So there was a man,
the way which we meet was quite unusual for sure.
April 16nd, Sunday, Sunny day 19.
Taking the COHO ferry from Victoria - Port Angelers
Customs officer: "Where are you heading today sir?"
Pirate: to visit a friend.
CO: "how do you know this friend?"
P: "well officer, i haven't officially meet him i just left my truck at his house two weeks ago.. its a kind of a funny story. I had no place to park and didn't want to pay $6 a day for parking leaving my truck down her for two weeks, so i found this house and left the person my email, his name is Laird."
CO: "ummm ok, where does this person live?"
P: well its up the road out of town, turn left at the top of the hill and its about a block in, one block away from the beach"
CO: "everything here is a block away from the beach"
P: "well its there, i don't know the address"
CO: ok, Mr G-Gallus, so im going to hold on to your passport and you are going to bring your truck down her for us to check out"
P:"ummm ok, sure"
His name is Laird..
His is retired, and loves scotch. Also the finer things in life, skiing and getting shit done! He works hard restoring and renovation houses he bought many of years ago. In a town, in his mind is slowly dying. but the tourism is somewhat keeping it alive.
What im posting here could properly be illegal or unethical, but you should all know about this man!
First Responses after leaving a message on his door with my email.
Apr. 18th
Should be fine, would have been better if you parked closer to the dog's car (brown Mocha Mobil) that way it looks like you are here at the house instead of a transient. If it is long term I have a house I am working on 6 blks up the street.
----
Apr. 19th
Hi Larid,
Thankyou again for letting me park there, i will be down in the next couple of weeks to pick it up and import it.
Just a random question do you have any relation to a Brian and Kathy XXXX from Fruitland WA, 2 hours north of Spokane along HWY 25? I see from your email that your a skiier perhaps, i was working at Red Mountain just near Nelson BC.
Do you need anything from victoria when i come down?
Thanks again.
Sam
----
Apr. 19th
It was a strange year here. It snowed hard in Nov. and dec. and then rained. So the Ridge wasn't open and when it did get good the Park would have it closed down for Sever storm warning. This year was a bust. I mostly back country downhill. Hike for twenty minutes or more and ski for about 3min. Is that crazy or what? My biological father was adopted and lived on a Reservation I think in Idaho. He does have a sister that came to his funeral some years back. He left when I was 3 or 4 so I don't know too much about him other than he would always talk about his High School basket ball titles. Kind of Like Al Bundy on Married with Children. Anyway, on the return trip on the Coho ferry pick me up a bottle of duty free scotch. They are really inconsistent on their supplies. Sometimes they have Glenfidach or Bushmill's I will gladly pay you back. Liquor here in Washington is as bad as Canada. Feel free to give me a call on the ferry on the return trip. Don't call until you are at least 1/2 way across so you don't get stuck for roaming charges. Unless your phone is registered in Canada.
(360) 808-XXXX
---
Another five or so message get sent back and forward, mainly aguing about the ferry times, and me pirate sam proving to me right after he disgruntly calls the coho depo to find the times have changed due to spring. was one of our quite funner of few interactions.
---
24th. May
Laird,
How have you been down there? your mountains over there still amazing me looking from vic, are there any glaciers up there or is it to mild?
So ill be coming down to visit and pick up my truck around the 15th, ill know better dates and time closer to the day but ill be down in cali for two weeks then hopefully selling my truck on the way back. Ill make sure i pick up the right bottle of scotch for you on way over as a thankyou for helping me.
have a great sunny day,
cheers
Sam
----
May. 25th
Just got back from a trip down to Yachats on the Oregon coast. Spent 4days there. Good chance I will be here in town that days but if I am not the key is in the top drawer of the old sewing machine cabinet on the porch. Going to be gone the weekend before though. Will either be fishing or going a graduation party of friend (ones we visit in Oregon) she is graduating from the UW pharmacology as a pharmacist. will be boring! rather fish for halibut and get the shit kicked out of me from the heavy seas. Don't have any room in the freezers for more fish, but what the hell.
----
You can make up your own opinion,
I could tell when i saw his house, without even meeting him that there was something different. A man, with some amazing energy that is shown through his everyday life!
The love, time and passion.. for a simply amazing lifestyle.
the un-majority stereotype of america.
Pirate
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wild Summer Play
So Mid May, Time is flying by.
