Where you will find my (documented) thoughts, worries, concerns, and issues
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155 posts tagged with this topic.
The bed was hard. The girls slept terribly on possibly the worst pull-out couch, ever. After failing to get the Krupp machine in our room to work, Monkey and let Alex and Choo Choo sleep a bit more and stole away to the …
The thunderstorm started at 5am. Cathy’s dog, Hennessey, got me up not long after. Dogs generally aren’t fans of loud noises and this dog isn’t a fan of thunderstorms. I knew then it was going to be a …
GO Transit has a major problem: the prices. Actually, it’s a bigger problem than that, so let me start there: Too many people. In the last 15 years, the Greater Toronto Area has grown by at least 1.2 million …
From the outset, today’s plans were always going to be a big dodgy. Although we had a definitively hard schedule for 6pm, the rest was to be made up as we went. Obviously, we’ve been to Toronto before. Alex …
The 2020s keep on burning like a bad dumpster fire. It’s hard to find the highs when we saw the disturbing rise of fascism in the former home of democracy, authoritarianism rising in Alberta (with several uses of …
And I thought yesterday was a drive. I woke up to people above us thumping around. The joys of a four-storey walk-up. Dragging everyone else out of bed, we headed up the road to Blas, a restaurant in the Gateway Lodge. …
When I got up around 7:30, Monkey had already been up for an hour. I loathe mornings on vacations without plans because people will sleep indefinitely and I didn’t pay a few thousand dollars to fly to a different …
Despite the lack of sleep due to the Dirty Knobs concert and rising early on Friday to prepare for an interview that was delayed, I couldn’t sleep Friday night. Still, I forced myself to sleep in a bit. I took the house …
I’m starting to lose track of days. I think that’s the sign of a good vacation. Heavens forbid that I might actually like cruising… We arrived in Skagway early, I woke briefly and glanced at the …
Alex has a mild obsession with the movie Amadeus. This comes from seeing it as a child, home with a cd, and her father thought it would be an interesting thing for her. Not Strawberry Shortcake, not The Care Bears, not …
I follow trains, not sure if you knew that… Every year, through November and into December, CPKC (formerly Canadian Pacific) runs the Holiday Train, a short set of cars decorated with lights that get a little more …
I had to take a week and a half off of work. Our Glorious Department of People has a hard-and-fast rule that Thou Shalt Not Carry Over Vacation, Even If You’ve Worked 65+ Hour Weeks For Months Because We’re …
Today, we went into Vancouver. Last year, I went in my own to visit with Scott (and ride in his time machine). This year, it was all of us to hang out with Jen. I wasn’t too keen on trying to drive into Vancouver. …
I admit, I have a couple of non-standard hobbies. The one that gets the highest eyebrow raise, is, of course, chasing trains. But I’m not a generalist, I tend not to chase any train, there has to be something …
I’ve driven part of Highway 3 – the Crowsnest Highway – between Cranbrook, British Columbia and Fort MacLeod, Alberta. I’ve driven it enough that I know the general map. What I haven’t done, …
This is the 70th year that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has delivered TV service. I know this because 20 years ago, I helped run a celebration of CBC TV across Canada. And today is the 20th anniversary of that …
I met my friend Nancy when I first joined Critical Mass in April 2000. She was my first project manager, as we slugged away at the Proctor & Gamble Presiva project (it’s a fringe product that thankfully died out …
This was the day I’d been waiting for since June. I have nothing against Epcot or Animal Kingdom, and I very much love the Kennedy Space Center. But when it comes to magic, the closest I’ll ever get to witnessing real …
I moved the family as quickly as I had the day before. My biggest need that morning wasn’t to get to Animal Kingdom, it was to return the car before we got dinged another USD$133. I’d gotten over the fact that we’d ended …
Ten years ago today, I boarded a shuttle bus from a hotel in Vancouver, and met some of the most amazing people I’ve ever had the pleasure — nay, honour — to know and work with. (Believe me, I’ve worked with a lot of …
For at least the last couple of years, Heritage Park finds a way to bring in Thomas the Tank Engine for the kids. (It’s a fake engine, but the kids don’t care.) The big thing is to ride the train behind Thomas, and …
