Bird Songs

Tomorrow I start another adventure I'm off to Northern Ireland to live in a small cottage by a big Lough, for two weeks working at a nature reserve.

I've never been to Ireland so I am pretty excited, I also love getting away from it all, that feeling of escapism that can only be found through solitude and isolation. Just some good books, some good whiskey and some beautiful scenery for company.

I hope if there is internet anywhere nearby to keep an account of my trip here, if not I will write a journal an stick it all here afterwards.

I'm making a playlist of songs relating to birds if anyone has any suggestions please comment below:

Gregory Porter - Skylark
Fleetwood Mac - Albatross
Small Brown Bike - Kingfisher
William Elliott Whitmore - Song of the Blackbird
Dolly Parton - Little Sparrow
Laura Marling - I was an Eagle
They might be giants - Birdhouse in your soul
Knapsack - Hummingbirds
The Paperbacks - An episode of Sparrows
Sun Kill Moon - This bird has a broken wing
Down - Stone the crow

Helen Chambers - Little Black Birds

Bars of Gold - Do You Like birds?

Great Lake Swimmers - A Bird Flew Inside the house

I'm sat at a train station in Northern Ireland called Moira, it's farm country it's got that lush smell when it's just rained too. 

I already feel good about this trip despite the rain, I'm waiting for a lift from a girl who is busy medicating a sick konik pony, it was 28 degrees when I left Cardiff. 

Arrived at the cottage after doing big shop. The cottage is amazing and I've got the place to myself tomorrow, as its a national holiday here. We got stuck behind a marching band for like 20 mins on the way back, which I didn't mind at all I'm so intrigued by a the whole thing, but not even many Irish people I've met seem to get it, unless you are proper into it I guess? They looked and sounded amazing anyway grey Blazers, purple trousers, lambegs, drums, pipes and batons. The whole thing is like some strange Wes Anderson movie though, arches with pics of the queen and prince Phillip, flags everywhere. I went for a little walk to the reserve late on, got to meet the gorgeous konik pony troop, saw hooded crow a first for me and common tern another first. The place is proper lush. 

When I find my heaven...

Enjoying a lush day off to start a working holiday due to the bank holiday parades here. I walked up to the reserve for a good look around after breakfast. 

There a small looped walk around a lush meadow, through some woods with a small pond, finally saw my first tree sparrow in the wooded area! Cool bug hotels and a nice little pond,where I managed to see an Eft not sure which species. 

Walked the whole reserve headed down to the hide, loads of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies at least two or three I have not seen before and need to check. 

At the hide, loads of common tern and chicks, loads of black-headed gulls and chicks, great created grebe, little grebe, shoveler, coot, moorhen, mute swans, tufted duck with 9 chicks. 

On the way back I saw the biggest dragonfly I have ever seen must have been over 6" lovely coppery wings again not sure if species need to check. 

Also saw swallow chicks in the nest on the rafters of one of the shelters, which was really cool being able to see into the nest.

Headed back to cottage feeling rejuvenated for cold pizza and beer for lunch. 

Time to reflect...

I headed back out after lunch saw my first sedge warbler.

Headed to the pub to celebrate a successful first day, right on the shore of lough neagh it would have been rude to not have a Guinness really. When in Rome and all that... 

Saw a girl fall in trying to get on a makeshift raft from the boat race, had a right good belly laugh. 

The lough is absolutely stunning, the people on the other hand, I don't think I have ever felt less welcome anywhere in the world. 

Ah well, I've had a class day 35 species and four new ticks. Work starts tomorrow look out. 

First day on shift today went to fix the water supply to some cattle troughs on the reserve, ball cock needed replacing on one and investigation as to why another was leaking. Then got my first valuable experience of bird surveying, counting the birds on the lough, using the scope, whilst the warden recorded what I counted. 

Got to see this tiny fluff ball two week old tern chick. 

