I spent the past week on Vancouver Island visiting family, friends, and some of my favorite places. In contrast to my last two visits here during Christmas, spring weather on the island felt more like California. The purpose of this trip was to meet the newest addition to the family, my 4-month-old niece Ankia. I also saw my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and grandparents. The trip culminated in a turkey dinner, hosted by my sister, in celebration of Mother's Day.

If "home" were defined as the place one has lived the longest, Vancouver Island would be mine. I moved to Canada's largest island on the Pacific Coast when I was eight-years-old. Coming from Northern Alberta, the coastal lifestyle afforded me many new experiences including sports such as kayaking, canoeing, swimming, and skiing. I became familiar the extensive forests covering the Island, which I went on to study in University through the application of new mapping technologies.

During my visit I spent a lot of time walking through parks and natural areas. We took Ankia to Cathedral Grove, a preserved patch of old-growth forest in the central part of the island. Trees here are up to 800 years old and 250 feet tall. To walk underneath these giant living things reminds me how small we are.

My mom and I did a drive to the Island's southern tip (Victoria) where I visited friends I met through outrigger canoe racing and I even got on the water with the youth group I established almost seven years ago. It was nice to re-connect and to know that I can still keep up in my kayak, though admittedly, I'm a bit sore. 

As I head back home to California I am reminded of the opportunities that move has brought and I look forward to getting back. I have a few days off before heading to a project in Phoenix.

(download)

Click here to download:

Vancouver_Island_-_Meeting_Ani.zip (4.26 MB)

I spent the past month leading a field team in North Carolina. Unfortunately, due to helicopter maintenance and other delays beyond our control, the team was only needed for a few days. Nobody expected the delays to go on for as long as they did, or we would have been sent home early. It's hard to appreciate downtime when you are away from home and in a permanent on-call state, but I made the best of it.

The first few days of my assignment were to a project in West Virginia. By the end of the first week I moved to North Carolina and that is where the delays began. I became quite familiar with the Raleigh-Durham area. These cities make up the "Research Triangle", a nucleus for technology business, flanked by two large universities - Duke and UNC.

I was impressed by how green the area was, considering that it only rained two days during my time there. In contrast to the persistent drizzle of the Pacific Northwest, the Carolinas get about the same amount of rain through infrequent storm events. I enjoyed the warm, sunny weather. We had one week of highs into the 90s (32C), which was a bit too hot for me. Summer temperatures are even higher, I was told.

During the initial period of downtime, I joined a ground survey crew for a few days. We packed our bags and hit the road to collect GPS control points that would later be used in our aerial survey. It had been a while since I'd done this type of work, and this opportunity was an excellent refresher. I also got to see more of rural North Carolina. I really enjoyed the coastal communities, such as Wilmington, where I took many photos. 

After the road-trip, I returned to Raleigh and continued to be in a "holding pattern" for two more weeks. During this time I explored several botanical gardens with my co-worker Brett. He also introduced me to Eno River State Park, where I went running almost every day thereafter. This park reminded me of Vancouver Island, and I've included some photos for those back home to compare.

Rather than returning directly to Los Angeles, I arranged to fly into Vancouver so that I could spend a week visiting family. I have a new niece, whom I will be meet for the first time. I'll also spend this mother's day with my mom. Finally, I look forward to some of my dad's home cooked meals. With so much downtime on this last trip, I ate out too much and I need to get back to healthier meals.

(download)

Click here to download:

North_Carolina.zip (4.51 MB)

Over the Easter weekend I had the opportunity to visit Yosemite National Park. Described as the "crown jewel" of California, Yosemite was one of the first wilderness parks established in the US. It certainly lived up to its reputation, being both beautiful and popular.

The park itself is very massive. I saw what most people normally see, which is called the Yosemite Valley. It's about 6 hours drive north of Los Angeles (or 2 hours north of the nearest city, Fresno). Approaching the park on Highway 41 I noticed a marked change in the landscape, from the flat and brown Central Valley region near Fresno, to grassy green hills dotted with outcropping white rocks. They charge you $20 when you reach the park gates, and then you have to drive another 60 some miles of windy mountain highway and tunnels.

As you descend into the Yosemite Valley the views are quite breathtaking. Parking and hiking trails are available at the bottom. There is also a small village with tourist services, but it didn't interest me much. The shorter trails were quite busy with tourists, but longer hikes offered more tranquility. I did one of each, seeing the Lower Yosemite Falls as well as Mirror Lake.