Time in once again getting the better of me, less than a month until i head down to cali to catching up with the aussie crew coming over, before the real summer take on full swing.
Last week, actually nearly three weeks ago i guess, i went down to visit Laird down in port anglers. I left my truck at his house when i first came up to Victoria, left a note with my email on it and we have keep in contact. So thought it would be nice go down for a visit and actually meet him. But the boarded wanted to give me a hard time once again so had the enjoyable pleasure of their company for the most part of two hours. It's a good story, ill leave it at that! well it always is with me and boarders as many of you would know by now.
Totally killed my job interview at wild play, it was just so smooth... the job was for me, its the job for me! the people are super rad and working outside with people getting stoked is awesome. did a week of intense training and now a fully qualified guide with them which enables me to do AD (accessed descents) when people are too tired or scared to continue. And the best part of the job is that i get to work with MIM! She just got promoted to GSA (guest service attendant) Team Lead! I love(7)* her for the amazing energy she bring to our relationship.
I knocked together some kickass planter boxes the other day, and we have some herbs, strawberry's and peppers growing out the front. Getting all moved into my man cave in James Bay, I live in a duplex just with three other girls about 10 minutes walk from downtown.. surround by water on three sides.
* The numbers next to love is the scale of love.. the number limit has not been set. (the system came from a extended discussion on love with mim, after i listened to a physiology lecture about the emotion of love)
Time in once again getting the better of me, less than a month until i head down to cali to catching up with the aussie crew coming over, before the real summer take on full swing.
Last week, actually nearly three weeks ago i guess, i went down to visit Laird down in port anglers. I left my truck at his house when i first came up to Victoria, left a note with my email on it and we have keep in contact. So thought it would be nice go down for a visit and actually meet him. But the boarded wanted to give me a hard time once again so had the enjoyable pleasure of their company for the most part of two hours. It's a good story, ill leave it at that! well it always is with me and boarders as many of you would know by now.
Totally killed my job interview at wild play, it was just so smooth... the job was for me, its the job for me! the people are super rad and working outside with people getting stoked is awesome. did a week of intense training and now a fully qualified guide with them which enables me to do AD (accessed descents) when people are too tired or scared to continue. And the best part of the job is that i get to work with MIM! She just got promoted to GSA (guest service attendant) Team Lead! I love(7)* her for the amazing energy she bring to our relationship.
I knocked together some kickass planter boxes the other day, and we have some herbs, strawberry's and peppers growing out the front. Getting all moved into my man cave in James Bay, I live in a duplex just with three other girls about 10 minutes walk from downtown.. surround by water on three sides.
* The numbers next to love is the scale of love.. the number limit has not been set. (the system came from a extended discussion on love with mim, after i listened to a physiology lecture about the emotion of love)
Monday, April 18, 2011
Summer Wind!
It has been quite windy as of late, getting blown north and south then out west.
currently reside in victoria, hopefully for the summer. job interview with wildplay tomorrow hope i kill it!
Bought a truck down in the states, chevy s10 pick up.. had alot of dramas' getting it back into canada, which now it's ended up being parked in port anglers (90min ferry south of vic).
On the way out i stayed with brian and kathy for a couple of days, did my first head gasket replacement on a truck. Super stoked on the whole thing, i should be able to import it sometime in the near future.
In Seattle i had my first official couch surfing experience with a gal called diane, she was hitting the town for the night so i tagged along, Sake bombs, great sushi, salsa dancing, drunk Russian women... shal i say more?
It was a great time and has really opened my mind up to the great community which is couchsurfing. ( www.couchsurfing.com )
Picked up a freebord in Spokane last week, took it out with the rossy boys for a ride around aittle hard with some much gravel on the road still from the winter but got an idea, have been riding it out here around vic.. give it another couple of weeks and be shreading her hard!
Before i left Rossland, we had a sake and sushi night at the brothel, aswel as the first Habb's game of the play off which resulted with me having ridiculous sharpied on handlebars care of rosie, nick and the hawk!
Good time are in the future, so far it has been great.. Good vibes, maybe a couple of karma points. wish me luck for my interview tomorrow, hope it goes well!
Ill leave you with some pictures of the trip out here, an area called sun lake. just out side of coulee city, an amazing park which is in a canyon with some awesome lakes through out.
Enjoy, keep it klassy world!
currently reside in victoria, hopefully for the summer. job interview with wildplay tomorrow hope i kill it!
