Keepin' It Clean

 

The laundromat at the Petro truck stop in Joplin, Missouri.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: You Won't Believe Your Ears
2018: It's All About The Hat
2017: Stanley Steemer Gets Your Home Cleaner
2016: Cat Nemesis
2015: Bon Voyage!
2014: All This Entertainment For Less Than The Cost Of A Restaurant Entree
2013: Ten Things I Hate About Flying
2012: Teeth Or Another European Vacation? Ooooh, It’s A Real Toss Up.
2011: Not So Wacky After All
2010: Spreading The Word
2009: He Had A Dream. Tomorrow We See It Come True.
2008: Who Do You Know?
2007: South Beach Blue
2006: Jawl Spake Anglesh??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!  

I've Got A Thing For Grain

I love grain elevators.  This one was seen in Chamberlain, Saskatchewan, Canada. 

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: University's Main Drag
2018: Meat Sticks Don't Make The List
2017: Blue By You
2016: Fierce
2015: The Nuts And Bolts Of It
2014: Gorgeous, Rich, And Rugged. And That's Just The Bag.
2013: Back To Basics
2012: I Can Think Of Better Ways To Spend Hump Day
2011: Can I Appoint Myself The Baroness Of Cattle?
2010: This Time Losing The Wallet Really Means Losing The Wallet
2009: Marley & Me
2008: Eddie Gets Handy Friday
2007: The Perfect Neapolitan Slice
2006: The King Of The Flying Salmon
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Gateway To Chinese Canadians

 

Chinatown in Victoria, British Columbia is the oldest Chinatown in Canada and the second oldest in North America after San Francisco.

In 1858, the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush brought a mass influx of immigrants from California; one-third of which were Chinese. Later, the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway brought even more Chinese workers. Most of them settled in Victoria’s Chinatown.

The Gates of Harmonious Interest

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Public Works
2018: Sometimes It's Not Just A Cough
2017: The De Facto Logo Of Brooklyn
2016: There Is Poetry In Change
2015: Ski Or Sun? Sun Won.
2014: All The Better To Cook With, My Dear
2013: I Fancy The Castle Life
2012: There Are No Prison Blues If You Have Naan
2011: Now I’m No Longer Alone
2010: Rings Of Spring
2009: Map Schmap
2008: A Willow Weeps In Arizona
2007: Double Team
2006: Turning One Million
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Winds Of Time

The sculpture of a woman rising from the ocean sits high above the Salish Sea, at the top of Gonzales Hill, at the King George Terrace Lookout in the city of Victoria, British Columbia in Canada.

The sculpture is called Winds of Time and was done by artist, Linda Lindsay. Lindsay, originally from California, has been living in Victoria for the past 30 years, raising her family and teaching sculpture classes.



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2023:  A Walk Through History
2022:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2021:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2020:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2019:  Reflecting Miltenburg
2018:  Ed And The Ladies
2017:  Descansos
2016:  Please Come Back!
2015:  Still Life
2014:  Sunset Cycling
2013:  Pit Stop At Home
2012:  Adding A Few More Wheels To The Big Rig
2011:  Again And Again And Again
2010:  Hood Ornament
2009:  Eddie Out Of Control
2008:  My Boyfriend Simon Is Back In Town
2007:  A Little Taste Of Miami Beach
2006:  Ooooohhhhhh, Jabra!
2005:  Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn't start until May 2005!

Peacocks In The Park

 

We came across some peacocks - tons of them! - wandering freely around Beacon Hill Park in downtown Victoria, British Columbia.

See more pictures and videos here.  And peacock facts here.  

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2023: In The Heart Of The Baroque City
2022: Campo Wind
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Rock Solid Saint
2018: Rainforest Adventures
2017: Low Ceiling In The Desert
2016: An Original Recycler
2015: There's A Black Hole In The Desert (With Truck Parking)
2014: Strength In Numbers
2013: Woman Cannot Live On Bread Alone
2012: Why Milk Is ALWAYS At The Top Of My Shopping List
2011: Fun For Sale
2010: Dublin Is Incredibly Corny
2009: Welcome To Snowhio
2008: When Big Hair And Denim Were King
2007: Open 24 Hours
2006: Lucky One Eye
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Surf's Up!