Overall I was very impressed by Yosemite and I'll definitely come back to see more.

(download)

Click here to download:

Yosemite.zip (3.04 MB)

I'm getting a bit behind on my blog posts. Having been in the field for over two weeks, I'm just now writing about what I did when I was home at the end of last month!

Rustic beaches come to mind when I think of Malibu. I discovered something different when I went hiking with my friend Nick in the mountains above. We entered Malibu Creek State Park inland through the rural city of Calabasas. The rolling green hills here are a real contrast to Southern California's landscape of browner tones. Outcropping rocks also give it a majestic feel.

We hiked several miles along the creek to reach the area that was used as the film set for the TV series M.A.S.H. Some of the original vehicles wwere left for visitors to see (and sit inside).

It's pretty amazing to find an undeveloped environment like Malibu Creek less than 30 miles from Downtown Los Angeles. I will certainly return again to hike the many trails offered here again.

(download)

Click here to download:

Malibu.zip (2.77 MB)

I spent the past two weeks working out of New Orleans. During my stay I had two opportunities to visit the French Quarter, and did a side trip to the city of Mobile, Alabama. The food was amazing and live jazz a highlight. I also enjoyed summer-like weather in March. The days were mostly sunny with highs in the 80s (25-30C for my Canadian friends).

Due to high demand for hotel rooms in the area we were treated to accommodations at a Crowne Plaza. It was my first time staying in this higher-end chain owned by Holiday Inn. Here the complimentary breakfast includes real eggs, fresh fruit, and pastries (no powdered egg mix, cheese-whiz omelets, or microwave bacon). My Platinum Elite Status gave me accesses to a VIP lounge offering free soft drinks and bottled water throughout the day, and an open bar most weeknights. If you've seen the movie "Up in the Air" with George Clooney, you'll understand the importance of loyalty program status to people with travel jobs.

I spent Saint Patricks Day evening in the French Quarter with co-workers. I'm told this night draws crowds on Bourbon Street second only to Mardi Gras. The highlight for me was an incredible seafood meal at an Oyster Bar. I've never eaten oysters caught earlier in the day and shucked (cut in half) right in front of me. I also enjoyed gulf shrimp in a spicy creole sauce. Simple dishes, but the quality made them very unique.

My second visit to the French Quarter was during the day and I took some photos. I walked around for a few hours and saw some of the same places I visited in 1995 on a high school band trip. It was not apparent at first glance that a destructive hurricane swept through the area nearly 8 years ago.

I did a 2.5 hour road-trip to Mobile, AL one day to exchange equipment with another field crew. It was my first time seeing this part of Alabama and I was very impressed. Downtown architecture was a mix of southern plantation style homes, colonial influenced storefronts, and contemporary buildings. I also had an excellent meal at an oyster house elevated above the waterfront due to frequent storm-surges.

After 32 days in the field I travelled home yesterday for a much-needed break. I don't know exactly how long I'll be back, but I hope for at least 2 weeks.

(download)

Click here to download:

New_Orleans_and_the_Gulf_Coast.zip (4.43 MB)

With only a few days left before going back into the field I decided to do a last minute trip to Palm Springs. The highlight of my trip was hiking in the Indian Canyons, the world's largest natural palm oasis. In my short time in this city I was impressed by the diverse landscape, and relaxed lifestyle. 

Palm Springs has been on my bucket list of things to see in Southern California for awhile. Only two hour drive away, all that held me back until now were a few friends who thought I would find it boring. While it was apparent that the city it carters to an older demographic, I learned that there are many outdoor adventures possible here.

As I drove over Banning Pass into into the Cahuilla Valley the first thing I noticed were wind turbines, many of them. The area was so windy that I started to second guess my plan to go hiking that afternoon. After checking at the visitor center, I was told the Indian Canyons were not windy, but that I would have to pay an entrance fee if I wanted to hike there. The attendant told me they had a student rate of $6. Not bad, but I told him I was not a student. He said that I looked like a student so he would only charge me $6.

Of the three possible canyons, I was referred to Murray Canyon, a 4-mile hike, which I could comfortably complete that afternoon. While I expected to see palm trees, the beautiful rock formations were a surprise. The trail first took me through the desert, and then dropped down into the oasis where it criss-crossed the stream about a dozen times before reaching a waterfall. It turned out to be one of the most unique hikes I've ever done, comparable to Hawaii in my opinion.