Every year, the City of Vancouver puts on a light show in and around the miniature train in Stanley Park. Last night, after the kids had gone to bed, Allen, Jean, and I discussed the possibility of going. The catch was …
We were supposed to go out to a lake near the Ontario border today, but Mommy and I threw up the white flag and declared us all “done”. We need a break. Monkey, you’ve been very patient being trapped in the …
I sit here at my kitchen table, rubbing the weariness from my eyes. Not the things you’d normally hear from me, mind you — I haven’t been working too hard as of late (as you know, my big project is done). No, this is …
In our Inconvenient Truth world, popular desire is starting to change the way some companies think. We’re seeing large companies produce “green” products, such as biodegradable detergents, packaging from …
I rarely remember my dreams. I have to wake up in the middle of them to remember what they were about, and quite often I’m so tired that by the time I can get my mental faculties together to try and remember the dream, I …
Well, Kiddo, today was a really fun day! Plans don’t always go according to plan, but there are those times when one plan ends up giving who new plans that are possibly even more fun than the original ones. I’d like to …
My dogs are barkin’. It’s been a day on my feet. A good day, to be sure, but a lot of walking, and a lot of standing. The same was true for Alex, and it would be for Mi Pequeña Niña if she hadn’t slept for a solid hour …
In the few minutes I have before I dive back into another conference session, figured I’d cover some of the items of our last vacation. This was a 2.5 week excursion mostly to Scotland, with a few days in England. Alex …
Late arriving in San Francisco, no thanks to an incoming snowstorm in Calgary. The deicing truck broke down mid-hose, and we had to wait 30 minutes for another one. But it gave me more time to have an interesting chat …
Well, we’re into Day 2 on our Iona Community experience. Thus far it’s been … well, chilly. The weather here is reminiscent of something we tried to leave back home. Only windier with the sea dampness to add to …
The Society of International Railway Travelers just released their list of the Top 25 Trains in the world. I really gotta remember to join this group. Anyway, they put the following: North America Canadian (Canada) Royal …
I just came across a rather … well, odd article on CBC.ca. It’s a blueprint for 2018. Apparently, the Calgary City council thinks that there should be a bullet train from here to Fort McMurray. Someone’s been …
It’s official — I’m going to be able to ride the C-Train to work in four years. Sounds like a long time away, but the reality is that this is going to make my life a lot better. Back when I used to live in Sunnyside, I …
As I’ve said before, I’m no expert. I haven’t been everywhere or done everything. But one thing I have done is paid attention to public transit systems, especially the ones I’ve had to deal with on a daily basis. Such as …
Every time that I’ve chased CP 2816, it’s been eastbound. Never before have I had the chance to actually do a westbound chase. Today, I finally got that chance. I almost didn’t. A small crisis at work broke out, and I …
It’s not every day you get to celebrate someone’s 140th birthday, and they’re pretty happy about the whole affair. I got to spend it what I’ve done for several years now, helping out with the Rocky Mountain Rail Society …
Not quite two years ago, I had the pleasure of riding trains from St. Petersburg, Russia all the way to Hong Kong. Quite the experience, let me tell you. One part of it was riding the Trans Siberian Railway from Moscow …
Alex slept better in a king-size hotel bed. Not so much for myself. I was tired. Grumpy. Irritable. That’s why I was particularly annoyed with the complete and utter disappearance of my deodorant (which I know I had with …
So I’m taking VIA from London to Oakville, saving Alex from another four hours of driving on Ontario’s highways. I’m sitting here with my trusty laptop trying to do some work, using the “Wi-Fi” service …
The flight left Charles du Gaulle at 11:30. That meant, of course, that I had to be there in sufficient time to check in, get through security, find the flight, and so forth. Thankfully, I’d gone through the trouble last …
Free day. I had some variety of grandiose plans for today. I was going to see so much of Paris that I’d be actually tired of it. That had been the plan. What I hadn’t planned on was how tired I was going to feel when I …