Laura says we can take the boat out on the lough later in the week to get a better idea of the tern and gull chick numbers as the reeds are too high to tell. Needless to say I am pretty excited about counting chicks from a boat on a lough 😍. 

All the emotions today start the day with a full perimeter predator fence check of the lapwing and surrounding farmers fields. We noticed quite a few signs of a breach, foliage damage and quite a bit of excrement likely fox. Then a definite kill site most likely fully grown lapwing, yet no holes in the fence so they must be climbing and the electric isn't stopping them. 

Continued check searched hare field for rare orchid Irish lady's tresses, no record.  Saw some awesome peacock butterfly caterpillars though that looked all glittery like they were going out on the town. 

Conducted a butterfly transect of the site with crinan, walking a set route recording all sightings within a five metre box. Good numbers of meadow brown, ringlet, small tortoiseshell and green veined.

Returned to the high ground above lapwing field to get a better idea if any remaining chicks had survived predation. We finally found one fledgling and one chick with super attentive parents protecting them from three hungry herons. We felt a small sigh of relief. 

Here is there lapwing chick through the scope with my phone not great pic. 

Just as we were feeling up again there was to be another crushing blow. After filling the feeders and helping the girls medicate the sick konik. We were leaving only to see a magpie leave the shelter with one of the four swallow chicks, when we looked in the shelter there was a severed head, a wing, some entrails, feet and loads of feathers. All four chicks that were days from fledging gone. 

Nature is brutal sometimes bro...

Today myself and Owen a local a level student who is a bit of a bee expect undertook a bee transect of the site. It started slowly as it was probably a bit early and a bit cold. However, it soon picked up and I learned to id common carder and buff-tailed which turned out to be the two most recorded on the site. We also saw white-tailed, garden bumblebee and a single honeybee. Owen later saw a red-tailed early bumblebee.

It was work party Wednesday so the rest of the day was spent working in teams doing practical tasks around the site. I lopped brambles and nettles from the footpaths, boardwalks and platforms. Then we repaired the konik pony fence as the post had severed off due to the boggy ground. 

We then visited Campbell's dairy farm on the far side of the reserve as a badger had breached the predator fence. We repaired the hole with wire and cable ties, filled the hole back in with boulders to discourage further digging. 

Saw an awesome garden tiger moth too. 

This morning whist patching a hole in the predator fence with wire and cable ties, I grabbed the electric fence, needless to say I won't be doing that again in a hurry. 

I also got to undertake the tree sparrow and passerine survey at the three feeding stations, counting all visiting birds in a set times 10 minutes. 

In the afternoon we got to visit WOW Belfast - Windows on Wildlife. A reserve in the industrial harbour centre of Belfast. Amazing reserve, tern and gull rafts still with loads of small chicks on them. Also saw black-tailed godwits biggest flocks I've seen, Dunlin, redshank, mute swan, moorhen, coot, mallard, oystercatcher, common sandpiper a first for me. The hides were made from old shipping containers and even have quiet key coded rooms for keen photographers. 

The day ended after medicating the sick konik with an even better view of the garden tiger. 

I'am very very sad to hear that the weakerthans have called it a day, I am drinking a Chilean red with a penguin on the label and singing " Yes a penguin taught me French back in Antarctica!"

Also sad to be missing portishead in Cardiff tonight. 

Today they let me loose on the site with a petrol fly mow. I mowed all the pathways to remove tussocks of grass which were becoming a bit of a trip hazard. 

Me and Laura visited the farmland on the far side of the reserve to repair the leaking cattle trough. Only to find the farmer had bought the bits and done it himself. We did a full fence check whilst there though signs of badger breach, lush views of kestrel family too. 

Me and robin had to refill the bug hotel as everything had fallen or been pulled out, we used the staple gun and some fine mesh on the back to hopefully stop everything falling out again. I also had to retrieve some small signs from the pond with with a pole, that somebody had decided to throw you get arseholes even here sadly. 

My friends josh and joy visited the site so I took them for the tour. Josh took this awesome photo of me. 

