Series Of Fortunate Events, Victoria BC

(Jason)

Vancouver Island on the west coast of British Columbia Canada is where I was headed equipped only with my backpack and my wit. Almost, I also had my Washington State accent, mammoth hair, and contagious smile all in full bloom. This trip needs to be shared because it shows how by putting ourselves out there in the world not having any expectations for what is to come allows the manifestation of the most powerful experiences of our lives. During my travels I have come to realize just how special and important I am to the world, just as everybody is. Doors have been opened so wide they have put holes in the theoretical walls that I have created and challenged the many different facets of the beliefs that I have held for what is possible in life, this trip is no exception. The adventure begins with me getting picked up in Everett Washington with just my backpack, driving to the boarder of Canada to my mom's house in Blaine, and spending the night hanging out with my brother and drinking home made wine with my cool aunt and uncle. Family first, literally on this trip. Morning time came and so I made my way to the ferry terminal across the boarder in Tsawwassen Canada. Boarding the ferry I felt as though I was taking off on the grand voyage on the Titanic, but hopefully with a better ending. The sun was out, the seagulls were flying above, and soon I was off headed toward Vancouver Island on yet another adventure full of more characters then I could count, good times to remember, and random events I felt as though this article should be called a series of fortunate events.

As I walked onto the ferry, I noticed a cool looking girl next to me and as usual I began flapping my lips being friendly and before long I had made a new friend. Liz I soon realized was a really interesting girl traveling across to Tofino, a small surf town on the Island. Following her closely was her new friend Braden, who she had met at a hostel in Vancouver the day before. Before long Braden and I were comparing Hammocks seeing who's was better, it felt like we were establishing who was the Alpha in the newly established pack. By the end of the ferry ride we had had an epic harmonica jam, we tried setting up the hammocks with no success, and had decided to all go drink beer as soon as we got to Victoria. Victoria is the biggest city on the Island, full of history, and character. Arriving to the port, we got in line for the bus and then I noticed a guy extraordinarily pouring out sweat for no obvious reason behind me and so naturally I couldn't help to point it out to him and we all began laughing. He replied saying it was hot out even though it was cold and rainy. Nothing like some in line humor to make a bus ride better. We got dropped off in town close to the hostel, checked in, and then we learned of a local place called Big Bad Jon's. A rustic looking pub with cheap beer and good laughs. We spent two nights hanging out for hours on end, drinking, telling stories, admiring the hundreds of bra's above our heads, and getting in trouble every time we didn't tip from Jerry the manager of the bar. Or as I called him Denim Dan due to his unnecessary over sized coveralls that he wore as part of the theme of the bar. Big Bad Jon's was a mix between the wild west, and Canadians attempt to re-create the wild west, they did a fair job. It was good times, I highly recommend it for whoever travels to this great place they call Victoria.

Waking up the next morning, the goal was to get out of Victoria to make it up to my friend Amanda's place up more north on the island, but after finding out how expensive it was to get around the island by bus and train as well as missing the train that morning it just didn't seem like is was working out. Liz, Braden, and I tried a few times to rent a car, but every time we tried something wouldn't work right, like it being way too expensive. I could have hitch hiked probably very easily but my leg still wasn't completely healed from my snowboarding accident on Mount Hood back in August, and so I really didn't want to risk having to walk a far distance with my backpack in case I got stuck somewhere. As well as I didn't bring my sleeping bag so I wasn't wanting to sleep outside in my hammock with the unpredictable September weather. Meandering my way around the city for two days straight I did a little bit of the tourist thing, well more like the tourist that doesn't have much money with him thing. I did try to shake the hand of the wax figure of Barack Obama in a wax museum. He was standing next to George Bush, and Bill Clinton and I was thinking what a party that would be. In trying to shake his hand I crossed the laser beam and an alarm went off, oops, I felt like a little kid getting caught in the cookie jar. Also, I spent some time hanging out at the parliament building, learning how the very important Canadian building was designed by Francis Rattenbury who was only 25 at the time, and how he had lied about his age saying he was much older. Actually he had lied about  more then that, like how he lived in Victoria when in fact he really lived in England at the time, as well about how had constructed a few building that were built before his time all for his credentials on his Resume. I like that idea, it worked out for him he went on to be a celebrated architect. After I learned of this, I shared it with probably 10 people in the next couple days. For some reason, that is just what I do, I learn and then teach, even if I don't really know what that much about what I'm talking about, at least I can admit it, that's the first step in recovery as they would say in AA. Board of the building itself I set up my hammock in the hundred and something year old Sequoia tree in front for a while before getting kicked out by three security guys. I was entertained for a while though as the older tourist type passed by pretending to be interested in the tree as they clumsily looked at me swinging in my hammock in the branches wondering what I was doing, I felt like a monkey!

