistler, Chamonix, etc.)
26. Ride the Leadville 100 mountain bike race.
27. Get married to the most beautiful, adventurous, sexy, smart and funny woman in the world.
28. Become a father.
29. Practice yoga in India.
30. Sleep over on the Great Wall of China.
31. Bungee jump in New Zealand.
32. Visit the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.
33. Paddle the Nile, Congo, Nahanni and Mississippi rivers.
34. Fly in a helicopter.
35. Drive from the most Eastern point of Canada to the most Western point. In one go.
36. Witness the Northern Lights.

(Editors Note: I intend on updating and growing this list as more inspiring adventures come to me. Life is ever changing and so too should be this list.)

This Strenuous Age

My employer recently hosted a team building and day of meetings for which we had a bit of homework to do. I was originally regretting the thought of having to do homework again (I thought I gave that up on graduation!), but regardless I cracked open my folder and began the readings.
One such reading was Stephen Leacock's short essay This Strenuous Age, a part of Frenzied Fiction, a collection of short stories, which he wrote in 1918. It's a satirical take on prohibition and quite a good read, if you're into that sort of literature. I can't say I was originally taken by the work, but as time went on I began to think about it more and more.
Today on a long ride through the agriculturally rich countryside around Guelph, I again began thinking about it. One of the points Leacock makes really spoke to me as a cyclist. Where he claims his friends go for walks to clear their heads (in place of alcohol), I can relate.
Cycling to me is my one time where I can just think. I've had a tougher than usual time lately with work being quite busy and my girlfriend travelling to Asia for an extended period of time. Not that I am complaining, I love my job and I look forward to seeing Amy again overseas, but it gives you a lot to think about! My time on the bike is when I can put aside all the little thoughts and just plain think. It really clears my head and lets me just relax and enjoy life how it was made to be enjoyed. Being on the bike, rain or shine, is where I smile the easiest. Cycling is my shangri-la.
So, although Leacock equated this need to 'clear ones head' with an omission of alcohol in ones life, even today with alcohol being plentiful, I think everyone needs to find their own shangri-la. Hopefully, it's as alcohol-free and as fitness oriented as mine!