I’m beginning to understand why people hate business trips. You can’t pack what you want (you have to pack for meetings with clients) and you don’t travel necessarily when you want. But at least the locations can be …
This weekend, it was my turn to be surprised. And surprises came in droves. Sunday was my 34th birthday. I find it a little hard to believe that I’m actually that old. I always figured when I was in my 30s, I’d be more …
We woke late. Had it not been for Allen returning from the office to prepare for Sunday service, I would might have slept entirely though my only chance to actually see him in action. It wasn’t the service that interests …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Things seen along the way.] As we’ve moved along over this journey, I’ve taken pictures of things for posting to the blog. Some of them didn’t make it, for one reason or …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: The Last.] Yesterday was a day of lasts. The last train (finally, even if it was just an airport tram; I was thwarted from taking the airport express train by a …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Nara is neat.] The last time I was in Japan (a little over a year ago), I’d wanted to go to Nara. I’d quite a bit about it, but just hadn’t gotten the chance to go. So …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Wandering around Tokyo.] Tokyo is a wonderful city. Even in the rain. Despite a delayed start (we were up late — it doesn’t help that Chris and I yak a lot), we soon …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Going uphill to Victoria Peak.] After meeting up with Amy, following our mutual attire sizings (and having a snack in a very Irish bar, oddly sitting amidst a lot of …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Ode to Hong Kong Trolleys.] Trolley headlight burning bright, cart me through this stormy night, Away to the curious city sights And let me view the highest heights! …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Last night's train.] Man, do I ever have more to say about last night… This was the second long distance train we’ve taken in China (I’m not counting the train …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: The Shanghai MagLev Train.] A few years back, someone got the idea that China really needed to showcase its technical know-how, and put forth the idea of building one of …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Searching for the Tianjin Antique Market.] Lonely Planet recommends going to Tianjin, especially to see the antique market there. It is said that a lot of the materials …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Ni hao, Beijing!.] I woke up at the Datong station. I’d slept about seven hours, but decided that I wasn’t going to miss crossing this part of China. I was in a new …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Crossing the Mongolia - China border by train.] Attention Lonely Planet! You might want to update your information for the next run of your Trans Siberian Railway book, …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: More Russian train stuff.] Okay, quick update…So Continuously Welded Rail (CWR) doesn’t exist coast-to-coast. After we left Ekaterinburg, we went to jointed rail. …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Crossing the Russia - Mongolia border by train.] We knew this was going to be rough. We knew this was going to be long. It wasn’t as bad as we thought it might be, but …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: The last Russian stop.] We’re in Ulan Ude now, having arrived a bit later last night than scheduled. (Mind you, it took a half hour to walk from the train to the hotel.) …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Alive in Irkutsk.] You know that feeling you get, when you’re finding yourself walking down a street in a dream, and you’re not sure if you know where you are, but you …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Cough.] I’m sick. I caught Amy’s cold. I hate being sick. The only thing worse than being sick is being sick on a train. It ruins the experience. Blech. Sniff