Bought a truck down in the states, chevy s10 pick up.. had alot of dramas' getting it back into canada, which now it's ended up being parked in port anglers (90min ferry south of vic).
On the way out i stayed with brian and kathy for a couple of days, did my first head gasket replacement on a truck. Super stoked on the whole thing, i should be able to import it sometime in the near future.
In Seattle i had my first official couch surfing experience with a gal called diane, she was hitting the town for the night so i tagged along, Sake bombs, great sushi, salsa dancing, drunk Russian women... shal i say more?
It was a great time and has really opened my mind up to the great community which is couchsurfing. ( www.couchsurfing.com )
Picked up a freebord in Spokane last week, took it out with the rossy boys for a ride around aittle hard with some much gravel on the road still from the winter but got an idea, have been riding it out here around vic.. give it another couple of weeks and be shreading her hard!
Before i left Rossland, we had a sake and sushi night at the brothel, aswel as the first Habb's game of the play off which resulted with me having ridiculous sharpied on handlebars care of rosie, nick and the hawk!
Good time are in the future, so far it has been great.. Good vibes, maybe a couple of karma points. wish me luck for my interview tomorrow, hope it goes well!
Ill leave you with some pictures of the trip out here, an area called sun lake. just out side of coulee city, an amazing park which is in a canyon with some awesome lakes through out.
Enjoy, keep it klassy world!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Summer Wannado's
- rock climbing outdoor
- learn to fly fish
- island hiking trails (multi day)
- critical mass
- bike as much as i can
- grow a vegie garden
-
more to add soon.
- learn to fly fish
- island hiking trails (multi day)
- critical mass
- bike as much as i can
- grow a vegie garden
-
more to add soon.
Sunbaking in 5degrees next to a snowbank.
Sometimes it has to be done, it has officially been the 5th day of sunshine since November, which after my new found love for summer has been killing me!
Spring comes, the birds a chirping in the trees, snowbanks are transforming, dust is everywhere from the winter road maintenance and here i am laying on the deck getting some southfacing rays! It's been too long, with only a week to go until the ski hill closes summer plans are full into swing.
On the upcoming events entail:
Heading down south to buy a pickup truck
Then heading out to the island to secure some summer work.
looking forward to getting behind a camera again and getting some amazing shots, can't wait to see Mim again in victoria, and the random bikeride we take around.
yeah not long now, getting stoked for the next couple of months!
Spring comes, the birds a chirping in the trees, snowbanks are transforming, dust is everywhere from the winter road maintenance and here i am laying on the deck getting some southfacing rays! It's been too long, with only a week to go until the ski hill closes summer plans are full into swing.
On the upcoming events entail:
Heading down south to buy a pickup truck
Then heading out to the island to secure some summer work.
looking forward to getting behind a camera again and getting some amazing shots, can't wait to see Mim again in victoria, and the random bikeride we take around.
yeah not long now, getting stoked for the next couple of months!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Roasted Red pepper souppp!
Also add some hot sauce for extra kick,
Red Pepper Soup
Makes six large servings, 12 demitasse size.
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 1/4 cup sliced onions
3 large cloves garlic, crushed
12 large red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock or broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
Salt and white or black pepper
Crème fraîche for garnish
Thyme sprigs for garnish.
Put oil in large pot. Add onion when oil is hot. Cook onions until they begin to soften and take on color. Add garlic and cook another minute. Add wine and cook down quickly and on high heat, until only one tablespoon is left. Add peppers, stock, thyme and red pepper flakes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until peppers are tender, about 30 minutes. In food processor or with an immersion blender, puree mixture in until smooth (if a food processor, in batches). Adjust seasonings to taste.
Soup can be served warm or chilled. Serve in demitasse cups or soup bowls, topped with a dab of crème fraîche and a tiny sprig of thyme.
Do ahead: Cover and chill overnight or for as long as 2 days or freeze (whisk well before serving if thawed).
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Spring Rant
Watching all this fall, My love for snow is slowly killing me from the inside.
it's been 10 days since ive ridden due to a stupid work related accident. barely been able to hobble around, is has defiantly been a mentally, and emotional challenge..
just one run, would all it would take but that's also all it would take to delay my recovery....
At least all my friends are out there having the most epic shredding of the season.
sad pirate..
Monday, March 14, 2011
New Adventure..
