Portaging...

In light of our upcoming Portaging getaway weekend, i thought it would only suit the situation right if I did a post on our last trip two years ago. First of all, the title of this post should not be portaging, but more like 'Mission Impossible'. I will give you a brief overview of what such an excursion is all about, and most importantly what you should avoid. Overall, thanks to our friend Ziggy and his coordinating skills this trip is by far one of the best things to do in the summer. What's better than missioning out to the middle of no where with about 20 people, of which you probably dont know half and camp out on some real crown land.

Above is a general map of what the mission entails (click on map for Google Map Link).
Directions:
Take 400 North of Barrie
Exit 156 - After Passing Port Severn Bridge
Right Onto Muskoka Road (which turns into Port Severn Rd.) - This is your Canoe Rental!
Get Back onto the 400 N
Exit 168
Right onto Crooked Bay Road
Right onto Georgian Bay Road (as if you were heading back on the 400 S)
Just before the ramp to the highway, there is a down hill left turn
Park where ever you can!
Bring all your things by the shore, and start your Portage!

It looks pretty simple from far. Drive up north, rent your canoe, drive it over to the parking lot an exit away, pack your stuff, and you're off!

Alright, so now, what to avoid.

Where do we start? First of all before you set out make sure you understand what 'portaging' means. Definition: Portage refers to the practice of carrying a canoe or other boat over land to avoid an obstacle on the water route such as rapids or waterfall in a river. Aka you will have to carry everything you bring.
Here's some other tips, based on our last experience.

Lesson 1: Don't bring anything useless. Just remember, you will have to carry it.
Lesson 2: Don't steal "Ontario Parks" canoes from Six Mile Lake Provincial Park, you can probably only get away with it once.
Lesson 3: Bring good ropes, you will be left holding that thing up with you hands out the window, as you are driving down the highway.
Lesson 4: Don't throw an axe in you shin, the hospital is a minimum 45 min canoe ride away plus a drive.
Lesson 5: You car will probably get towed (get there early)
Lesson 6: Bring garbage bags!

Overall, the whole trip has its own rewards. Its a beautiful area and I can't wait to do it again!

Pictures:
MiddleRight: Dina and Me taking out the Canoe, 5 am, after all nighter
BottomLeft: Fishing at Sunrise. The water still as ever.

Stradford - Shakespear Festival

Last weekend, at a short weekend getaway I have discovered what seems to be like Southern Ontario's little hidden gem, that really, isn't so hidden. The only reason I'm saying this is because I had no idea this little town had so much to it. Stratford, is a home of the Shakespeare Festival, that proudly stands on the list of the Major Shakespeare Festivals in the World. It's atmosphere and welcoming feeling can be closely compared to Niagra-on-the-Lake but it's a lot bigger and has a fair-sized lake in the centre filled with many beautiful, yet agressive/ hissing sawns. Although my so-wonderfull girlfriends forced me against my will to make this weekend a triple-date weekend, it ended up being an awesome experience and I would recommend for anyone to pay at least one visit this summer to this great tourist destination.

Thanks to Geoff- our little actor/stuntman friend (which i still have to link to IMDB where he can be found), we got a chance to learn a little more about the behind the scenes. I even managed to sneak into one of the plays at the Festival Theater, something I would not recommend for anyone to attempt in the future, 1. you will probably get kicked out 2. it's actually really rude because it distracts the actors. The experience was topped-off with a late night five minute lesson on sword fighting (using real swords, pretty cool) and finished of by an amazing breakfast prepared by our wonderfull hosts that consisted of croissants, scrambled eggs with feta and a beautifull bouquet of flowers on the breakfast table.

Other activities I would recommend while you're there is to drop by the Chocolate Factory where you can get some amazing tasting overpriced ice cream, candy apples or just look at the amazing fountain of chocolate (picture below). Or you can spend your time taking a walk around the lake or renting a paddleboat to relax amongs the swans and duckies around you. The little purple welcoming door is where you can spend a few hours with your companion or family painting some pottery. Yes, I know sounds a little corny, but they actually have some really cool and usefull items in there, like plates or porcelin take-to-work mugs (imagine paiting one youreself...mine would probably bare some text, along the lines of "I don't want to be here", with a picture of a Jail-cell windows and bricks..ok, a little exagurated!) Anyhow, have fun and enjoy, don't foget to bring a picnic blanket, there's plenty of pleasant spots you can enjoy for a relaxing Sunday afternoon, afterall its only about one hour away from Toronto.

Just remember on your journey:

This above all: to thine own self be true. - Hamlet (Act I, Scene III)

Only In My Back Yard...

So Imagine This; Last Saturday morning I am sitting with my family by the kitchen table enjoying a fresh cup of coffee and some cookies. Sounds Great. Now as we are all engaged in our casual conversation, suddenly all stops as someone lets out a gasp and points to the window...what could it be? Well, there they are, there were two peacocks taking a stroll in our back yard. Not one, two! Not just any any everyday spring -time bird, a peacock.

How random is that? Interestingly enough both the male and female acted very nonchalant as they trotted through our green, 'tra la la la don't mind us'. My dad was quite amused by the situation until they birds decided to help themselves to some of our wild berries, you can't mess with those! No worries, despite my dad's angry scowl at their rude intrusion on our garden fruit, no shotguns where used or animals harmed in the writing of this post.

Just to give you a final synopsis of his story, there is a farm across the street from our home that I believe keeps the birds as part of their farm animal collection. It seems as though they decided to escape their routine of the everyday and finally get the courage to see what mysteries lie on the other side of the road. I guess everyone needs to get away every once in a while.

