May 11, 2014
On this trip I’m intentionally seeking out the odd and eccentric, especially those endearing things small towns come up with to put themselves on the map. There were a couple on my itinerary for today but before I got to them I created a spectacle of myself chasing an elusive wifi connection. My data plan on the phone refuses to acknowledge me or the insistence from the carrier that everything is in order. So planning for the evening or next day becomes nigh impossible. After an arduous and fruitless climb into the city centre of Port Alberni in the hopes of finding a Tim Hortons, they’re suppose to grow like weeds, I accepted defeat until I noticed a ratty sign declaring free wireless at an equally questionable motel. I considered checking in for an hour but decided to first see if they protected their precious commodity. They didn’t and had a strong signal. So instead of the privacy of a room, I worked beside the road. I managed to reset my phone to factory settings and restored it again but to no effect. More interesting, some people stopped to chat, one guy offered directions if I needed and then suggested a better internet connection back up the hill. No thank you! When I heard someone yell my name, I got a little worried. Turns out it was the park warden from the night before.