We are staying on joys dads Christmas tree farm for the night near ballynure, we went for a little walk before dinner and finally got my froglet pic I think you can tell this made me day!

Yesterday I got to complete an almost life long dream, I have wanted to visit Giants causeway since first hearing the story in primary school. 

We headed down out along the coastal road literally some of the most stunning coastline I have ever seen. 

We stopped for a Maud's ice cream in ballycastle I had peanut butter tdf bro. 

We arrived at the causeway and it didn't disappoint so amazing, saw seals in the water, gannets overhead and fulmar nesting on the cliffs another first for me. 

We clambered over most of the causeway, took some choice photos, headed back up the cliff path just before the rain for chippy tea at port rush looking out the sea in the rain. 

Amazing day 

Highs and lows again today, very miserable weather got soaked completing the predator fence check, but did manage to flush and see my first snipe, managed to flush three or four in the end actually. I think that takes me to 130 club bro! Victory was short lived when I found my first Irish leveret, sadly it had been I think killed by a bird of prey given that only the head, some organs and the meat from the legs had been eaten and it looked to have been pecked from the bones. 

Got to meet the older wilder konik troop the one with an awesome Afro that looks like Tina turner but I keep failing to get a pic. 

Also did full wildfowl count from the hide, tree sparrow and passerine count at the feeding stations. 

And we got to set up a camera trap in the badger set which I look forward to checking in the morning. 

Checked the hill with scope for remaining lapwing chicks no sign but adult birds still guarding the same patch so possible. 

Helped medicate the laminintic konik, which seems to be improving which is good news, always good to end on good news. 

Medicated the sick konik first thing and retrieved the badger set camera trap. I stripped and cleaned all bird feeders with warm soapy water. We then cleaned the fleet car inside using the Hoover and outside using the pressure washer. 

Refilled all feeders, whilst at the shed I met stumpy a take little robin who will come to your hand for a meal worm if you are at the shed. 

We reviewed the camera trap footage at lunch to find awesome shots of the Badgers a roaring success! 

I can't upload video from the app so will add in here later. 

We cleaned the community room ready for a meeting tomorrow and took part in deciding where the new site signage should go. 

We set the camera trap back and the set and medicated the pony, hoping to get Cubs tonight fingers crossed. 

The day ended with this awesomeness. 

But the last word belongs to stumpy 

One of the hardest days work I think I have ever done but I feel absolutely amazing. Spent the morning of work party Wednesday clearing azolla an invasive weed species from one of the drainage ditches on the farmland surrounding the site. A beam and two ropes were used to gather the azolla then it is fished out into the banks to die off using nets. Tiring but rewarding work. In the afternoon we completed a full fence check of the site about a five mile walk across heavy terrain after the mornings work in the heat just about done me in, got dropped at the pub for a reward Guinness or two on the jetty by the lough. 

One for the fans 

I can't remember looking or feeling better after a day's work sweaty and dirty having a few pints. Well being fully restored. 

Today we were invited up to lough beg to take part in an introductory day to phase 1 habitat surveying and nvc plant surveying. It was probably the nerdiest thing I have ever done but was absolutely amazing. The cause was taken by Matthew RSPB ecologist for Northern Ireland, who is basically a walking encyclopaedia on habitats and plants. We were introduced to how phase 1 habitat surveying works and then walked a transect of the site from the last phase 1 survey. Matthew pointed out some key species to the location such as Irish lady's tresses a rare orchid found in only a few sites not yet in full flower but still amazing. 

Matthew explained using the flora key to id species and we all got to have a go which was cool. Some of the other highlights creeping Jenny, narrow marsh reed, penny royal again only found on very few sites. I also found and correctly id'd my first marsh orchid which I was pretty chuffed with. 

We also saw great white egret which is always awesome. The day ended with Matthew finding chaff weed, so tiny you have to lie on your belly with an eyeglass to see the tiny fruit and flowers. 

