WordCamp Victoria

As you can see, I do not use WordPress - yet! It is pretty freakin' cool though so it might be worth switching when I have a minute or two. However, I have clients that use WordPress for their sites so I have had to become an expert in this fabulous content management system in order to help them develop their sites to their full potential. 
My self-imposed continuing education meant attending WordCamp Victoria today - an intense, two-stream, all day WP class. Hosted by Paul Holmes, President of IdeaZone.ca, who decided that Victoria needed a WordCamp after attending one in Surrey, BC. As the story goes, I guess he thought twenty people may show up so when nearly a hundred of us signed up, he was a bit surprised!  
All the attendees left with the same impression - when are we doing this again! With internationally recognized and insanely knowledgeable speakers such as Tris Hussey, Funeral Futurist (not kidding here!) Robin Heppell, and Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega, it was destined to be a hit. 
A few things I learned:
1). Never stop learning or asking questions. This is kind my life philosophy anyways but it was evident in the room that due to the incredible evolution of social media and CMS  technology, even the experts don't know all the answers. Keep learning! Always ask questions and always stay open to new things and new opportunities! 
2.) Give back! One of the things that may have changed in the last couple of years is people commenting on each others blogs versus commenting on Facebook, Tweets, etc. Commenting and back linking is one of best way to give back or pay it forward, depending on whether your glass is half full or not. 
3). Social media is about people! Everyone has something to teach and a room full of knowledge is better then one person beating their head against a dim computer screen. All day questions came up that presenters could not answer yet often someone in the room would have a solution. Brilliant way to problem solve!
4). Read books! Books often give you an insider's knowledge to technology that is not found, or at least better explained, then on the net. Read books! Books are your friends. Try Tris Hussey's Create your Own Blog: 6 Easy Steps to Start Blogging Like a Pro on for size or Create your Own Photo Blog by Catherine Jamieson if you are a creative sort. 
Paul is planning more WordCamp Victoria sessions for 2010. Keep an eye out for dates and make sure you attend the next one to learn, to grow, and to share your knowledge!

Fall Sun at Galey's Farm Corn Maze

Last November I had the amazing opportunity to spend Thanksgiving in Iowa with my boyfriend’s family. This was my first introduction to Jon’s family as well as my first American Thanksgiving. His family was amazing! They made me feel at home right from the start and although similar to a Canadian Thanksgiving with ample turkey, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, gravy, and, of course, family, there is something to be said for spending my first American Thanksgiving on a farm during the latter part of the harvest.

On the Friday evening, Jon and I went to help his brother and nephews with ‘chiseling’, the post harvest chopping up of the hard ground, corn shafts, and root balls that remain after combining. It was beyond black that night and about 16 degrees Fahrenheit – a beautiful night! After a couple of hours, Jon let me take over the controls and I had the time of my life driving a giant Case tractor through a real Iowa corn field. That kind of torque and four wheel drive action is an off-roader's dream!

Remembering that feeling, I decided to go in search of a harvest here in Victoria to photograph. Not many people believe me when I say Victoria grows some of the best sweet corn in the world but I swear, it does! Sweet corn is a new term for me, taught during the trip to Iowa where we were actually harvesting feed corn a.k.a. Cornflakes™ that has a longer growing season. Of course, all the sweet corn was also harvested long before I made it back to Victoria but the Corn Maze at Galey’s Farm is not grown for human consumption, only human fun.

Galey’s is an odd combination of farming, theater, and activities within a few kilometers of downtown Victoria. It is part of the ‘green belt’, a strip of land running from Victoria up the Peninsula that is zoned agricultural and safe from development. In 2000, Galey Farms became one of the first local farms to jump on the agri-tourism hay wagon, a perfect expansion for a tourist city.

Worth a visit, Galey’s run a Petting Zoo, Western Town, Haunted House, Pumpkin Festival, Fall Hay rides, and a Farm Train. However, expect a few strange attractions such as the forty foot tall Sphinx built for the Egyptian exhibit at the BC Provincial Museum. It is tall enough to be seen in all directions and a strange enough site to stop traffic!


I did get the chance to photograph a bit of fall corn in the maze but spent more time looking then shooting I'm afraid. Enjoy the pics here!

Solihull National Rally 2009 - Leadville, Colorado

Every year, the Solihull Society based out of Denver, Colorado hosts the National Land Rover Rally. This year the event took place in Leadville, Colorado - the highest incorporated town in North America. 

As usual, the event was superb - click here to see the pics! 
Next year, the event is back in Moab and there is no way I missing it again! Every second year the National Rally is in Moab and it is always the more popular location. 


Dates are Oct 19 to 23rd, 2010 - watch the Solihull site for more information!


Read my article in the December issue of Land Rover World on the 2009 National Land Rover Rally for more information. 

Overland Expo 2009

The sleepy, historic town of Prescott, Arizona hosted the first Overland Expo over the April 24^th to 26^th weekend. For the first time in North America, expedition ready vehicles, gear, participants, and world travelers came together in one spot to educate, to learn, to experience, and to celebrate the art of vehicle dependent travel. As expected, Land Rover was well represented by participants, exhibitors, and instructors.

Roseann Hanson of ConserVentures LLC organized Overland Expo 2009 and sponsors included Overland Journal, Overland Training and Expedition Portal as well as many other companies and organization directly linked to the overland community in North America. 

A highlight for the Land Rover community was the opportunity to meet and learn off-road driving techniques from North America’s LR legend, Tom Collins. Tom’s background in off-highway driving includes organizing and leading the Great Divide Expedition in 1989, U.S. Team Coordinator for the US Camel Trophy team from 1990 to 1998 and as one the 1987 team members. He currently consults for Land Rover and is an integral part of their off-highway instructional team. His easy manner, quiet wit, and obvious knowledge and skill quickly made participants feel at ease behind wheel in front of this North American legend.

A ‘must see’ for LR enthusiasts was Christian and Saskia Holzknecht’s 2006 Defender 110. Christian is a professional photographer from Europe and the pair are traveling around the world with their German Shepherd in the Rover. Stopping at the OV Expo as both exhibitors and participants, their 110 was a showstopper. Tricked out by Ex-Tec, the hydraulic lift pop top roof caught everyone’s attention while the built in interior modifications including a port potty, table, bench, water storage, tool cabinet and full galley were all ingeniously designed and fully constructed out of aluminum and surprisingly roomy considering the size of the overall vehicle.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the Overland Expedition Flag presentation held at the banquet the final night. This unique opportunity was open to all participants undertaking a unique trip prior to OVExpo ‘10 and included support from sponsors, gift certificates for equipment, an article in Overland Journal and free attendance to next year’s Expo where they would present the flag to the 2010 winners. This year’s winner was Holt Webb of Vanishing America. Holt is a professional photographer who is “traveling across America on veggie oil, capturing the unique aspects of our country and culture that are in danger of disappearing within the next few generations”. Part of his vegetable running entourage is The Greasy Beast, his Defender 90 fully converted to run on used, filtered ‘chip oil’. Everyone at the banquet agreed that Holt and his monumental project deserved to win the flag and maybe next year he will be the keynote speaker, presenting his worthwhile project to participants.

Want to see some pics of the OV Expo '09? Click here! And click here for information on next year’s Overland Expo.