Open Road, Open Mind.

 

I believe it is fair to assume that we all have our own way of relieving stress or clearing our mind after a long day. Lately I find myself going for long drives when my mind seems to be focused on everything except what it needs to be.

Pictured above is the Niagara Parkway in the beautiful winter months. When its nice out I find myself going for runs on the parkway so this year I thought why not try driving it instead. We all have our own way to eliminate excess stress but there is something so calming about driving next to the river with the music blasted. I grew up on the parkway so I know it well, and I have all sorts of little places I have discovered over the years to park and escape the world for a little while. (I may or may not be sitting in my car next to my favourite dock writing this post).

Driving to clear your mind is one of the easiest things to do. While gas is still expensive sometimes it's worth it. The view is so refreshing and it's so easy to loose yourself in a song and forget all the negative. Does driving actually relieve stress? I suppose that depends on the individual, but my friends know that if I ask them to go for a parkway cruise it means something is weighing heavy on my mind.

The Niagara Region is riddled with scenic drives. From Niagara on the Lake, to Crystal Beach there is always something to see. In the winter months the ice and snow look beautiful on the river, not to mention the parkway homes always have the best Christmas light. In the summer the flowers and wildlife are often unexpectedly breathtaking.

I challenge all of you to take a nice long drive. See if it works to clear your mind.

57,155 kms and counting.

What does it mean when you turn up your radio?

There are only a few reasons one would turn up the radio in their car and it is the passengers duty to know them and react accordingly.

1. This is a great song.
For this particular reason a passenger is not only invited but encouraged to participate in a mini car jam session. All air instruments welcome and vocals highly recommended.

2. Lets leave the singing to the professionals.
We all have that one friend who believes she's the next Carrie Underwood. Well news flash sweetie but you probably shouldn't waste your time looking into the next Canadian Idol audition times. I am only turning up this crappy Adelle song to drown out the ruckus coming out of your mouth.

3. This song is deep. Embrace it.
Lyrics often connect with us on much deeper and emotional levels than an artist may anticipate. Connecting with song lyrics while in your car with a passenger in tow is when things can get a little tricky. At this point your only hope is that your passenger understands you on a much deeper level and will let you have your three minutes of pure lyrical bliss without judgment.

In short we all have our own reasons for what with do in our cars and particularly with our volume control. With this I ask you to chose your passengers carefully because no one enjoys a drive with a sub par copilot.

Happy Travels

55,555 kms and counting

What do you hang from your rearview mirror?

Every driver attempts to personalize his or her vehicle, and there are so many ways to do this. A specific scent or air freshener, seat covers, mats, detailing or colours. But the one I find most fascinating is what a driver hangs from their rear view mirror. I am not talking about parking passes, I mean the things an individual has taken the time to think out. The variety is endless.

For example you have the classic baby shoes, dice and mardi gras beads, but when you start to pay attention you will be rather surprised by what you see. Mini skeletons, Hawaiian lais, necklaces, dog tags and children's crafts. The possibilities are endless.

When walking through a parking lot I love looking at these small momentos and trying to picture who the driver of a vehicle may be. Is the driver a owner of the car with dice a young reckless male, or did the woman driving the car with dog tags lose someone close to her.

We all have our reasons for hanging what we do in a space that is highly personally and a constant in our lives. So think about it. What do you have hanging from your rear view? What does it mean to you? 

Don't forget to check your rear view.
55, 234 km and counting.