Finally me and Crinan set up moth trap which I look forward to checking in the morning. One day left though : (

Spent most of my last day carefully removing moths from the moth trap into specimen jars and trying to id them using a book. Id'd over 40 species and well over a 100 individuals. Highlights included: elephant hawk moth

Ruby tiger

Mother of pearl 

Swallow tail moth 

Plain golden Y

We also got poplar hawk, early thorn, peach blossom, dark arches, grey arches and many more. 

Again pretty nerdy but also awesome. Fly mowed the paths again in the afternoon and spent my last hour on the reserve lopping brambles and nettles from the pathways ahead of tomorrow's big butterfly count. 

Awesome adventure best two weeks, well being fully restored. 

In the hide on my last night with my last Guinness, a fitting end... 

I wish I was a Tenenbaum

At the weekend, again in much need of friend therapy I headed to the Mumbles for my BFF Pugs birthday adventure.

We hit up our fave local spot Cafe Vallance for a romantic cheese & wine Brodeo.

Jamie and Miles met us after practice and Pugs' sister. I fell asleep drunk watching Mean Girls with Pugs and Jamie, standard.

It was awesome to get to see Batman again too.

In the morning we were meeting to go on an expedition to the Gower. Of course they were all on "Swansea time" so a 10 o'clock departure turned into midday after a Veggie sizzler at the White Rose.

We left the car and the stuff at Torbay, and headed off to the rendezvous at Mewslade bay. Mewslade is proper lush never been before, sea was proper choppy and full of jellies.

I was fully hoping to see Gower Chough for the first time, as I had heard they were in this area.

As we headed over the top there was lush views of a Kestrel hunting doing its classic wind hover.

Then I spotted 4/5 Chough foraging in the short turf again lush views.

As we headed off along the top there was a first for me, which I was pretty stoked with a Yellowhammer, although once common and present all year round I hadn't managed to see one until now, which tells me they are in decline sadly.

I drew this Yellowhammer when I got home to commemorate the sighting.

Three friends on a cliff

We stopped for the holy trinity of Chip Butty, Peanut butter Joe's Ice cream and Booze in Port
Eynon. I had a Black Dragon by Gwnt-y-Draig 7.2% bit rich for lunch time, but bloody lovely.

The inaugural shit punching contest took place back on the trail.

"Like that fella from the three rings!"

We headed on along the coast path towards Oxwich the path took in some sensational views and some stunning secluded cove that would be lush for wild swimming.

The final stretch was pretty killer through a large wood in search of Sasquatch. No sightings or scents of placenta unfortunately...

We got to the Oxwich Bay Hotel totally fucked, dogs barking bro one and all.

I had a pint of cloudy cider and then walked in the sea across the beach to Torbay to soothe my aching trots.

I hadn't been to Torbay before it was lush like the beach from Moonrise Kingdom!

We still had to walk to the car to get the gear too. Got the gear, set up a pretty sick camp on the beach.

Pugs set up a pretty sweet fire, whilst we got the BBQ's going, the wrongbow's started flowing.




















We ate some BBQ, collected more wood, Rez cooked a Tadik in the fire a traditional Persian rice dish, we chatted shit and enjoyed the fire for a couple of hours then hit the hay, all pretty knackered from the walk.

A fantastic expedition

Awkward family portrait by Jamie Morrison

I look forward to the extended version in August.

City Bouys - Walk the Gower available soon on slashsquash records

The Trip - I ❤ NY, NJ & Toronto

It's ten years today since my Toronto, New York and New Jersey holiday with Leeg. I thought it would be kinda cool to put my journal entries from the trip here.

