It's a long way to go and a short time to get there...

The third annual Beast of East was to start at 8am. We had already determined that we wouldn't make it there that early. It's a five and a half to six hour drive. I wouldn't get off from work until at least 00:30 to 01:00.

It was a last minute thing but I managed to convince Kellie into going. She wanted to go but didn't have anyone to go with and was sitting on the fence. My determination to go, even if I had to rent a car some how and drive myself, must have been contagious. WE WERE GOING. period.

Due to lack of sleep planning on getting to Montreal for the 8am start time was out. We planned a 10am estimate, which was in the end an optimistic one. Even though we switched driver seats a few times we still had to pull over at a few parking lots to sleep. By the time we made it to the arena it was 1:00pm.

I took photos all day and then a few at the after party. By 1am I was hitting a wall. Needed sleep bad. Not even the thought of going for bagels could keep me awake.

We crashed on couches belonging to Georgia w. Tush and Mark.

The trip unfolded as follows...

00:30 finished my on set work for today

02:00 arrived home, started packing

03:50 Kellie arrives from Hamilton picks me up and we're off to Montreal.

05:48 Kellie stops at this parking lot to nap (N44 04.431 W77 46.040)

06:12 I wake up, we change places so I'm driving and continue on our way

07:03 We park at a gas station to catch some more sleep (N44 17.031 W76 39.344)


07:35 we wake up. There's a Tim Hortons (N44 17.031 W76 39.345). We're close to Kingston.


08:35 we switch driving positions. I manage to narrowly escape the Littlest Hobo while getting into the passenger side. The dog seemed friendly enough but we couldn't take him with us. (N44 39.059 W75 37.463)

09:09 we pull over in a parking lot to get more sleep (N45 00.254 W74 59.611)

09:34 We hear some bird noises or something. It's enough to wake us up and get moving again.


10:49 Somewhere near Cornwall exists a arcade with restrooms (N45 02.857 W74 46.226).




11:05 We stop in Cornwall at a Wendy's to get some food. (N45 01.824 W74 45.222)


11:24 Upon exiting the Wendy's Restaurant Kellie notices this huge dead cockroach in front of our car.


13:02 We arrive at the St. Louis Arena in Montreal (N45 31.667 W73 36.011)


Taking flight playing the Deathrow Dames


The Derby Nerd. You can read his recap of the Montreal tournament and other roller derby games here. Not only is he a great writer and derby fan he's the first person to use the donate button on this site (yeah, the one on the right column there).


LuluDemon travelled all the way from BC to bring us her PivotStar line. Awesome.


Ewan Wotarmy cuts through the Gore gore girls pack like a hot knife through warm butter


Fun on the side lines.


Beeramid partially made by Hammer City.


Carl attempts to add another can.


Whoops... walk away, walk away.


Bareleigh legal (#18) attempts to block Smack Daddy


Scooby Doom in mid air


Rebel Rock-it photo bombs the Harlots photo shoot.


Hozone Layer, Lead Jammer


Ivy Rupted hugs Little Mean Momma


The 2010 Death Row Dames


"We're number PHUN!"


"You've got something on your shorts."


Dicey plows into the ground after missing Lunchbox


Dicey of the Hamilton Harlots attempts to block Bambi, the jammer for the Gore Gore Girls


Rookie Tempura Tantrum takes a nose dive into the track


She then becomes lead jammer.


Perky Set congratulates Tempura for her outstanding skating on her first competitive bout.


Despite losing the bout, the Harlots are ecstatic about Tempura's achievement.


Meanwhile on the sidelines, Land shark is being attacked. This fun wrestling would later be stopped by security.


Georgia W. Tush holding Quadzilla's skate


Quadzilla holding Tush's skate.


22:27 The GPS fails I have no idea where we are. There's some poutine place that we're eating at. The service is slow and the food is so so, but I shovel it down cause I'm starving.


We make art out of grains of sugar. Here's my fat horse.


Poutine... finally... and it looks yummy.