I slept in a hostel the first night next to an immensely loud guy snoring underneath me and a tremendously foul person who smelt like he didn't deem showers important across the room. I can go a couple days without a shower but come on dude, take a shower, it feels good I promise. Try going back a forward between hot and cold it stimulates the blood circulation in our bodies as well as feels great. I love hostels because how cheap they are, but after waking up in the morning with my mouth tasting like body odor, I was looking for an alternative for the next night, like outside in the rain if I had to, or even better yet under a bridge. I actually ended back up in the same room the second night but this time with ear plugs and the window wide open. As I continued to Rome around the city the next day I went to go ask a nice lady how to get inside of the Empress Hotel, and as I was talking to her I realized something, I realized that she had the exact same eye's I had, and as usual not having any filter I blurted it out and without hesitation, she agreed right back but with more excitement. Looking directly into each others eyes for the two minutes or so that we did, you would think it would be uncomfortable, but we were both really into it. Identical twin eyes, it doesn't seem like that big of deal until it happens and then it is thrilling. These are the things that happen to me on a daily basis as I travel, that's why I love it so much.

All that was really exciting and cool but what happens next blows all of that out of the water for random coolness, and awesomeness. I was hanging out with Liz and Braden the third night and trying to figure out where I was going to sleep because the hostel that I had been staying at was booked. Subconsciously I didn't make it to the hostel on time to book a room because I really didn't want to stay there even though I had no other plans for where I was going to sleep. That's kind of the story of my mid twenty's right now and I wouldn't have it any other way, every day is a new adventure and journey into the unknown. most days I feel like a deep sea diver entering into a new undiscovered cave full of wonder and new creatures to study and enjoy. It's funny because Jon, the Hammock Brother is actually doing something similar as that in Louisiana . He's searching for treasure on his family's boat for a couple months. Anyway, back to the story. I learned of another hostel with a bed to stay for the night and so I began walking down the street headed off to find it before it was booked for the night. As usual I was walking down the street and a notice a stunning blond haired blue eyed young woman to my right hanging outside of a Starbucks enjoying a cup of coffee with a familiar book sitting on the table next to her. I jumped on the opportunity to engage conversation with her with a quick, "Hey, I've heard of that book, is it any good?" she replied with "I haven't began reading it yet, but yeah I've heard it's good." After a few minutes of small talk I learned her name, Demi, which by the way I have never met another Demi so it was hard to get right for a while. We began to realize that we have a bunch in common like rock climbing, snowboarding, living for the day, bare foot running, and a wanting to be surf bumbs. Being my modest self, I never thought that she would want to continue hanging out after our conversation outside of the Starbucks but to my shock when I realized that I probably missed my chance of getting a bed at the hostel for the night she said she wanted to come with me to go find out. Wow! I began thinking to myself, this girl might actually be interested in me, as we walked toward the hostel. After about ten minutes of looking at maps trying to figure out where the hostel was, it turned out we were one door down from the entrance, that's probably some sort of simple philosophy for life, being so close to a goal and not seeing it. We entered in through the door, learned that they had one bed left, and then it came to the decision to take it or not. Earlier in conversation outside of Starbucks she had mentioned that it might be OK to stay with her in her car for the night, and so as I stood at the desk about to book the bed, I figured what the heck might as well call her bluff about if she really would be OK with me staying with her. Enthusiastically and unexpectedly she says, "Heck yes, that would be fun!" Spending the night hanging out with a attractive girl not having to pay a dime for the night vs. having to spend 30 dollars sleeping probably next to a bunch of stinky, snoring travelers. Not much of a choice really, sort of like choosing between going to Hawaii vs. and going to Iraq.

Within minutes we were on top of the Yates Street Parkade building above the city getting kicked off the roof by a really nice security guard, and then getting kicked out by him again within a few minutes, this time he was a little more stern, as he should have been or else we would have probably just done it again. We bought some wine and beer, walked down to the water front in a park, and got invited to jam out with some really cool new friends. Rachel, Andy, and Cory turned out to be very interesting, talented friends and we loved their company very much. I actually played a washboard for the first time and it was a blast, way better then original intentional use, washing clothes. Soon we would make a mass migration like a family of birds headed south for the winter, well more like a group of hippies that didn't have anywhere to sleep for the night.  So down to a cool free camping spot on a beach looking toward Washington state we were headed with more crap then I could carry, we finally found a nice part of the beach that was ideal, now hopefully it just doesn't rain. We played a ton of music, watched the night sky, and I really got to know Demi through great conversation. These are the types of nights that the majority of people watch in movies and will only dream about never experience.

