Friends Category
Emmett Broaddus
Emmett was 21. He was from California. We met in the HI Vancouver. He was as he would like to say “like a cookie man, hard on the outside, soft in the middle…”. We partied hard, played harmonica and drums during a 4am street riot: one of the fondest memories of my trip. We travelled to Victoria, drank beers at Big Bad John’s and tried to pick up ladies always failing with a smile on our faces. We swam in frigid waters and he did the best Steve Irwin impression I have ever seen. We talked, sharing a love of music and travel. We travelled together from Victoria to Seattle on a boat and then met up again in San Fran were we drank and talked about our future travels and Emmetts plans to visit me in Australia. I said ‘so long’ to Emmett in San Francisco, not farewell. He was funny, intelligent and profound. He was talented and energetic, open and compassionate. Most importantly he was my friend.
On Monday on his way to school Emmett was killed in a car accident. I’ll never get to introduce him to the ladies of Australia, or return the hospitality he showed me from the moment I met. The world is missing one magical person and is a little darker because of it. I hope that I can keep his memory alive by living my life as he would, always happy, always open and always with a smile on my face.
So long Emmett, I hope that where ever you are now the women are gorgeous and the beers cold.
Travel Friends
I love hostels. I love the instant connections they instil in their inhabitants. Everyone is in the same boat. We’re all sharing the same rooms with the same snorers, loafers and messy bastards. We’re all struggling travellers, excited and amazed by the smallest of things we experience on our adventures. Many are alone, seeking friendship at every corner, someone to talk to and share with.
Sometimes you find in hostels acquaintances, people to chat to and entertain for a moment, just a moment before they fade off into the night. Other times you meet those that you wish to surround yourself with for longer, filling your day with their company. I’ve met a few people like this on my trip. People that share a common outlook on the world and attitude to life.
Finding people like this is fairly rare but great. Of the hundreds upon hundreds of people I have met, shaken hands with, shared a beer and stories and laughs just a few make it into my hit list. They stand like mile markers in my adventure, my memories of them shining like beacons in rolling seas.
While I have become hardened against goodbyes, they are still are difficult, but the effect is reduced I have found when done over the hangover of a great night out. One such a great night was in the wonderful Quebec. And so, once again farewell my friends. May we find one another again in this wide world and raise a glass to our past, present and future.
The Blonde Nightmare
I promised I would write an article about one of the very interesting people I met in Sydney: Lucy Holden. A self confessed “blonde nightmare” or “A car crash of a woman”; Lucy headed to Australia with a few dollars, a working visa and an uncontrollable desire to buy any clothes she sees.
Full of life, Lucy was the mistress of the goon, often sneaking it into bars and clubs to drink on the cheap. She missed her first day of work at a cafe because of a big night out and still managed to bluff her way into keeping the job. She stole muffins from hostels, scammed a bed pretty much every night and found coles to be a great source of free food. Even with so little money Lucy could still pull out a big night.
The last I heard from Lucy was that she was headed down to Melbourne with a few hundred bucks donated from her mum. She’ll be looking for, and eventually flagging work in Victoria just as this post goes up. Good luck Lucy, I hope the reputation you earned at the YHA doesn’t follow you to Melbourne!
Max & Pascal
Yesterday I said goodbye to a couple of new friends, namely Max and Pascal. Ever the party animals these two brothers from Quebec have been traveling around causing a ruckas and breaking the hearts of ladies all over the shop. They are two of the biggest stoners you’ll ever meet. I am glad to have got to know them these past couple of weeks as their antics always brought a smile to my face.
Viva Quebec fellas, enjoy your road trip to Melbourne with Jeff, Alban and Anrie and I’m sure I’ll meet you again in my travels.
Salsa Steve
One of the best and most interesting characters I’ve met so far in my travels is Salsa Steve. Harking from New Zealand, inventor of 6 hour mozzarella and accomplished musician Steve travels the world in search of the worlds best Salsa dancers and competition nights.
I had the pleasure of attending one of the organised Salsa nights that Steve had been chasing around the world and had a great night. The mood of the room was infectious, and had even the audience of spectators shaking their hips. I am glad I made the effort to see Salsa Steve in his element. It is something that will stay with me long after this trip is over.
Keep dancing Steve, may your adventures on this Earth always be filled with sexy Salsa ladies!