Mark Grantham (Canadian b.1966), Winter Trees, 2024

Nova Scotia, Canada Mamiya 7 Kodak Portra 400

EP OUT NOW EVERYWHERE 🪐💖

I will miss living in Nova Scotia

Cape Forchu at blue hour

shelburne, nova scotia 1973

sesame street float, grand street parade

Photograph by Nick DeWolf https://www.flickr.com/photos/dboo/5388242797

We ain't clownin' around!

Special guest, Anthony Nicastro, squeezes into our clown car to discuss Gill's pick, TERRIFIER (2016). Is Art the Clown the most iconic horror villain of the last decade? Are these practical effects to die for? And, will the squad rip out Anthony's heart with their rating?

Tune in to find out if we gave this film a NAY, OKAY, YAY, or SLAY!

Available now on your favourite podcast app!

My new front door has finally arrived and I couldn’t be happier. From concept to design to install it’s been over a year. Handmade custom glass from Germany in the diamonds. Mouth blown glass from New Brunswick in the rounds of the transom. Door made of mahogany on the south shore of Nova Scotia. Hardware by @baldwinhardware Essex Green paint from @benjaminmoore #chester #novascotia #jonathanlegate #dutchdoor #entrance #curbappeal #customdesign (at Chester, Nova Scotia) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClGgMexL-Dl/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Weathered trees in southern Nova Scotia (2007)

When It Rains It Pours

It was the middle of June 2023. Me and prospect Cam were gearing up for an 800+km day of riding in our beautiful province of Nova Scotia. The weather was cloudy, warm, and humid but we knew by the time we got home (which would be late into the night) that it would be raining. So, we packed all the appropriate riding gear. I was riding my 2012 Victory Highball, Cam on his 2022 El Diablo.

I met up with Cam, and a handful of the brothers from the Dartmouth charter at the Mt. Uniacke Pub just outside of the city. Freedom RC was putting on their Ride for Fred, a memorial run for one of its member’s fathers, who had passed away a few years back. It was a smaller group ride with about 35 bikes. Freedom RC led the way, and we all headed down towards Hubbard’s; snaking along the road that follows the Atlantic coastline of Nova Scotia. From there we headed back up Highway 14 towards Windsor. We made a few stops along the way for gas, snacks, smokes, and to just hangout. On the last stretch of the ride, confidence levels were high, everyone was feeling great on their bikes carving some nice twisty’s along Highway 1. Just in front of me, Eric of Freedom RC, was on his cholo style bike. These style bikes have very little lean angle, they do not corner well. He was using the whole road to make the tight corners at these speeds. Suddenly, on one tight corner, he high sided on his fishtail pipes, sliding across the road until the bike met the shoulder. When the bike hit the shoulder, it dug into the gravel and started to violently roll. Eric was thrown off the bike down into the ditch. A few others and I went into the other lane to avoid the flipping motorcycle and parts flying everywhere. Luckily there were no vehicles coming. By the time I got my bike parked, Cam and the others were already down in the ditch with Eric. He was alert and responding. A group of us picked his bike up and moved it off the road. The ambulance and first responders showed up quickly so most decided to continue the ride to a Freedom RC members house. There, family and friends who didn’t ride had the BBQ fired up and lots of food ready for us when we arrived. Eric also had his snack truck set up as well. We all grabbed a bite to eat. While we were eating, we received the bad news that Eric had to be air lifted from the crash site to the QE2 hospital in Halifax.

After eating, Cam and I decided to push on and hit the road. We were traveling to the Highlanders Antigonish annual bike draw in Havre Boucher. We grabbed a few snacks from Erics truck and off we went. After a quick stop for fuel in New Glasgow we got off the highway in Sutherlands River and headed up a beautiful section of the sunrise trail (Route 245) towards Cape George, pushing the limits, riding hard, and having a blast. We decided to stop at the Cape George lighthouse for a little snack, and to take in the scenery. While sitting at the picnic table we opened our phones and read the tragic news about Eric. He had not made it. He passed away on the way to the hospital. With a lot of riding left to do ourselves before we made it home that night, it was a difficult thing to process right then and there. It takes time for this kind of news to sink in. We hopped back on our bikes with heavy hearts and lighter hands for the last stretch of the run to Highlanders. When we arrived, we found that the news had beat us there. News travels fast. We stayed for a while, chatting with some friends as they drew numbers for the bike draw. We enjoyed some more BBQ and cold beverages. Bikers love BBQ (Good Thing).

The sun went down, slowly sinking behind the tree line. The rain still had not started. I checked the radar and seen that it was indeed coming, but we could get to our first fuel stop outside New Glasgow before we had to suit up in rain gear.

The ride back was all highway. The newly twinned section had just been completed a few weeks before between Antigonish and New Glasgow. The fresh pavement was smooth, obscuring the sense of speed as we rode. We arrived at a 24-hour Irving outside New Glasgow just before midnight. The guy inside working was resting his eyes, so we had to wake him up to turn on the fuel pump. Before we left, we suited up in our rain gear. As we rode down the highway towards Truro, we crested Mt. Thom. As the whole sky came into view again, we got an amazing sight and surprise. Lightning was lighting up the sky ahead. As we rode closer to Truro the lightning was getting closer and brighter. What an amazing experience. I looked to the left across the town of Truro towards highway 102 and all I could see was a wall of water. We rode straight into it. The rain was torrential, coming down so hard you could not see. The road turns into a lake, your helmet fogs up, and the rain starts to find its way into your suit. All you can do is try to stay loose and have a laugh. Most people hate riding in the rain, especially that kind of rain. I love it, it’s a hell of a thrill. We pushed on, passing a cop car that was going about 50km/hr with the 4 ways on. They couldn’t have caught up to us if they wanted to, bikes are much better in the rain then vehicles.

The torrential rain pounded down for 30 minutes before it lightened to a steady rain just as I pulled off my exit, and into my driveway. Happy to be home, I parked the bike and stripped off my rain gear. I headed inside, physically, and mentally exhausted after a full day on the road.

In Memory of Eric Alexander – Freedom RC – Gone But Not Forgotten

-Travis Darksiders Dartmouth

20230404_173255 by A Disappearing Act

Blustery days at sea.

A photo from last year from a road trip to Yarmouth. This photo was a test shot while finding the right composition, I ended up staying in this exact location until after sunset. #capeforchu #capeforchulighthouse #novascotia #lighthousesofcanada #canada #eastcoast (at Cape Forchu Lighthouse) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClcjNhpukTA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=