Waking up the next morning, we decided on to go for a barefoot run to the top of one of Demi's favorite mountains. We picked up a bunch of local organic produce, as well as Lot's of water, because we were dehydrated from the night before after a abundance of wine drinking. This was my first long distance barefoot trail run, which was great. I just finished a book called, Borne To Run, it's all about running with little to nothing on our feet and why it is great for us. Nike and other shoe companies agree with their newer type thin shoes that are coming out. This is another thing I tend to talk about when I meet people because I believe in it so much. It is a lot of fun, try it yourself and you will begin to see the benefits. As we paced ourselves on the trail I began telling Demi about what along with my brother Justin are working on back at home, which is gathering and preserving as much food for winter as we can as part of our lifestyle design that supports local, quality, organic food. Health and ethical reason's drive us, it should be common knowledge for better nutrition and not supporting the high environmental cost's of transportation because of the status quo regarding these things isn't sustainable hence the whole "green" revolution that is happening. We crossed over a really high train track on the hike that if we would had slipped we would die, that's what was going through my head anyway. About half way across we can up on a landing and then sat and enjoyed the panoramic view and scenery from about five hundred feet up. Not a bad day so far, and then we headed to another great place. I had never swam in a salt water pool until Demi shared it with me at her work after our hike. We hung out there for a couple hours, enjoying all of the pampering amenities, it's a tough life. Demi and I agreed that the Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes song, "Home" with lyrics like Hot and Heavy, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Candy, Jesus Christ, There Ain't Nothing Please Me More Than You, was our song. Next thing on the list, we were headed up to meet her parents. Wow, even though it had only been basically a day that we have known eachother, here I am hanging out with her parents Robin and Greg, both were very nice and accommodating towards me. Me, this random guy that their daughter had drug in through the door off the streets of Victoria. I love it! This day by far was one of the best days of my life, and not just saying that, it truly was. Without being to cheesy, It was truly magic, and will be remembered for the rest of my life. Everybody deserves to have days like these.

After spending the night at her parents house, I woke up to the sound of tranquilizing rain drops crashing into and cascading down the side of the house. Waking up for the second time to this stunning girl in a breathtaking dress, it doesn't get much better then this. We eat a great breakfast with Robin and Greg,  then I was off for another adventure. Demi had to go to work and so I decided to get dropped off at a book store in Victoria so I could finish my book. After a few hours of "Reading Rainbow" time as my good friend Frazier and I for some strange reason call it when we read, I headed off to find something good to eat. Demi had told me of a little place Called Café Bliss in town, so I tracked it down and had my first raw pizza which was made with only local organic ingredients as well as I took my first shot of wheat grass, which was expensive but very revitalizing. I have found that when i eat good quality food, it doesn't take as much to fill me up, and that's a good thing because it wasn't very much food at all. My time at bliss was great, once again I attracted a deep philosophical conversation with my new friends Wendy, and Ryan whom I had met while enjoying my food. Probably an hour or so went by in deep conversation and by the end of it once again I had two good friends in which I felt like I have known forever. The rest of the day was spent hanging out with more new friends that I met on the street of Victoria including a cool guy named Kris whom had hitch hiked across Canada ten times, as well as Landin whom is working on eliminating the need for money in the world, a noble goal to say the least! I also met a couple who have been living with what's on their back for years with many stories to tell as well as I had an epic jam session once again with two more new friends Fox, and Lindsey, they were very nice and full of jokes, as it seems most everybody is that I find myself associating and connecting with. I love people who don't have ego's and have interesting things to say. All of my new friends fit in this amazing category. That's what is great about life, we can chose to hang around with really good people, and in turn we ourselves become better. After one more day full of cool people, food, and stories I met back up with Demi as she got off work and spent the night watching a movie, listening to music, and talking about our future dreams in the back of her Acura before passing out. Raw, local, organic pizza 8.25 at Bliss, crashing out in the back of an Honda Acura on top of a tall parking building over looking Victoria with the coolest girl in the world, priceless....... As they say.

The next morning came to quickly for it was time to start making my way back home. We woke up, enjoyed some great coffee together, got even more excited about our future dreams of rock climbing, snowboarding, being hippies in California surfing every day, and barefoot running together but now it was time to say goodbye. I didn't think it was going to be as hard as it was, but I really had a hard time letting go of her, I hugged her for a few minutes straight, I'm sure she was probably having a hard time breathing. I hoped on the bus, took the ferry home, met even another great person named Grace who invited Demi and I to come out with her in Vancouver some time, and then I got picked up in Tsawwassen. Nice, One more grand adventure was under my belt. It's hard to articulate in words all that this trip meant to me and to all the good people that I encountered along the way. We are all more connected to each other then most including myself realize. I prove to myself over and over again that every time I take the risk to leave home and enter into this big world the reward is much too great. This all means more to me then all the money in the world. I feel like I get a little closer to truly understanding why I am put on this earth, with travels like these. The world is our oyster, so butter it up and slurp it down! Metaphorically speaking of course.