Canada has some of the worst mobile phone service / costs in the world.
And I hate mobile phones at any price.
SOMEHOW I ended up paying Bell Canada $80 / month.
I’d only gone with Bell because they supposedly had the best coverage on one part of Vancouver Island. (It seemed just as crappy as the rest.). AND for their 30 day holiday add-on plans.
Bell dropped the 30 day plans in 2023, alongside the other major carriers.
WhistleOut recommended Public and Freedom Mobile as the best options for Canadians who want combined Canada + USA coverage. My bill went to $36.70 /month. Pay as I go. Cancel anytime.
No surprise ➙ once I switched I got a phone call from Bell offering me something for $40 / month. No USA coverage.
I now have the DJI RC-N2 controller with the built-in screen. And no longer need to hook up my phone.
I got the full Fly More Kit which includes 3 batteries, charging hub, carrying case, and extras.
Not inexpensive at CAD $1500 including tax.
Of course buying a warranty is essential. I paid CAD $170 (USD $125) / 2 years. I can replace the drone carcass up to 3 times. But IF I lose the drone, no warranty coverage.
I could have gone for the less expensive Mini 2, or Mini 3, but decided on the 4 for these features:
360 degree obstacle avoidance
better low light video
it has a built-in light, so I can see the drone in the sky at dusk or dawn
vertical video in 4K
more Quickshot options
Most importantly, super powerful Activetrack options. The drone will follow-me wherever I go, avoiding obstacles so I need not manually watch it every second. This is ideal for cycling.
Summing Up
I’ll shoot video in 2024 with drone, iPhone, and Ace Pro Action Camera
Very mountainous; the coastline heavily indented by dozens of fjords surrounded by steep hills. These indentations make roads very circuitous. Sounds like the west coast of Norway.
Total total population in 2020 was 7,115.
CHRIS BURKARD put together a gravel tour of the region he called WESTFJORDS WAY.
575 Mi.(925 KM)
40% unpaved
pushing your bike about 10% of the time
Biggest worries for me riding solo are the weather — “Riding in fjords guarantees a headwind and a tailwind. The wind can be so severe that it will push you off your bike …” — and the remoteness. Not many bike shops or resupply points.
BUT I downloaded Lael’s map from the adventure to Komoot. So I’m ready to try it if I get the chance one day.
In a perfect world where everything goes right 😀 … I might even try it summer 2024 as part of my planned Norway & Faroe Islands cycling tour.
BEST deal I could find Vancouver to Europe one way this summer was $498.16 CAD ($364 USD). Includes one piece of luggage, cancellation insurance, and seat selection.
BEST deal was NOT to London, for a change.
Years ago I typically flew Air Transit, a charter. But for the past 4 years WestJet has had the best options to Europe.
My goal is to ride the 18,000 miles in 110 days. The current women’s record is held by Jenny Graham at 124 days, 10 hours and 50 minutes.
At this point, in regards to the record, there’s no distinction between supported and self-supported rides. I’ll be carrying all of my own equipment and food and figuring out all of the logistics on and off the bike. That’s how I like to travel– with a sleep kit and winging it along the way.
I like open-ended adventures and I like competition and riding around the world as fast as I can feels like a great combination of both.
Rue will be documenting my ride and I’d love to encourage people to come out and share a few miles with me along the way.
Rick McCharles 