23:15 kitty corner across the street we end up in a pub of some sort. This is where the after party is.


Tommy Toxic makes an entrance as a bunny


Mia Culprit and Little Mean Momma


23:57 holy crap we're tired


Kellie turning into a Zombie


No reaction. They even have my camera.


You have to love the girls of Montreal Derby.


Quadzilla with Slacker Smacker


Dr. Johnny Capote and Lyn-dah Kicks


Outside the pub.


a derby newbie

Practice makes poutine

Carla Coma and Mean Little Momma

If you've read the blog entry title and are saying to yourself "What? Poutine?", don't worry. This blog entry will explain everything... and it'll do so in such a way that you don't need James Burke to explain... (although it would be really cool to have him make a cameo on this blog)



I was at home having nothing better to do than wash a few loads of laundry. It's no way to spend the only day off after working a six day week, That's what I kept telling myself. Elsewhere the Hammer City Roller Girls were at practice, gearing up, training, for their upcoming appearance at the Beast of the East in Montreal.

It was shortly after realizing this fact that I decided to hit the road and go on my second Zip car trip. Away to Hamilton! or more accurately Caledonia.


Gora Secord


Dicey


Ivy Rupted



Perky Set jams with Lock and Roll


Tempura Tantrum takes her lumps.


Judge Jody


Chainsaw Mary


Dark Passion Play

With the thought of going to Montreal came the thought of eating food in Montreal. Specifically smoked meat, poutine, and bagels (not necessarily in that order). That then is the connection, be it not a complicated one, where I then had to run off and get some poutine.


Poutine... meal from the gods.

Poutine at Harvey's is the best poutine I've had outside of Montreal. They actually use cheese curds, the gravy is pretty good, and the fries aren't soggy.

Zip Car to the Brick Works

The "Tough Cookie" shot


My first zip car rental.

I had gotten my approved zip membership card the other day and decided to take a car out to not only test drive it but figure out how the whole gas thing works. Gas is included in the rental fee. They give you an Esso gas card that you can use however if there's no Esso near by fear not, you can use any gas station and just email or fax a copy of the gas receipt to get financially reimbursed.


King's Cafe... another photo from the wall of gluttony

I picked up Leanna and got some food at King's Cafe then happily stuffed with vegetarian food we made our way down to the Brick Works to do a mini photo shoot. Travelling with all the lighting gear in the zip car is a great alternative to owning a car or lugging all that crap in a taxi or worse on the TTC. Plop it in the trunk and go.

Feel the Heat

I picked up some hand warmers today. Working on set the last week has been a pretty cold experience. Even though it's spring, the temperature has dropped down to 5° C. With the ice on the ground and being near a body of water it feels colder.



Dave, the other matchmover on the show, brought in some heating devices that came with his coat. He gave me one to keep in my pocket to warm my right hand (the one I use for taking notes) while we were on set. It helped a lot. So I bought two today and a bunch of fuel sticks (charcoal) for future use.

The nice thing about this particular heating device is that ash is the only product left when it's done. Unlike the chemical versions like hot shots that leave behind unwanted chemical crap. The only drawback is that you have to have a lighter to be able to start the charcoal going.



I need something for my boots the steel in the steel toe is making my feet freeze.

Back to the old hood

Awesome sign on Queen Street and Portland

Today's day off had me wandering around queen street and eventually making my way over to the old apartment to pick up my bike. Unfortunately there's a lock on the bike and the key is buried in some random box.

Today's goal was to help (or more accurately watch) Chris break the lock so I could wheel the bike home. In the end the lock didn't break and I'd have to make a second trip back. On the plus side I got to see the old neighbourhood again.


Ever wonder what's on the other side of the Queen street fence?


Heather and Jeff


Felix "I'm cute and rolling around. Pet me."


Carl goes to pet Felix


Felix attacks.


Felix still attached to Carl.


Simon wants nothing to do with this.


Meanwhile on the other side of the house Pumpkin is oblivious to the attack taking place and simon sneaking away behind him.


Simon runs for the hills to avoid being implicated.