// Top Five Pics From Chasing the 2816

I present you the top 5 pictures from yesterdays trip chasing the 2816. The scenery was fantastic! Here you go, enjoy!

5.

The 2816 stops to be serviced in Agassiz.

4.

The 2816 stands tall in Northbend while being serviced once again.

3.

The 2816 winds along the Fraser Canyon.

2.
The 2816 starts to climb up the Fraser Canyon just East of Yale.

1.
The 2816 passes over Spuzzum Creek.

// Busted by The Po

Well, well, well... Seems as if I had a little run-in with the law yesterday, and my luck with avoiding traffic tickets was gone!

I've had many occasions where I thought for sure a cop was going to pull me over, and it was a miracle almost that it didn't happen. That didn't happen today as out of the blue, I was caught.

How fast was I going you say?... Oh it's not a speeding ticket my friends.

About six months back the city decided to make the neighborhood traffic free by replacing stop signs with traffic circles, blocking off roads to other roads, and maing intersections illegal to go straight or left at. Anyhoo, if you want to go to Richmond, especially in heavy traffic, your best way was to go through the neighborhood and avoid busy Granville street. Once you get through the neighborhood you come to an intersection where you can turn left on to 70th and go over Oak Street Bridge, or go straight to get over the Arthur Lang. Life was good...

However, the intersection was a victim of the cities new improvements, and they made it a no left turn or straight through intersection, meaning you could only go right. If you go right, that takes you the complete opposite way of Richmond. I was not thrilled about the cities new rule, so what do I do? Rebel! Break the rule! Go straight and turn left anyway! There won't be any cops here anyway!

Six months later I have been proven wrong. It was another normal day while I was making my way to Richmond and I went straight through the intersection. Half a block away, a cop pops out and I am screwed! My original plan when the new rules for the intersection came out was to just say I didn't know I wasn't allowed, but I couldn't do it. The cop just made it too obvious the I purposely went through.

He was actually a pretty nice guy though, we even joked around, I thought for sure I would get a warning.

Nope, $120!

Geez, I still can't really believe it. The worst part for me is that I totally didn't see it coming, and it seemed like such a stupid little rule. I tried to stick it to the man, but the man just took it and shoved it up my @$$. This has been a lesson to me I guess... That you just can't win. Now I'm afraid to do anything! Bo-urns I say... Bo-urns

So there you have it! I no longer have a perfect driving record. I have committed a violation and have been caught! Never thought I'd see the day...

// Sunset, Sunrise

Holy Snap! I wake up at 2pm, and my room is on fire! Well, it was burning with the flames or anything, but it was really really hot!

So the past two days, I've watched the sun go down, then come back up! It's really very beautiful to see the Sun come up. We were out in Langley, and you could see the sun starting to come up over the mountains, and it was absolutly incredible.

However, graveyards aren't the most fun thing in the world! For example, I just woke up! Sleeping in the day isn't really a problem, but it's weird! Anyhoo, its incredibly hot!

How many of you would agree that today is really really hot?

Me!

// To Make A Long Story Short...

I'm home! But I'm leaving again! Whoa! The world is spinning to fast!

I got home friday night at 12 because they told me I didn't have to work which was very nice! Yay! I got home and actually got to sleep, and I sure did sleep! I was lacking sleep because I had just worked my first ever graveyard.

Saturday was really fun as well! I hooked my computer back up (yes, the posts once again come from MY computer) and I somewhat cleaned my car. Went to metrotwon for a short period of time, then went mini golfing with Andrew, Dyllan, and Nick at Harry's! How intense was that! Andrew tied me on the last hole (Andrew and I were losing most of the time, but somehow came back!) so we went to a playoff hole! I ended up winning and it was so intense! Best game of golf ever.

After that we went to Andrew's house to watch a movie! We dropped of Nick and picked up Nicole and Kasi and we watched the Matador... is that how you spell it? Anyhoo, I thought it was really good.

Sunday was my big day to Victoria! I drove onto the boat with a car consisting of Nicole, Dyllan and Kasi. I thought they took debit so when I got there I had no money and it was going to cost $60 so I paniced for a while. Luckily Nicole had money and it was off to Victoria! Anyhoo, I only got 4 hours of sleep so I was really really tired! Since I was so tired I can't remember anything from what we did, so what happens in Victoria, stays in Victoria!

I did a major clean up of my new, and old computer and sorted out some CD's and did laundry before I once again have to leave in a couple hours to go back to Abbotsford for two more days! Today I'm staying at Dave's at Summit which will be super awesomily cool! Dave rocks, he let me stay! I'm buying him lunch! I shall be back Tuesday night!

Anyhoo, I gotta eat! Abbotsford calls!

// I Miss My Home

Abbotsford has treated me well, but having nobody around is making me sad! Nobody calls me or says hi and I just feel so lonley! I only get the odd chance to go use the internet and blah blah blah.

Anyhoo, I dunno, it's just been an odd week, yet good. I just feel very empty.

I work at 11 tonight! Bah, I'd rather be in bed!

Am I complaining? I hope not!

