Back to the Edge

Today is going well. So far. Famous last words, probably — but I didn’t forget any bags this time, flights are on schedule, and the weather is nice.

Of course, this is a week later than anticipated, as a frickin’ hurricane forced me to cancel an entire shoot. But you know, other than that…

The downside to today is that I have to spend four hours in Montreal. I am, however, looking forward to my packed lunch! Fed up with the lack of inflight meals, overpriced snacks, and shitty airport food, I came prepared — an air travel first for me. I’ve got a small selection of cheeses and pepperoni with cranberry-and-almond crackers. Very sophisticated. And it all cost me less than a two-day-old Air Canada “gourmet” sandwich.

One of the rare luxuries of this shoot is that I don’t have much gear: one carry-on bag weighing a measly 25 pounds, and three checked bags, all under 50. Unheard of. I’ve got dive gear, a few clothes, and a very large first-aid trauma kit — in case an overly enthusiastic, large-toothed fish shows up on this shoot I’m not allowed to be specific about.

I’m also back with one of my favourite humans and every shoot’s “most valuable player.” I can’t mention his very Australian name or talk about his luxurious moustache, but some of you will know who he is.

The nice thing about going to Montreal today is that I’m also leaving Montreal today. From there we head to JFK in New York State, then jump in a horrendously expensive Uber to Manhattan, overnighting downtown before continuing our journey tomorrow. Which means… a few hours in glorious NYC.

As Milton Glaser’s truly iconic design accurately proclaims: I ❤ NY.

It is such an aggressive city — and I love it. Its energy is palpable. Everyone is on a mission. Everyone has somewhere to be. There’s no time for dithering. If you get to the front of a deli line-up and don’t have your order ready, you’ll be publicly flogged.

Don’t meander on the footpath. Don’t obstruct a doorway. Don’t ask a customer service question. Don’t make a suggestion. Don’t hesitate. Keep your head down, move with purpose, give as good as you get, and — for the love of God — know what sandwich you want in advance.

It’s a remarkably impressive concrete jungle, with 8.5 million people spread across five boroughs. An economic powerhouse, a cultural hub, an American mecca for diversity — with over 200 languages and a 40% foreign-born population. Oh, and the food: best. food. ever.

Sadly, I’ll only be here for a few hours. After that, I’ll be heading to the tip of Long Island for a week of watery shenanigans. Then it’s back to Halifax for the 49th time this year. Which is fine by me — there’s a really good ice cream place I need to revisit.

I’m down to my last three weeks on this series (at least until the edit next summer). I’ve had forest fires, deaths, breakages, a hurricane, and a distinct lack of subject matter. So let’s see what the edge has in store before we part ways…

Today is going well. So far. Famous last words probably, but I didn’t forget any bags this time, flights are on schedule, and the weather is nice.

Of course this is a week later than anticipated as a frickin’ hurricane forced me to cancel an entire shoot. But you know, other than that…

The downside to today is that I have to spend four hours in Montreal, something I’m not proud of but options were limited.

I am however looking forward to my packed lunch! Fed up with a lack of inflight meals, expensive snacks and shitty airport food I came prepared - an air travel first for me. I have small selection of cheeses and pepperoni, with cranberry and almond crackers. Very sophisticated. And it all cost me less than a two day old Air Canada “gourmet” sandwich.

One of the rare luxuries of this shoot is that I don’t have much gear. One carry on bag weighing a measly 25 pounds, and three checked bags, all under 50. Unheard of. I have dive gear, a few clothes, and a very large first aid trauma kit in case an overly enthusiastic large toothed fish were to be present on this shoot I’m not allowed to be specific about.

I’m also back with one of my favourite humans and every shoot’s “most valuable player”. I can’t mention his very Australian name or talk about his luxurious moustache, but some of you know will know who he is.

The nice thing about going to Montreal today is that I am also leaving Montreal today. From there we head to JFK in New York State, and then jump in a horrendously expensive Uber to Manhattan, overnighting downtown before continuing our journey tomorrow, which means…. A few hours in glorious NYC.

As Milton Glaser’s truly iconic design accurately proclaims, I heart NY.

It is such an aggressive city and I love it. Its energy is palpable. Everyone is on a mission. Everyone has something to do or somewhere to be. There’s no time for dithering. If you get to the front of a deli line up and you don’t have your order ready - you’ll be publicly flogged.

Don’t meander on a footpath, don’t obstruct a doorway, don’t ask a customer service question, don’t make a suggestion, don’t hesitate… Keep your head down, move with purpose, give as good as you get, and for the love of god, know what sandwich you want in advance.

It’s a remarkably impressive concrete jungle with 8.5 million people live across five boroughs. An economic powerhouse, a cultural hub, an American Mecca for diversity - with over 200 languages and 40% foreign born population. Oh and the food - Best. Food. Ever.

Sadly I’ll only be here for a few hours. After which I’ll be heading to the tip of Long Island for a week of watery shenanigans. After which it’s back to Halifax for the 49th time this year. Which is fine by me. There’s a really good ice cream place there I need to revisit.

I’m down to my last three weeks on this series (at least until the edit next summer), I’ve had forest forest, deaths, breakages, a hurricane, and a distinct lack of subject matter. So let’s see what the edge has in store before we part ways…