"We land in Toronto in under an hour now! Just watched hitch, quite funny and also robots 37,000ft above the Atlantic Ocean. Weird, excited now, had a few coors lite and some shit food, not vegan urgh! I doubt me and Leeg will get too steaming tonight. Had a wing seat on the plane and the view was incredible. Clouds look just like layered blankets of snow or cotton wool. The world is my oyster..." 13/06/05

I had just completed my degree getting a 2:1 in graphics days before and just been savagely dumped so apologies if it's emo in places

"After my entry yesterday evening the flight went a bit pear shaped. We entered Toronto airspace running on time, to find a massive storm below us. The airport was closed until it cleared the pilot told us we were in a holding path, we circled for half hour. We were then told we were running low on fuel and had to fly to nearby Ottawa to refuel, half hour flight there, half hour to refuel, another half hour flight back to Toronto find we were back in the holding path. we eventually landed in Toronto 2 and a half hours late! we find our bags and leave the airport. the heat is unbearable it feels like a tropical storm. we get a cab to our hostel, we're greeted by Gav who is safe. Our room is fine no light though? guess what street we are on though? Wales Ave! We go for a stroll have some pizza (sans cheese for me) and a nice pint of Coors at the Black Bull then hot sticky bed!" 13-14/06/05

"Pretty restless night last night, the heat was unbearable! Woke up real early me and Lee. Decided to get a shower and just go exploring walked straight towards lake area, but once we saw CN tower we just had to go up. The CN tower is out of this world, took some awesome pics, went right to the top of the tallest free standing building in the world! When our feet were firmly back on the ground our thoughts were of food. We walked for miles trying to find good food (Vegan) Eventually stumbled across Ali Baba's Falafel House on 2 for 1 Tuesday, Happy Days! Good Falafel by the roadside and back on our feet. Looked in a few shops, found a nice park had five minutes in the 35 degree heat! walked back, had a beer break, went to an awesome record shop bought Knapsack and The Jealous Sound albums from an awesome guy. Walked all the way to the Eaton Centre (Yawn) stopped for another Beer break! then strolled back for a shower and a change off out for food and drinks in a bit now..." 14/06/05

I chose to leave out of the journal entry almost getting killed straight away by a guy who threatened to shoot me first thing in the morning for taking pictures.

"Went back out for food to a place not far, recommended by the record shop guy. Bo De Duyen Vietnamese Vegetarian cuisine, I had braised tofu, mushrooms & Veg with Steamed rice, we also had a couple of buds with food. The food was amazing, we went for a walk down to Hooters, just something you have to experience once I guess. I thought I had met my ideal woman an Asian Girl who works in Hooters ( Shanghai Cowgirl). We then walked back stopped at Montana for a Heineken, A Keith's Pale Ale on the patio at Chicago. We then walked back to our local Embassy for a few pints of a Canadian version of Hoegarden, I had fruit juice in mine it was lush. Chat to Gav and some Mancs who are on a round the world trip. Decided to hit the hay pretty early again. not quite so hot thankfully..." 14/06/05

"I had an Awesome nights sleep thanks to the beer jacket! woke up about 9 had a shower went to find food. We'd heard good things about Urban Herbivore, they weren't wrong all vegan, great coffee, sandwich was a bit much BBQ Tofu with Mango, but the muffins were out of this world Cranberry & Apple. The girl serving us was awesome, good tats, she advised us to go and see the Art Gallery of Ontario so we headed there. Saw a cool painting of Nixon and Mao, a sculpture of a shaman made from a whale bone, some awesome sculptures by Henry Moore and two awesome wall pieces. We strolled back stopped at a few shops. The black market vintage was cool, bought a work jacket with mosquito patches! Bought tickets to see Copeland and Rainer Maria at the Kathedral tonight, should be good, also had some awesome vegan pizza." 15/06/05

"Had a shower then headed back towards town for the show, decided to have  asit down meal at a vegan restaurant called Fressen. The food and service here was unreal. we had pasta with sun-dried and cherry toms, black olives, mushrooms, sweetcorn, peppers etc. A few beers, then came dessert one of the best I've ever tasted half a pear, strawberries, orange, vegan chocolate ice, two triangle of Belgian chocolate filled with chopped cashews, sensational! We paid up and strolled down to the venue, bit scuzzy like TJ's but nicer, good size. The first guy on was Denison Wither bit like Owen or Kevin Devine, good though. Had a few beers then Rainer Maria came on, the singer looked awesome and she had the voice to boot. I'll defo check out the records reminded me a bit of Rilo KIley. Copeland were Gash so we left strolled back stopped off for one or two then hit the hay. Roll on New York!" 15-16/06/05