// When The Man Comes Around

Today is my last day in Vancouver for a while, as I will be heading out to Abbotsford for about 6 days. Yay Abbotsford! I figured I would say goodbye to all now, since I am extremely busy prepping to leave, and I take off bright and early tomorrow Morning!

Why Abbotsford you ask?

Why not!

No, seriously... Why Abbotsford you ask?

Hmmmm... Dave is there! Dave is pretty cool!

As true as that is, why would you stay in Abbotsford for 5 days just because Dave lives in Abbotsford?

Well... Andrew MacG used to live there, and he's pretty cool too, and I'm sure you can still feel his presence in Abbotsford!

That didn't answer the question about Dave though...

Oh... Wait, what was the first question?

Why Abbotsford?

Oh yes! Well as most of you know I'm working at Southern Rail right now and I am in the training process! Since I am in the training process they want me to train in Abbotsford for a week and a half to get to know the place. So I thought, wow! That will be a long drive! Maybe I could stay at a place! Thus, I will be living in style for the week at the luxurious Best Western Hotel, only 4 minutes away from work!

A little pricy you say? Well, you can do the math here. They give me an hour an a half for travel time, in other words, $30 for traveling everyday. It takes an hour and a half to get to work, not including the trip home. So instead of spending that money on traveling, I put it towards a hotel! Still a little expensive? Well, Navin is in a hotel with me so we split the cost of a room, so I'm pretty much paying $20 a day for the room. It's a little like paying $20 for a incredibly fast car ride that will get you to work in 4 minutes, instead of 90 minutes! Decent trade I would say.

I leave tomorrow morning as said before, and I check out Friday afternoon. Since I work a graveyard shift Friday, technically I won't be coming home until about 7am Saturday. I get to sleep for my Saturday! Yay!

I haven't been away from home this long since... For many many many years. I went on a road trip with the family way back when I was in grade 9, but that was grade 9! Or was it grade 10...? Yea, I think it was Grade 10. Anyhoo, long time ago at any rate. I'm really going to miss coming home to my bed, my TV, my trains, my annoying brother, you know, everything that makes home, home. It's going to be pretty exciting as well since as I said before I'm going to be living in style! I'm looking forward to the hot tub and swimming pool, especially after a long day of work!

One of the most exciting things I'm looking forward to is Cultus Lake. I work a shift at 11 pm Friday and the hotel kicks me out at 2, so I figured I'd just go to Cultus Lake and sleep there, check out the boat rentals and hopefully take a Sea Do out. Unfortunately I'm going to be doing this by myself but maybe alone time will do some good for me. If any of you happen to be in Abbotsford Friday, let me know! We can partay

One of the other couple things I am looking forward to is Castle Fun Park and Dave! Hopefully Dave will find me, or I'll find him, and we can hang out!

I'm going to try to find internet access since my email account fills up sooooo quickly with train gossip, Canuck emails, and all the other things I signed up for. With an internet connection, I will come and drop a 'hello' at my beloved blog. I will miss everything that I take advantage of here in Vancouver and I'll enjoy all that I can take advantage of in Abbotsford. I'm also incredibly nervous about work again, since I have no clue how my progress is working out and I'm working night shifts twice this week for the first time. My entire living patterns are going to be thrown right off!

Anyhoo, this is Matty signing off, from Vancouver!

// Workin' Hard or Hardy Workin?

Work was kind of stupid today. We had probably about 3-4 hours of work, but it took us 8 hours! Why you ask? Because the cars we were supposed to pick up weren't ready! We sat around for hours on end waiting for them! We went to McDonalds and sat there, then we sat in the yard some more... I even fell asleep! It was really annoying.

So that brings me to my question... What would you rather do: sit around at work doing nothing and being bored, or going home early from work and watching TV at home?

I thought we were getting time and a half today because apparently its a stat holiday, but we weren't getting paid time and a half. Instead, we were paid to work 7.5 hours on Saturday, and I didn't even go to work on Saturday! That was kind of cool!

Which leads me to my next question... On a holiday, would you rather get paid time and a half, or for a shift you didn't actually work?

This is a group participation post so don't be afraid to comment!

// Canada Day My Friends

Believe it or not, but this will be the THIRD time I've blogged about Canada Day, meaning Whatever has been around for a long time, and I love it! Last years Canada Day was very interesting... I look back at it now and think "oh Matty..." but it was for sure good times. It's kinda funny since Jam and Nicole went with me last year, and they're both coming tomorrow again, but the table is kind of flipped this time! Hehehe... guess things happen for a reason.

Canada 05 was awesome; I got to go back to Kamloops, minor partying, and there were awesome fireworks. One of my best memories was just sitting on the window sill of my hotel room watching the fireworks thinking "it doesn't get any better then this..." I would like to forever think of it like that since that summer went down hill as soon as I got back, but I must say, that trip was amazing.

This years Canada Day involves going to watch the Parade in Steveston again. After that I have no clue... it's been the first Canada Day where I haven't had any pre-arrangements or work or anything. My first free Canada in a while! So Happy Canada Day to y'all! Enjoy!