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Amy, communications superstar!.] So, sitting in the only internet connection in all of Krasnoyarsk (or seemingly so), Amy dove into one of the sites she used extensively …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: A (hopefully) brief stop in Krasnoyarsk.] Krasnoyarsk. I think it’s Russian for “ass end of the country”. There ain’t much here. This is the most utilitarian …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Russian trains.] A few of you are probably wondering about the Russian train system. (Okay, I imagine not really wondering about the system, but about why I haven’t …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Finding the Academy of Geology Hotel.] When the Lonely Planet books fall a little short…So here’s the description of the Academy of Geology Hotel here in …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Kazan, take me away!.] I wholeheartedly agree with Amy. Moscow is dismal. Even when it’s sunny, it’s dismal. There is just no joy or life in this city. I don’t know if …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Hermitage, Railway Museums, and Palaces, oh my!.] Oy. The last 36-ish hours have been a whirlwind of activity. Hit the Hermitage, as you already know, and then hit it up …
[This entry originally posted on How To Get Lost: Pickpockets suck!.] I’ve had two separate and unique run-ins with pickpockets. The first was at the Edgefest concert in Vancouver back in “99. I think we were …
No rooster, just the sounds of patrons leaving their rooms. I think I prefered the rooster. The Chateau’s name is a little misleading. One is brought to think of the Canadian Pacific (now Fairmont) hotels, with the old …
No-one told me that we were doing any surprises this weekend. ‘Course, then it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it? Allen (Alex’s father) took Jean (Alex’s stepmom) down to Cranbrook so she could catch a flight out to …
Sometimes, I think I’m part dog. They chase cars. Me? I chase trains. I don’t know why. Canadian Pacific is sending 2816 across Canada from Vancouver to Montreal in May this year, bringing along a load of very …
Why had I gone to Shinagawa to kill time? Simply put, it was far enough away from Tsukiji that walking alone would eat up some time, but not so far that I would be exhausted by the time I got to my destination. I had …
We got up a bit later than I’d hoped for, mostly because I’d accidentally turned off the alarm instead of snoozing it. We took the first train we could get to into Tokyo. I stood, wedged in a space between the door and …
We were up a little earlier than the previous few days, so we could catch a good train out to Kamakura, our excursion for the day. Kamakura is a small town south of Tokyo, about an hour and three-quarters away from …
The alarm went off early. Earlier than usual, anyway. Jen was still sleeping, so I thought I’d let her sleep a bit longer. But at 9:00, I got her going. Unforunately, Jen started off with a killer headache, so she didn’t …
The household woke up slowly. The events of last night had done us all in. Kaz and Chris were tired from all the attention they’d been getting. Jen and I were tired from all the things we’d done and drinks we’d had. As …
We woke up several times this morning. Once when the phone rang (Mike and Brenda checking in on us), when Kaz and Chris’ new refrigerator showed up, when the phone rang a second time, and when the earthquake hit. And …
More tofu for breakfast. Blech. Well, not so much blech as bland and really not what I’d like to eat first thing in the morning. Jen didn’t eat much. Today we’re back to Tokyo (and Yotsukaido). But first, we wanted to do …
We attempted to move a bit quicker this morning. The key word being “attempted”. The idea was to go to Osaka and do the touring thing. That meant we had to leave at a reasonable time so we could catch the …
Today, we experienced what can only be the most terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced. The earthquake hit around 7:30, and shook the entire room. Jen and I leapt from bed, and I dragged her into one of the doorways — …
We woke before 8:00 this morning, expecting breakfast. At least, that was the time they put on the reservation notice I got from the guest house reservation service. We didn’t eat until about 8:30, though, which was …
No hangovers. This was a good way to start the day, even if it was a lot earlier than Jen really would have liked. (Mind you, Jen likes noon as a wake-up time.) It was warm in the room. The Japanese seem to like it warm. …
I slept a little oddly, considering we’d been up for over 24 hours straight. Woke up once around 3:00 (mostly to go to the bathroom), again at about 5:00, and finally at about 7:50. At that point, it was enough to say …
I slept like crap. And it wasn’t because I slept on the couch at Aunt Brenda and Uncle Mike’s last night. I’m certain it’s because of stress. Kind of ironic to have this crop up the night before I leave on vacation, eh? …
Morning came early. (When your hosts have to get up early to go to work, you get up early, too.) The plan was simple: on their way to work, Therese and Stuart would drop me off at Central Station where, like when I …