Business Image
Our Town:
Set on an ancient volcanic valley deep in the Monashee Mountains in the Kootenay Rockies region, Rossland (pop. 3,500) is your all-season tourist destination. From skiing and boarding at Red Mountain Resort - Western Canada's oldest ski hill - to mountain biking and hiking on one of the numerous trails; Rossland has a mecca of activities to offer the young and old; families and the unattached.
The Ski Bum Lounge Café
The Ski bum café lounge is a new unique coffee shop, lounge and retail hub in the downtown Rossland district. The café will be known for espresso, coffee and coffee based products and a unique vibe of Rossland’s Ski/Riding based atmosphere. In addition, light snacks, sandwiches, Panini’s and baked goods will be available with your coffee based products. We also have a retail selection of tourist memorabilia, and a select small range of featured snowboards for sale. The café establishment will play many kinds of music from banger ski-movie beats to the smooth tunes of Michael Franiti to enhance the atmosphere and provide free wireless internet access, additional televisions playing current ski and snowboard movies and chill out console area. The mission of Ski Bum Café Lounge is to provide high quality products and services with the same comfort as you would expect at home with the Rossland ski town vibe. The interior is made up of unique memorabilia from historic Rossland Skiing era as well as accompanied by artwork from local artists; seating varies from bean bags to couches and even hammocks for you complete comfort.
The café will serve a variety of cappuccinos and coffees. The cappuccino flavors will include vanilla, gingerbread, eggnog, peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon among many others. Other available beverages, such as pop and juice, will also be available. The café will also search deli-style sandwiches with the freshest ingredients, muffins, paninis, and other tasty treats.
How We Differ From The Rest
Rossland is already bursting with coffee shops, so why do we think we can beat the market?
Simply because we are offering a completely different experience that I personally have never come across in all of my travels, a place that you can go, relax, unwind. That captures the true meaning of the ski bum community. Also we are not here to make a huge amount of money, we are here because we love what we do, where we are and want to share it with the fellow ski bums alike.
A somewhat of a “sanctuary for ski bums”
Desired Location
Our Town:
Set on an ancient volcanic valley deep in the Monashee Mountains in the Kootenay Rockies region, Rossland (pop. 3,500) is your all-season tourist destination. From skiing and boarding at Red Mountain Resort - Western Canada's oldest ski hill - to mountain biking and hiking on one of the numerous trails; Rossland has a mecca of activities to offer the young and old; families and the unattached.
The Ski Bum Lounge Café
The Ski bum café lounge is a new unique coffee shop, lounge and retail hub in the downtown Rossland district. The café will be known for espresso, coffee and coffee based products and a unique vibe of Rossland’s Ski/Riding based atmosphere. In addition, light snacks, sandwiches, Panini’s and baked goods will be available with your coffee based products. We also have a retail selection of tourist memorabilia, and a select small range of featured snowboards for sale. The café establishment will play many kinds of music from banger ski-movie beats to the smooth tunes of Michael Franiti to enhance the atmosphere and provide free wireless internet access, additional televisions playing current ski and snowboard movies and chill out console area. The mission of Ski Bum Café Lounge is to provide high quality products and services with the same comfort as you would expect at home with the Rossland ski town vibe. The interior is made up of unique memorabilia from historic Rossland Skiing era as well as accompanied by artwork from local artists; seating varies from bean bags to couches and even hammocks for you complete comfort.
The café will serve a variety of cappuccinos and coffees. The cappuccino flavors will include vanilla, gingerbread, eggnog, peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon among many others. Other available beverages, such as pop and juice, will also be available. The café will also search deli-style sandwiches with the freshest ingredients, muffins, paninis, and other tasty treats.
How We Differ From The Rest
Rossland is already bursting with coffee shops, so why do we think we can beat the market?
Simply because we are offering a completely different experience that I personally have never come across in all of my travels, a place that you can go, relax, unwind. That captures the true meaning of the ski bum community. Also we are not here to make a huge amount of money, we are here because we love what we do, where we are and want to share it with the fellow ski bums alike.
A somewhat of a “sanctuary for ski bums”
Desired Location
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
BM 2011 - Rite Of Passage
today.. read alot about evaporating grey water systems that work in the middle of the desert and the effects of dust in the effectiveness of the different systems, and finding a way to produce power with the use of generators ie wind or solar.
Investigating different shelters used in the festival and which ones the most effective and if there is a DIY soluition that will handle the 75mile an hour winds.