 

While in Tofino, British Columbia, Ed decided to go surfing.  He went to one of the local surf schools and they took a few people out as a group.  The water was SO cold, he was clad in a wetsuit from head to toe - he wore a balaclava and gloves.  His face was beet red from the cold when he was done.

He loved every minute of it!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Getting The Lay Of The Land
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Iron Wildcat
2018: The Early Bird And All That
2017: The Early Bird Gets The Education
2016: Love On 4th
2015: Distorted Delicious Beauties
2014: The Cockroach Cowboy
2013: Slap 'Em Right Up Here, Ma'am
2012: A Documentary In My Head
2011: Weeding Out The Assholes
2010: Does It Fall Under Some Kind Of Secret Guy Code?
2009: Over 140 Million Years In The Making
2008: If “G” Means Good, Then “I” Must Mean Incompetent
2007: Ft. Lauderdale Storm
2006: You Don’t Need Makeup Or Starbucks
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Nature's Edge

 

The view from the balcony of our room.

I have been wanting to go to The Wickaninnish Inn located in Tofino, British Columbia for years.  Last year, we finally made it there!  

A Relais & Châteaux property, described on the hotel website as "Rustic Elegance On Nature's Edge", was exactly that.  It wasn't overly fancy.  Very subdued.  Like a luxury country cabin.  We had a great room and the weather was perfect for me, nice and cool.  You do feel as if you're on the edge of nature.  Waves crashing on the rocks, birds squawking overhead, the chilly breeze coming through the sliding door of the bedroom patio.

We spent two nights here, exploring the town during the day and enjoying the local restaurants at night. 

One of the courses on the tasting menu, Rock Crab & Potato Pave

On one of our nights, we dined at the hotel restaurant, The Pointe. We chose to do the tasting menu, a first for us.  That meal was the most expensive we've ever had, setting us back $511.00.  My step-father rolled over in his grave twice that night!

Overall, we had a wonderful visit and I'm so happy to be able to check this place off my wish list.

Port Wine, an in-room gift from the hotel.

More pictures here.





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2023:  A Third Of The Golden Triangle
2022:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2021:  I Roll
2020:  Sorry, no post on this day.
2019:  Gilded Tourist Attraction
2018:  Dining Up North
2017:  Promoting International Cooperation
2016:  Truly A Man Of Leisure
2015:  Beer Run
2014:  Field Two
2013:  We Are A Very Rich, Blessed, Lucky, Fortunate Lot Aren't We?
2012:  Passion Creates Pure Art
2011:  Reflecting On The Day
2010:  Crunching The Numbers
2009:  Looking Grand At The Grand Canyon
2008:  Overshadowing Government
2007:  Miami International
2006:  Did You Check The Solenoid?
2005:  Sorry, no post on this day.  The blog didn't start until May 2005!

You Have Goat To Stop Here

 

 

Goats on the roof at The Old Country Market in Coombs, British Columbia, Canada.  

Yes, they're real goats.  

If you're passing through and they're open, you've gotta stop.  The goats are cute and the market is fabulous!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Safety Check
2018: Cactus And The Catalinas
2017: Teaching People How To Unite
2016: Shining A Light
2015: Tooling Around The Old Pueblo
2014: Next Blog, Please
2013: My Mother Never Fried Chicken Like This
2012: Shocking
2011: Awesome All-Star
2010: Have Pots And Pans, Will Travel
2009: This One Contains A Young Rider
2008: When She’s Not Sleeping, She Tries To Look Purty
2007: Eddie McSteamy Friday
2006: Pepparkakor Cat
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Taxi!