I honestly couldn’t wait for 5:00 to come this morning. Today is the start of my first break longer than a long weekend in almost a year. I’ve been working away on my job, barely taking time off, slaving through one of …
This weekend, I visited southern Ontario. Even though I’ve only just left, it almost feels like I was never even there. A few weeks back, Critical Mass announced (to the employees) that it was in the process of pitching …
Critical Mass is growing. We’re preparing for a (hoped) massive expansion, but also have organic growth to contend with. This is what led Critical Mass to have to hire a new Project Analyst. And luckily for me, it’s my …
It’s hard to believe that it’s only been a year since the day the CBC Television 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train departed Vancouver on its epic 33-day trip across Canada. It seems like it’s been a lot longer. I suppose …
On Canada Day, most people take the time to go do something special, like visit events in their local community or town, possibly visit one of Canada’s majestic national parks (which are free today), or visit the local …
Okay, before you all say “oh, there’s Geoff and his trains again!”, I would like to emphasize — for the record — that I only did this because the Society was desperate for people. The Society, of course, is …
While this weekend was absolutely amazing, too many of these and I’ll die from exhaustion. I started early Saturday morning. Those of you who are chiming in with “must be train stuff” can smile smugly — ‘cuz …
When I finally arrived home from my stint with the CBC so many months ago, I was happy to be back. It will be nice to be home after my trip to Japan, even though it’s sad to leave it so soon. When I arrived almost two …
Another day, another adventure. Today, though, we would throw in a different nationality. We all rose at basically the same time and quickly prepared for our departure. We needed to be in Yokohama by about 10:30, which …
I think a good rule of thumb for how long you should stay in one place while on vacation is your comfort level. When you become too comfortable, you’ve stayed too long. I’ve become very comfortable with Tokyo. That’s not …
After a few days of non-stop touring, a slow day is much appreciated, even though it wasn’t planned that way. Chris was up before me, starting to clean up the apartment. It wasn’t messy by any means, but today we’re …
We woke up relatively early this morning. For anyone on vacation, that’s before noon. For us, it was around 09:00. The goal today was Mount Fuji, about an hour south of Tokyo. An hour by bullet, that is. Following the …
Today was a bit of a late start for us. Not for any particular reason, we just slept in a little bit. Today was Tokyo day. Sure, we’d been to Tokyo before for clubbing, but I didn’t really see much of Tokyo. It’s hard to …
By comparison with yesterday’s activities, it would appear that I slept the entire day away. For starters, I awoke after 10:00, the long day previous having sapped pretty much all my energy. Kaz was still here, but …
It hasn’t been that long since my last outing, but it’s time again for my next great adventure. This time, I’m leaving the continent for the first time in almost 14 years — I’m going to Japan. Chris is staying there …
It’s been a long time, but I’ve gone back to school. The last time I took a class, it was for work. I wasn’t learning anything I didn’t already know, and I wasn’t really all that happy about it. This time, I’m taking …
It doesn’t take long for me to get back into the swing of (some) things. I’m already working on trains again. This time, it’s the locomotive from which I caught the train chasing bug. I got a call from Don on Saturday, …
It was still dark when the alarm clock (bolted to the night table) tuned in the local classic rock station. Great thing about radio – there’s always a classic rock station available. Showered and bags packed, I hiked my …
Waking early after a few days of sleeping in (even if just a little) was difficult. But given the day’s activity, I couldn’t wait. I was taking a train. Yes, a train. A month on the CBC special hadn’t dampened my spirit …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
[This entry written by Geoff Sowrey, ©2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Text used with permission of CBC. The opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the CBC, employees, affiliates, or …
T-Minus 2 days I think it’s safe to say no-one left today’s event pain-free. This was the VIP Event day. This was when we had to be near perfect, as the executives from both CBC and VIA would be on hand, along with many …