I headed downtown for an early dinner, and was surprised to see many restaurants packed already. I felt very young eating dinner surrounded by mostly retired people. Compared to Los Angeles the downtown strip seemed almost sleepy, certainly relaxed. This is Palm Springs--the snapshot I've seen of it.

(download)

Click here to download:

Palm_Springs.zip (3.18 MB)

Since late December I've been in the Southeastern US as part of a large-scale power line mapping effort throughout the Carolinas and Georgia. After nearly a month in the field, I'm slated to return home next Monday.

My first stop on this trip was Peachtree City, Georgia - a "planned community" of on the outskirts of Atlanta. It found this suburban town to be somewhat bland. Perhaps its most unique attribute was the abundance of golf carts, which are used as commuter vehicles on numerous trails running through town designed for this purpose. I had some fun running on these trails while dodging golf carts.

The second week took me to Tifton, a much smaller town in Southern Georgia. Fortunately the hotel was nice, because I didn't go out much. I didn't have a car and there were no sidewalks in this freeway-exit town. Eventually I found a Starbucks that I could walk to and made this part of my daily routine.

One week ago I moved on to the final stop in Greenville, South Carolina. I am impressed by the city and took several photos of the revitalized Downtown area. Through some forward-thinking economic development initiatives Greenville is now headquarters for Michelin Tires which has attracted many support industries.

(download)

Click here to download:

Greenville.zip (2.59 MB)

After a series of field projects this fall, I was finally able to cash-in some time off this month. I enjoyed several weeks in sunny California, and five days in Canada over Christmas. Yesterday I travelled to Atlanta to begin another set of projects in Georgia and South Carolina.

In early December I completed a personal training package that was a birthday gift. I learned several new exercises that don't require much equipment - perfect for traveling. I spent more time at the gym and went hiking with friends as our schedules allowed. I explored more of the San Gabriel Valley where my friend Nicholas lives. While I love living at the beach, I find the mountains less crowded and more relaxing.

My younger sister Brynne arrived in mid-December after her third term of college in the UK. The castle her college is based out of was once owned by William Hearst, so we did a trip to tour Hearst Castle on the Central Coast. As my first visitor, she was also subjected to my sightseeing tours around LA before we returned to Canada shortly before Christmas. Given our distant locations throughout the year, It was nice to have this time together as a family. 

I don't know what 2012 will bring but I look forward to it. I expect to be doing a fair bit of travel in the US, and possibly a few international trips. When I have enough time-off I would also like to visit the East Coast cities of New York and Boston as a vacation.

(download)

Click here to download:

A_month_off_in_December.zip (1.18 MB)

It will be one year tomorrow since I moved from Victoria to Los Angeles to follow my career aspirations in geography. It started with a job offer, which has led to many other opportunities and experiences. I've enjoyed life in the beach cities, and it has given me the motivation to be healthier. My work has provided me the opportunity to travel to some interesting places. Finally, I've become more active and participated in many things a big city has to offer.

In January I moved into a studio apartment steps from Hermosa Beach. I get along well with my landlord, and people in the neighborhood are very friendly. I can walk to almost everything I need. The beachfront strand, connecting beach cities all the way to Santa Monica, is excellent for walking, running, and cycling. California has given me a desire to lead a healthier life. I've worked on my eating since February, and look for ways to be more physically active in everything I do.

I have learned a lot through my job, which involves on-site management of airborne mapping projects. In some cases (including my two months in Colombia) I worked solo and was responsible for all aspects of a project including: consulting, planning, data collection, and preliminary QC. By doing everything, I learned many processes very quickly. Part way through the year I was trained on a new sensor platform for mapping utility corridors. My data processing experience from Canada helped me advance quickly to a role of Field Lead with responsibility for teams of up to 6 people. 

When I am not away on projects, I have enjoyed living in Southern California. I delight in the consistently sunny weather, and the multitude of places to enjoy the outdoors (I haven't turned on a TV once). I've discovered many beautiful areas for hiking/walking, and shown these places to local friends previously unaware of them. I have swam, surfed and paddled outrigger canoes. I've gone to many great restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The big city has also influenced my taste in clothing, music, and food.

It has been a good year, and I feel very fortunate to have the opportunities I do. I look forward to time-off in December. My younger sister is coming to visit me for 7 days, and we'll return to Canada together for Christmas with family.