 

Hailing a taxi in Victoria, British Columbia is just a little bit different than in some other places.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Teepee Pee Stop
2018: Bread And Wine
2017: Loaded
2016: Sprouting The Good Stuff
2015: Economic Stimulation
2014: The Ninety-Two Year Old Horseman
2013: Where They Store The Crop Goodies
2012: Inside The Trucker’s Studio
2011: The Next Project
2010: Why Would You Want To Be A Zero When Looking Like This Is Clearly A Plus?
2009: The Giant Dirty Bird Goes Sailing In The Four Corners
2008: Soft Core Porn
2007: Almost Fully Integrated
2006: Downtown Scenery And Deals
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Floating Into Victoria

 

The Victoria Harbour Airport terminal in Victoria, British Columbia.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
2023: Bienvenido A España!
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Moto Cop
2018: ¡Salud!
2017: Eddie On Ice
2016: My God, This Reminds Me Of Why I Love Adele
2015: Making Friends And Dinner Plans
2014: It's So EXHAUSTing Being Right All The Time
2013: A Marriage Of Two Loves
2012: I Love A Man Wearing A Damn Good-Looking Workboot
2011: MMXI At Full Throttle
2010: Maybe There’s A Reason Ed Never Lets Me Out Of The Truck
2009: Napolitos
2008: Pull Up A Chair
2007: The Story Of The Uppity Barista: Otherwise Known As A Texan Gittin’ Above His Raisin’
2006: Rock, Paper, Eddie
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Spectacular Spiral To The Sky

While on Vancouver Island, Ed and I went to the Malahat Skywalk in Malahat, British Columbia. 

High above the Salish Sea, at 820 feet above sea level, you get a bird’s eye view of the area on Vancouver Island and also views of the United States. You can even see Mt. Baker in Washington state.

The Elevated Tree Walk is a 1,968-foot (600 meters) pathway that takes you through the forest to the structure - in some areas, you’re almost 44 feet (13.3 meters) above the ground!

When you get to the skywalk, you walk up the spiral tower to the very top. There are slightly different views on each level.

When we got to the top we had the place to ourselves. Then more people started to arrive. When you’re ready to go back down, you can walk or take the slide. Ed took the slide.

The weather was gorgeous, and it was actually quite an enjoyable walk. On the way back to the main building, we took the trail on the ground rather than the elevated pathway. Closer to nature!

See more photos on my Instagram HERE and watch the video of Ed on the slide.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: See You On The Flip Side
2018: Let Your Love Light The Sky
2017: Step One, Neutralize
2016: Penetrating Gaze
2015: Worst Trucking Day Ever
2014: Books Are So Much More Interesting Than Guns
2013: Contemplating Broccoli Cheddar
2012: I’m Totally Contemplating Thievery
2011: Some People Are Just Fucking Nuts
2010: 7am In Beantown
2009: Eddie Taking A Moment To Enjoy Nature Friday
2008: Pull Up A Chair
2007: Brad Blows
2006: Expressly American
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Bringing Awareness To A National Crisis

 

Red dresses hang in Metchosin, British Columbia (Vancouver Island), Canada.

Red Dress Day, the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), is observed annually on May 5th. The day is marked by people hanging red dresses from trees, windows, fences, and balconies.

Indigenous women are 12 times more likely to be murdered or go missing than other women in Canada, and 16 times more likely to be killed or disappear than white women.

“Indigenous women make up 16% of all female homicide victims, and 11% of missing women, even though Indigenous people make up 4.3% of the population of Canada,” The Assembly of First Nations’ website said.

The first Red Dress Day was observed in 2010 after artist Jaime Black launched her continuing REDress art installation. She collects and hangs red dresses in public spaces to bring awareness to the MMIWG2S crisis, and the dresses have come to symbolize the issue.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this post.
2019: A Ruined Medieval Castle Overlooks An Abbey
2018: Grand Architecture And Strict Discipline
2017: Setting Moon
2016: Happy Fucking New Year
2015: Smart And Talented
2014: Who?
2013: Doing A Complete 180
2012: Apple Is My Life. I’m Living It To The Core.
2011: Men (And One Little Man) At Work
2010: Miss Me Like It’s Forever
2009: Speak Already!
2008: On The Hunt
2007: Cash For Life
2006: Nice Melons
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