"Woke up fairly early got a shower and packed, popped to main hostel to call a cab. got cab over to the airport, flight was fairly comfortable and painless. Got off the plane in Newark feeling pretty special. Got our bags and hung around to meet Dylan, what a guy man! Dylan drove us to Hoboken where we stop at his mates bar for drinks the view of Manhattan across the river is insane. Couple of Hoegardens, then off to Dylan's the traffic was mad! then there was a freak thunder storm, rivers running down the street. Got to Dylan's, awesome neighbourhood. Jeff picked us up in the van to go to the show. The traffic was even worse, but saw some cool stuff. Got to the village, the show was at Lit Lounge, load in, its a bit of a dive bar. Say hi to pat and Chris. Me and Lee go off for a wander and some food, we go to Yaffa Cafe on Chris' recommendation. Get a sunshine burger platter, veggie burger, pitta, rice, salad and tahini, its good. Stroll back to the venue, few beers then Milwaukees are on, they rock, the new stuff sounds great! they dedicate Angel with a Knife to me and Lee! they were ace! We have a few more beers then hit the road again, long drive home awesome views though. we get back to Dylan's and crash out in his attic." 16/06/05

"Woke up fairly early again, Dylan's housemate Scott kindly offered to take us to the bus stop. Got the bus to The Big Apple! Food was top of the agenda again. We caught our first Subway to the village and went to Angelica's Kitchen. Man I wish this place was in Newport! Me and Lee both had 3 bean Chilli with Corn Bread. I Had never tried Corn Bread before its sensatioanl. We finished with a vegan choclate and walnut cookie! We then walked up through the village up to midtown just taking it all in. We took a few Snaps by Empire State, then walked up to Time Square. Toys R' Us was out of this world! Giant T-Rex, Bat Mobile, Teenage Mutant Ninja turtle!We stopped for more snacks at Zen Palate, Vegi Burger and Yam Fries, awesome! got bus back to Dylan's had 5 minutes, left for New Brunswick to watch one of my fave band Penfold's new band The Moirai, at The Court Tavern. Went to a cafe first called Newbies had some fries, headed for the venue, had a pitcher of Rolling Rock! The Moirai were on first, the anticipation was killing me, went down to the basement, met Brian probably one of my fave singers in a band ever. He was such an awesome fellow too. The Moirai went on at 1020, it was just me, Dylan, Lee and about 10 other people. They were unbelievable, it was pretty much all new to me but still amazing. They close the set with the stand out track "Last year for Halloween I was a ghost". We buy shirts chat to them for a bit, then head off. Dylan takes us back to Trinity bar Hoboken, where the Miller Lites starts flowing, we meet some friends of Dylan's who buy us some shots! we get drunk then drive home and pass out!" 17/06/05