Rite Of Passage..
After spending a few hours on the ePlaya forums reading discussions about the theme, doing my own research online found alot of ideas pointing to religion.. But burningman is about diversity and understanding of all who contribute to the community. So I feel that there is alot to work with in this theme, as BRC (Black Rock City) being a religion to some so why not take the Rite Of Passage of BM... Alot more studying and ideas have to be produced, im stoked to exercise my energy for such a creative event.
More to come!
Investigating different shelters used in the festival and which ones the most effective and if there is a DIY soluition that will handle the 75mile an hour winds.
Rite Of Passage..
After spending a few hours on the ePlaya forums reading discussions about the theme, doing my own research online found alot of ideas pointing to religion.. But burningman is about diversity and understanding of all who contribute to the community. So I feel that there is alot to work with in this theme, as BRC (Black Rock City) being a religion to some so why not take the Rite Of Passage of BM... Alot more studying and ideas have to be produced, im stoked to exercise my energy for such a creative event.
More to come!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Kick back on the horse
Have to start back on the blog i guess, because summer time is coming up! not!
Nah things have been super busy around here.. Working and playing hard (sometimes to hard).
So alittle run down of the season so far, after getting back into canada nov 26ish, i spent a couple of days out on vancouver island visiting mim and claire, then caught up with nicole and simon for a night went up to the blue wolf perhaps after destroying four bottles of chambagian. Just caught my ferry again back in the mainland and met up with jess from treeplanting camp, we went for a shread with tommo up at grouse which was super fun for the first sesh of the year!
Next day visited carm at her new place of work in kitz after have an awesome breakfast with jess, gave her a sweet poncho that i bought back from bali. From there rushed across town to new west to catch a ride with narine and devin that were coming out to the kootenays....
8 hours later, after settling into back with some tim hortens and hot chocolate.. we were there!
Crashed out at lund place for a couple of nights, before moving in with allen a week or so later, ski hill orientation.. once again completely boring, left the next day with grady down south to brian and kathys for a couple of days and picked up my campervan to bring back up to rossland for the season.
The nights have been wild since then, taming them down as of late due to having to buy a new snowboard setup because i absolutely destroyed my gear last pow day dropping big :(
Winter carnival = fun but missed out on a bunch because of work .. so i have dropped my saturday shift so i can ski with brian and kathy and have a weekend day off..
Other mentionable:
Went down to Idaho with wiggles ski 7B, got pulled over by the cops twice!
Met Celia from SA on the plane ride over, randomly have ran into her a bunch.. good kid
bought a pair of K2 coombers
saw a sweet band from manitoba that mim told me to see, they rock!
and going to burning man this summer! woot
carmens come 16th of feb... hurray
Nah things have been super busy around here.. Working and playing hard (sometimes to hard).
So alittle run down of the season so far, after getting back into canada nov 26ish, i spent a couple of days out on vancouver island visiting mim and claire, then caught up with nicole and simon for a night went up to the blue wolf perhaps after destroying four bottles of chambagian. Just caught my ferry again back in the mainland and met up with jess from treeplanting camp, we went for a shread with tommo up at grouse which was super fun for the first sesh of the year!
Next day visited carm at her new place of work in kitz after have an awesome breakfast with jess, gave her a sweet poncho that i bought back from bali. From there rushed across town to new west to catch a ride with narine and devin that were coming out to the kootenays....
8 hours later, after settling into back with some tim hortens and hot chocolate.. we were there!
Crashed out at lund place for a couple of nights, before moving in with allen a week or so later, ski hill orientation.. once again completely boring, left the next day with grady down south to brian and kathys for a couple of days and picked up my campervan to bring back up to rossland for the season.
The nights have been wild since then, taming them down as of late due to having to buy a new snowboard setup because i absolutely destroyed my gear last pow day dropping big :(
Winter carnival = fun but missed out on a bunch because of work .. so i have dropped my saturday shift so i can ski with brian and kathy and have a weekend day off..
Other mentionable:
Went down to Idaho with wiggles ski 7B, got pulled over by the cops twice!
Met Celia from SA on the plane ride over, randomly have ran into her a bunch.. good kid
bought a pair of K2 coombers
saw a sweet band from manitoba that mim told me to see, they rock!
and going to burning man this summer! woot
carmens come 16th of feb... hurray
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