Wonders of the World in 4K

Though Trudeau is worried about unintended side effects, vaccine passports are inevitable for some months and years to come. International airlines will require them, for example.

About 250k Canadians have already downloaded the most popular app — so far:

CANImmunize app

High privacy standards.

The app is available for free on iOS and Android devices and on the web at canimmunize.ca.

I manually added my 1st COVID vaccine. That can’t be in any way official.

But governments may eventually adopt this app for travel. I’ll be ready.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Skiing March 2021

On March 29, 2021March 28, 2021 By Rick McIn health & fitness, travelLeave a comment

Pandemic seemed a perfect time to get on to the slopes.

Staying in Banff for 5 nights, I enjoyed 1 day at Louise, 2 at Sunshine.

Loving my new Shady Ray ski goggles.

It was ALL great. But my favourite run is the (easiest line) on Eagle Creek coming off Goatseye.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Switching to Shoppers Drug Mart

On March 25, 2021March 21, 2021 By Rick McIn health & fitness, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

Shoppers Drug Mart is Canada’s largest pharmacy chain with over 1000 stores.

As I hope to become — yet again — a traveller, I’m thinking it might be better (in future) to have in-person access to all these stores.

Since I went on blood pressure medications a few years ago, I’ve been dealing with local, independent pharmacies. Good service, but they rarely have what I need in stock.

So … I’ve made a second trip back in person to pick up my DRUGS.

That’s been a hassle a few times over the years, as I travel so much.

The independents and Shoppers both now ship for free — but I have more faith in the big company.

Actually, I would have gone with Amazon Canada Pharmacy — but they haven’t launched that service yet.

ESSENTIAL Travel to Banff

On March 23, 2021March 23, 2021 By Rick McIn ethics, health & fitness, travel1 Comment

I flew for the first time in a year — Vancouver Island to Calgary.

Essential travel to get my first vaccine March 18th.

Essential Doctor’s appointment next day. I hadn’t had an annual medical in over 15 months.

LAB TESTS Calgary are run by a monopoly ~ Alberta Precision Laboratories. Not enough capacity — obviously — as my first available slot was April 12th.

Happily, I could get lab tests in Banff March 23rd.

Travel out of Banff is non-essential, … so I better stay until my vaccine starts to kick in. 😀

Lounging-in-place in my US $60+ / night private hostel room. Only departing for essential food and drink.

And EXERCISE, of course. That’s essential too.

My Year of Living Safely

On March 13, 2021March 12, 2021 By Rick McIn McCharles family, travelLeave a comment

I’ve been a year (mostly) sheltering in place on Vancouver Island.

Off the island only twice.

Three times if you count my first flight — to Calgary for my 1st jab: Thursday, March 18th.

I did have one helicopter ride last July.

In small town Parksville, most of the year we had zero COVID cases. In fact, right now is worst, so far. I’m double masking.

Highlights have been spending time with my parents. Mom and Dad get their first vaccine dose next week.

15 multi-day cycling trips along with plenty of local hiking. I’ll do more of that in 2021, for sure.

My main new hobby with all that COVID time is video editing.

I’m building up a new hiking YouTube channel. Subscribe.

hippies in Corfu, Greece – early 1980s

On March 5, 2021March 3, 2021 By Rick McIn friends, photos, travelLeave a comment

My old pal Mike Sissons forwarded photos.

Mike’s now teaching in Madrid, Spain. I last visited in 2015.

I can vividly remember the kind of nonsense, drinking and debauchery went on in Vatos, Greece. That was the nude beach of the day. (I’m still burned where the sun doesn’t shine.)