North by North East - Toronto

This post is a little over due, however, for the Tororontonians / GTA-ians who have not heard of the NXNE Music and Film Festival a week ago, you missed out. A spectrum of selected small-time bands performed at some of the best venues in Toronto. The festival seems to be a spin off from South by South West, an apparently incredible music festival and conference that takes place annualy in Austin, TX.

This was my first year participating and I must say I was very pleasantly surprised. This is a great opportunity to hear an array of music that you may love but have not heard before. Their website www.nxne.com allows you to browse through the bands performing, getting a teaser of the music and also giving you a great idea on what type of style they have. So even though you may not know most of the bands, you know what you are getting yourself into.

Our night began at Bathurst and Queen . This was probably the safest bet. There were venues all over Toronto from Eglinton and Scarlett, to the Distillery. We chose the prime hub where we were able to visit at least five different venues within a 2 km walk.

Pros:
- Free parking.
- Gotta love Queen Street.
- Cost of unlimited venues for Friday Night- $25
wrist band.
- Wristaband got you in anywhere - hassle free,
no line ups
- Every one hour on the dot at each venue the bands changed. I must say the organization was great.

What would I do differently:

Research more before heading out. You have an opportunity to really learn about new music out there that appeals best to your tastes, if you do not seek out the venues that offer it, you will be left slightly unfulfilled.

Pictures:

TopLeft: Soundboard at 'SuperMarket', Kensington Market
MiddleRight: Posing in front of graffiti, Dina and Krzysiu (Happy Birthday Krzysiu!), Kensington Market
BottomRight: Krszysiu doing a handstand in the middle of the road, Kensington Market, 2:30 am, random strangers joining in just at the right moment
Map: Our route.

A Tribute To a Stranger

As I was looking for some quotes to portray perfectly the need to look at life through the eyes of a child-the biggest explorers of all, I stumbled on ‘an inspiring human being’, Dan Eldon. I would like to share this person with you.

Dan Eldon, was a british photojournalist who along with three others, he was stoned and beaten to death on a dusty street in Mogadishu (largest city in Somalia). He was 23 years old when he died, but he left behind some amazing journals. Throughout his short life he visited 46 countries! He even set up a charity, “Student Transport Aid” where with other friends raised $25,000 for a venture to a refugee camp in Malawi. They traveled over thousands of miles in three vehicles then donated one of the cars to ‘Save the Children Fund’, as well as money for three wells and blankets for a children’s hospital. ( Source: Wiki)

Like a comet, he blazed through life. Every day was a new adventure. But an act of grief and revenge cut it short. – National Geographics

His Pledge on Life; The journey is the destination.

Success;

To laugh often and love much

To win respect of intelligent people and the affection of children
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends

To appreciate beauty

To find the best in others

To leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded - Ralph Waldo Emerson

How’s that for Inspiration…?

Younger Days Traveler

Things are so much easier when you’re a child, exploring is just as important on a day to day basis as brushing your teeth. If anything I wish I could remember the time when everything you saw and touched was for the first time. In case you’re wondering, yes I am the one beside the monkey, me the little explorer,and beside me, is my brother (whoever knows my brother, Do Not Mention This Picture). Till this day I still remember the numerous road trips and travels my family has taken us as kids; vivid memories of sticking my head out the window trying to get a glace of the passing scenery, playing card games with my brother as the road rushes by or hearing the muffled sound of the engine as my cheek pressed against the back seat and my body crammed, while my parents continued to battle the drive through the late night hours. Looking past the discomforts, fights and ‘are we there yets’, if I could recommend anything to the parents in today’s day and age it would be to force those family road trips! They build character and unite the family. Its is those memories that we end up remembering most I think. I strongly believe that I am the person that I have become today, because of the wonderfull things I was exposed at that early age. And although I don't remember that monkey, I'm sure I was loving that beach then, just as much as I would love it now.

I once again leave you with a quote...

To explore the unknown and the familiar, distant and near, and to record in details with the eyes of a child, any beauty, horror, irony, traces of utopia or Hell. - Dan Eldon

Dedications:

I want to dedicate this space;

To My Friends; so that I can share with them and document not only my mini-adventures as well as our adventures and experiences, may they not be forgotten.
To My Family; so that they can get to know me a little better and learn about the things I love to do.
To Those Who I Don’t Know; not only to get to know me, but learn and hopefully undertake the mini ventures that can brighten up their day to day.
To Those Who Want to Get Away, but Who Can’t Get Away.
And most importantly,
To Myself; so that I can always be reminded to continue to Dream, Explore and Discover.

Why?

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to my blog.

I have finally undertaken the challenge to start a piece of my own public webspace and take the courage to share with the rest of the world some of my thoughts, interests and experiences.

The above is a picture of what I am faced with every single day for a total time of 2.5 hrs a day getting to and from my 9-5. It can be safely said, I have a lot of time to reflect. I love life, I love to travel and I love meeting new people, but I can never find enough time or sometimes even courage for it. I currently feel trapped in a life that seems mediocre and temporary, but one that requires a great deal of effort to escape.

This more than anything, has caused me to resort to really appreciating the little things around me that make me happy in my life right now. With camera and journal in hand, I wish to share some of these with you through the means of this blog.

I have great hopes that you will find some of my posts useful, some inspiring and if anything at least some that you can slightly relate to.

Keep in mind...

By the end of your life, it will be the things you didn’t do rather than the things you did do that you will regret. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Dream. Explore. Discover.

The Beginning...

This is My First Post!