More

 

Photo taken in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: It's A Sunny Side Up Morning
2018: A Ruined Morning
2017: A Burst Of Design
2016: El Niño Hits The Old Pueblo
2015: Cackling Is One Of The Rules
2014: Ugatz
2013: All The Better To See You With My Dear 
2012: Gratuitous Cute Dog Photo
2011: How To Kill Bees
2010: A Mirage Of Sorts
2009: Clouds Aflame
2008: When You Get One Like This, Don’t Let Him Get Away
2007: A Good Tipper Can Always Get Away With Being A Little Bossy
2006: Like Day And Night In Utah
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Wonder Of The Ancient World

The branches of a Monkey Puzzle tree that I saw at The Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, Canada.  I've never seen a tree like this and 

They are native to South America and its spiral arrangement of rigid needle-pointed leaves along stiff branches inspired its common name, evoked by a comment about the challenge this prickly network might pose to climbing monkeys.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Christ With A Toothache
2018: A Different Life
2017: It Was A Dark And Stormy Night...
2016: Prep Work
2015: Just A Pier
2014: Third Time Is Not A Charm
2013: A Sure Sign You're In A Truck Stop
2012: Waiting For The Bell To Ring
2011: You Don’t Need I.D. To Buy Booze If You Have One Of These In Your Pocket
2010: The Pros Slip In And Out With Ease
2009: Mine. All Mine.
2008: No, You Can’t Fly It
2007: Flying Parasols
2006: Seattle In Motion
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Passion Project

 

The Sunken Garden

One of the most amazing places we visited while on Vancouver Island in British Columbia was The Butchart Gardens, located in Brentwood Bay.

I have never seen a more amazing display of flowers in my entire life!  

The display garden is 120 years old and covers 55 acres.  They have 26 greenhouses, 900 bedding plant varieties, and 50 full-time gardeners.  

Read about Jennie Butchart's vision here and how the gardens came to be in what was once a limestone quarry.  

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Stephansplatz Icon
2018: Gateway Saguaro
2017: Sweet Sixteen Heartthrob
2016: The Spirit Of The West
2015: Our House, In The Middle Of Our Street
2014: I'm Pretty Sure I Was Born With One
2013: Gettin' The Juice To Stay On The Move
2012: Light On My Feet. Literally.
2011: We Got Smashed
2010: One Provides Light, The Other Just Stands There
2009: Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!
2008: C’Mon In
2007: Eddie Hits The Bricks Friday
2006: Take It As It Comes
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The End Of The Road

 

At the end of Highway 14 on Vancouver Island, you'll find yourself in Port Renfrew, British Columbia. 

If you decide you're a bit peckish after the drive, check out the Renfrew Pub. 

We were here off-season so there weren't a lot of people (that's a good thing in my opinion) and the scenery was beautiful.  Worth the drive.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Slovakian Scenes
2018: New Jersey Wonderland
2017: A Resting View
2016: Harmoniously Incorporated
2015: Buy Sandwiches
2014: A Room With A View
2013: Is The Coast Clear Yet?
2012: Why So Angry, Birds?
2011: One Hand In The Air For The Empire State
2010: Hitching A Ride From The Frying Pan Into The Fire
2009: Don’t Look At Me Like That. No, Really. Don’t. You’re Making Me Melt.
2008: A Mid-Winter Pick Me Up
2007: I Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You
2006: How To Get Rid Of Your Girlfriend
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005! 

Peaceful Beauty

 

French Beach Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Double Dutch
2018: Dirty Potato Chips And Cornichons
2017: Neighborhood Vacation
2016: Where The Flamingos Survived A Blizzard
2015: It's All In The Details
2014: You're Not Alone
2013: More Bling Than One Person Can Handle
2012: Instantly Tucson
2011: Start With An Ollie, Finish With A Shred And Grind
2010: Fire In The Sky
2009: Free Advertising For Erectile Dysfunction
2008: High Flame Toni
2007: Ripped From The Headlines
2006: Our Truck Looked Reallllly Good…
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!