PASCI project

september 26, 2003
Trip log one

We awoke early Friday September 26th after a good four hours of sleep, the longest sleep that we were to sleep in quite some time of fitful sleeps. Goodbye Webmaster Massi! A big hug for the generous man, we mount our super loaded bicycles and it’s off to the races. Early morning Montreal, I dream still as our bicycles take us to that station amongst the early morning traffic. I realize that I can’t zip between cars or pass busses as usual with this large load, and that I must roll up my pantleg.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed we prepare to embark on a 72 hour bus ride

A new stage of my life begins. We come prepared for this stage with lots of nuts, fruit, and sandwich supplies with which to affront a long and demanding voyage. An Oka cheese accompanies us all the way to Calgary, faithfully stinking up da bus every time we open our bag. At first we attribute the smell to our ‘not so fresh’ traveling companions, and then we realize… We have been warned to prepare for the worst experience of our lives but remain optimistic. Ontario stretches on forever. The semi-waking dream starts fresh breathed and clean clothed and is relatively enjoyable until we enter the third day and I realize that waking up is just as impossible as going to sleep. We are in another world, the world where comfort is a long lost memory and thoughts of sleep lead nowhere. The trip takes us through many exotic and wonderful Canadian destinations that remain unknown to me still (Sudbury, Calgary, North Bay, Winnipeg? Where’s that). Some unfortunate individuals don’t have the strength to continue, they start making accusations, the police are called, and four seats become empty at the back of the bus.

Somewhere near Banff we discover a classic little diner, Elvis croons from a jukebox, the food is good, greasy, and cheap, and we allow ourselves the luxury of a pizza. Entering into the Rocky Mountains brings this surreal trajectory to the next level of surrealityness. The sun is setting and we see clear blue creeks and rivers, steep wooded slopes, golden peaks, and BIG open valleys. Yes big and beautiful and easy to spend ones time looking at and looking at and looking at.

We arrive in Vancouver at 5:30am on Monday morning, three hours before our bikes. We take the time to get further acquainted with our gita-lele (cross between a guitar and a ukulele) our early morning jam session does absolutely nothing to bother the Rastafarian security guard. Our bikes arrive and we leave on an early morning exploration of the waterfront. Can it really be this perfect here?? Over the next two weeks, we’ll find out.

We are taken in by the perfect group of friends, amongst whom we can relax, enjoy life, be guided through Vancouver, eat extremely well, and listen to music. This home in east Vancouver is where we put down our bags and attempt to recuperate after a long hard summer. Thanks loads to Alex, E.J., and Forest who play the dames chinois as regularly as can be.


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	september 26, 2003 Trip log one We awoke early Friday September 26th after a good four hours of sleep, the longest sleep that we were to sleep in quite some time of fitful sleeps. Goodbye Webmaster Massi! A big hug for the generous man, we mount our super loaded bicycles and it’s off to the races. Early morning Montreal, I dream still as our bicycles take us to that station amongst the early morning traffic. I realize that I can’t zip between cars or pass busses as usual with this large load, and that I must roll up my pantleg. Bright eyed and bushy tailed we prepare to embark on a 72 hour bus ride A new stage of my life begins. We come prepared for this stage with lots of nuts, fruit, and sandwich supplies with which to affront a long and demanding voyage. An Oka cheese accompanies us all the way to Calgary, faithfully stinking up da bus every time we open our bag. At first we attribute the smell to our ‘not so fresh’ traveling companions, and then we realize… We have been warned to prepare for the worst experience of our lives but remain optimistic. Ontario stretches on forever. The semi-waking dream starts fresh breathed and clean clothed and is relatively enjoyable until we enter the third day and I realize that waking up is just as impossible as going to sleep. We are in another world, the world where comfort is a long lost memory and thoughts of sleep lead nowhere. The trip takes us through many exotic and wonderful Canadian destinations that remain unknown to me still (Sudbury, Calgary, North Bay, Winnipeg? Where’s that). Some unfortunate individuals don’t have the strength to continue, they start making accusations, the police are called, and four seats become empty at the back of the bus. Somewhere near Banff we discover a classic little diner, Elvis croons from a jukebox, the food is good, greasy, and cheap, and we allow ourselves the luxury of a pizza. Entering into the Rocky Mountains brings this surreal trajectory to the next level of surrealityness. The sun is setting and we see clear blue creeks and rivers, steep wooded slopes, golden peaks, and BIG open valleys. Yes big and beautiful and easy to spend ones time looking at and looking at and looking at. We arrive in Vancouver at 5:30am on Monday morning, three hours before our bikes. We take the time to get further acquainted with our gita-lele (cross between a guitar and a ukulele) our early morning jam session does absolutely nothing to bother the Rastafarian security guard. Our bikes arrive and we leave on an early morning exploration of the waterfront. Can it really be this perfect here?? Over the next two weeks, we’ll find out. We are taken in by the perfect group of friends, amongst whom we can relax, enjoy life, be guided through Vancouver, eat extremely well, and listen to music. This home in east Vancouver is where we put down our bags and attempt to recuperate after a long hard summer. Thanks loads to Alex, E.J., and Forest who play the dames chinois as regularly as can be.