"We sleep a little late wake up feeling rough as 10 bears! Jeff picks us up at 10 and takes us into the city for breakfast with Chris and his lady. I had English muffin, V. bacon, V. Sausage and home fries, pretty good. Chris and Jeff give us loads of tips about what to checkout, then argue about who goes to the best falafel place, we laugh! Chris pays for breakfast because he is such an awesome guy! We say farewell and me and Lee hit the city again for the day. We headed south through china town and down Mulberry Street, Little Italy is cool! We keep heading south looking for The Five points, to "Cut out the eye that looked away" we ended up near Ground Zero, I didn't want to look but had to, I had a lump in my throat reading the memorial wall, depressing as fuck! we head back east go out onto Brooklyn bridge amazing views, do a few lunges then head down to the water. We head back up Broadway in search of food. Get the tube for a bit, then decide to call Pat to see what time we should head to NJ. Pat says he's busy until late, so we decide to stay in the city for a bit longer. We go for food at VP2 (Vegetarian Paradise), its unreal I had Calamari to start, just like the real thing. Then Texan BBQ V. Soul Chicken! Scarily real, but so good! by the time we had eaten and had a little stroll to walk off the food we decided to get the Path to NJ for a beer. We go one stop to far and end up "In the Ghetto!" get ourselves in a cab to Grove street. Go to Lucy 7's bar, like something out of a movie, super-hot barmaid. Sit at the bar drinking Hoegarden, Jaegermiester and Coors. Pat turns up about midnight. we stay for a few more. Then head across the street to his place, it's unreal! Have a veggie burger cooked on the outside grill, go to sleep in a double bed!" 18/06/05

"Wake up feeling a little hazy again, we check our email and stuff. Pat takes us out for breakfast but the diner is packed. We go to Baker Boys cafe, I have coffee, OJ, Granola with fruit and soya milk, gosh that was good. we head back to pat's and Jeff picks us up in the van about one o'clock. We are heading to Philadelphia to watch them play the 218 club. we get to Philly around 3. so have plenty of time to go exploring we just hit the shops, Cool vintage stores I bought a Newport Cigarettes t-shirt. Also bought some good CD's and vinyl in Philly!we stumble across Maos a chain falafel place that I've been to in London it;s so good. I have falafel, fruit punch and Belgian fries. We stroll back to the venue,  have a few beers, I have a good chat with Pat's girl Kara. They go on about 10ish, in the attic, cool little space, but pretty quiet again. They sound great again though. The other band suck balls! me and lee got pretty drunk! we head back to NJ I pass straight out when we get back." 19/06/05

"Get out of bed fairly hungover. Have a shower, get path to the city. We try to find this vegan bakery we've heard about. We find it and it's good, pizza and a blueberry scone and organic Chinese cherry cola. We bumble about for a bit checking out shops and things, I bought Rhod a t-shirt saying Big Rod satisfaction guaranteed. We head for the Empire State Building. On the way we see, New York Public Library that featured in Ghostbusters. Also, we got down to the Chrysler Building which is cool. Around 4 o'clock we head for Empire state building. We queue for 45 mins the view is worth the wait, but not quite CN tower. After that we have another look around. Then go for food at VP2 again. We both have Veggie Souls Chicken it's too good! we get the path back to NJ to our favourite bar and the hottest barmaid in 3 states! Sink a few with Pat and Kara, then hit the hay." 20/06/05

"Got up had a shower, went to Baker Boys for Granola, fruit and soya milk, Coffee and a rise and shine drink, OJ, Ginger Ale, fresh raspberries and soda. got the path then tube to Central Park. Went to FAO Schwartz, to shop from Big with the giant floor piano, even better than Toys 'R'Us. Walk through the park, went to the little zoo saw polar bears, sea lions, Penguins, Red pandas and more. Felt a bit wrong, but it was good. Walked around central park in the sun, saw the strawberry Fields John Lennon Memorial. Went back down on tube got a slice at Viva Veggie Pizzeria. not bad! Got tube far south to bowling green, walk around the shore, battery park area. Walked right up to WTC, got path back to NJ went to Pat's got a shower then went out to Luck 7's again. Pat met us, we went to Hoboken to hook up with Dylan, Chris Melissa and friends. had a few at one bar then headed to trinity again for beers and shots, got battered went home to bed drunk!" 21/06/05

Lungin' on the Hudson Bro

"Got up a little late, had a shower, Pat took us to Brownstone Pancake Factory, couldn't resist, when in Rome and all that! I had nutty pancakes with syrup! Out of this world! Pat took us to a proper salvation army thrift store, bought 5 awesome shirts. Got Path into the city went to FAO Schwartz again, rinsed some coin. Went for a pizza again wasn't to clever. Went downtown to check out thread-less and Vice. Then went to watch Pat's other band, Evan Gold & Brighter light, pretty good. Got the tube back up to 42nd to time square to see it at night, pretty cool had a bagel with tofu scallion cream cheese, ace! took some pics, got tube back down to WTC, then path to JC first day without booze! Off to bed last day in NY/NJ tomorrow..." 22/06/05