T-minus 3 days I awoke with my alarm ready for a day of discovery. That was important because I had only met three people in the crew of 30-odd. When I arrived in the restaurant for breakfast, I stared at a seemingly …
T-Minus 4 days First order of the day was to move out of Joel and Michelle’s piano room. Although I greatly appreciate their hospitality, I do need to be with the rest of the CBC. The show starts tomorrow morning. I …
T-Minus 7 days Five-thirty is an unfair time of the morning. Especially if your alarm clock wakes you in the middle of a really good dream. This morning, I took a taxi to the BC Rail station and boarded the Cariboo …
There are times that I’m almost envious of myself. Well, okay, one time that I’m envious of myself. Hey, it’s better than being jealous of others… I’m going on a train trip. But not any train trip. In fact, this …
This is my second day here at the CBC head office in Toronto. This is a weird place. You’re probably asking: What is Geoff doing at the CBC head office in Toronto? That’s a question I can’t answer just yet — you’ll have …
It’s been about nine months since I last saw 6060, when I left Jasper for Calgary. That’s about eight months too long, I figure. Mind you, many haven’t seen 6060 since early November, since we’ve all been off living our …
It was a hot night in Ottawa, following Stuart and Therese’s wedding. It was only going to get hotter. A lot hotter. The next day was 1 July, otherwise known as Canada Day. Otherwise known as the single biggest excuse to …
This was, to say the least, one of the busier weekends I’ve had in a long time. It was a very good weekend in many respects, not the least of which was actually (finally) getting my house. But it all kinda started this …
There are times when I wonder if I’m slightly psychic. Every time it happens, it gives me the willies. This was one time I sincerely wished I was wrong. Since long before the trip with 6060, I’d had this feeling, …
637,540 pounds of hot iron 100,000 gallons of water 17,760 gallons of fuel oil 3,000 kilometres 566 digital photographs 400 pounds of food 250 litres of gasoline 30 mugs of beer 16 hard-working people 8 days 6 hotels …
Most of you know how hard it is sometimes to catch a train. Sometimes you’re running late, or the train’s early, or your watch stopped and you’re not really sure what time it is — any number of a dozen reasons why you’d …
Another summer has come and (almost) gone. Luckily, it wasn’t a summer spent indoors, stuck in front of my computer (as much as it might have actually felt like that). Given, I had hoped to get out more to places I …
I have a new girlfriend. She’s a little temperamental, though. She gets hot really fast, she’s always blowing steam, and at the moment has a nasty tendency to run around mostly naked. That, and she weighs 637,540 pounds. …
I knew something was up a few months ago, when Chris told me he was going to Ontario for “a friend’s wedding”. Chris is rarely that vague. More often than not, he’ll include a name, even if it’s someone I …
Once upon a time, you couldn’t go very far out here without running into a railway. Tracks criss-crossed the land like a bad hair weave. If you had to get somewhere, you went by train. There were no highways, except for …
The alarm went off at 6:45am. I was up almost immediately, Allison begged for “five more minutes”. I took the opportunity to quickly have some orange juice. Allison was in the shower moments later. We had to …
Another birthday has come and gone, and save for a minor panic attack when I realised I wasn’t 21 anymore (yes, that actually happened, believe it or not), I’m doing okay. Things got off to a start on Friday, when Pure3D …
Today, for those of you who know me, is my birthday. For those of you who don’t, you’re excused. (Just keep in mind that you now know, and I expect to hear from you next year.) Today was also day from hell. Aside from …
As Jason had told me when he came in after being out on the town, Igor showed up that morning to finish trading. But he had also brought his friend Sergei to get in on the action. There were only three of us in total, …
Observer’s Log: Traveldate 890704.08 Day 5 We didn’t sleep much last night, in fact, we barely slept at all. Some of us were getting pissed out of their minds while the rest of us were yapping about life and sex (in …
The night we spent on the Kiev night train was one that I shall never forget until the day I die. It’s kind of hard not to, I was awake for pretty well the whole night. And so was virtually everyone in our car, except …