"Got up fairly early for our last real day in USA. Got showered went to Baker Boys again for a last Breakfast, I had Granola, Fruit and soya milk and a coffee. Good Stuff! got the path in headed far south for ferries to Liberty & Ellis Islands. Got ferry out around Liberty jumped off at Ellis Island had a look around the museum of immigration. Got ferry back headed uptown to whole earth vegan bakery had mixed veg turnover, sticky cinnamon bun & Chinese cherry cola. Oh my god sensational! headed uptown to top of park, ended up in the hood? did a quick U'e to the park had a walk around Jackie Onassis reservoir. Got tube & Path back to JC chill out for a bit then off out drinking for our last night! Bring it on... Kara and Melissa have offered to take us out in Hoboken as it's our last night and the boys are practicing. We head out pretty late to some uber funky club bistro right by the river in Hoboken it has a rooftop bar with awesome views of Manhattan. We queue to get up on the roof, get up there, its full of poon!super cool! the guys show up, but don't fancy queuing. We head to another bar with Dylan, Pat and Chris. Get drunk as fuck, then head for home, say our goodbyes and thank yous to Dylan, Chris and Melissa, pretty sad! Go home and have a bagel with almond butter & Jelly or Jello as they say. Pas out, flying back to Toronto early tomorrow..." 23/06/05

Ferry to Ellis Island, The Hair years...

"We are up and about super early I feel rough as fuck and pretty down. we pack our shit thank Pat and Kara again for being so amazing. Get the path out of JC for the last time! Head for Newark, then train from Newark to the airport then monorail to the terminal. Have a bagel and two hash browns and some coffee. Get plane back to Canada, pretty painless. Taxi to hotel. Quick change then down to marina. Start drinking on the way get pretty shunted. Hit the hay about 1230." 24/06/05

"Get up fairly early go to urban herbivore for apple carrot and walnut muffin and the best coffee in 3 states, my wife is working miaow! We head for the sunshine bus we're off to Niagara Falls for the day. We've had a tip off that the one bus is half the price that goes to a casino. We get this bus full of Chinese gamblers it takes an hour and a half. Niagara town is mad its like all of our bad holiday experiences at once loads of tacky shops. loads of rides and attractions. Then right next to it is possibly one of the most awesome things I've ever seen in my whole life, the falls.They are unreal, we have a walk across the bridge forgetting that it's America the other side, have to go through customs again and pay $6! If you are from another country the views are worth the 6 bucks! We walk around for an hour or so. Amazing day get back around 830, go out on the lash, don't remember much spewed in a park full of hobos, passed out about 3am" 25/06/05

"Slept in until gone 11, woke up feeling like I'd been raped by a wookie. The island thing is today, go for coffee and a muffin at urban herbivore my special lady isn't working today, some mad bird off her face with hairy pits says "I was like 1oft away from boy George!" We head down to the water on a street car (tram) got the boat to centre island, Awesome! The island is out of this world this is the perfect end to an amazing holiday. The Most Serene Republic are on first and are top notch. We grab a veggie dog then go and watch Do.Make.Say.Think, out of this world. Metric are on next, not so keen, So have a stroll around the island its unbelievable! Have another veggie dog watch Broken Social Scene pretty cool and about 20 odd of them on the stage. Have a few beers and another veggie dog watch Modest Mouse, bought an awesome poster leave before the end to miss the mad crazy ferry rush. Go for a couple of quiet jars at Embassy, feeling pretty empty about leaving tomorrow, I have nothing to go home too..." 26/06/05

 Broken Social Scene

 Do.Make.Say.Think