It's official - I have been on the road for an entire month!
One month down, 2-ish to go! It feels like just yesterday when I was pulling out of the driveway from my home base - full of excitement and absolute fear - and here I am with lots of thoughts swirling around in my head....

1. I have adjusted to life on the road a lot better than I anticipated. Aside from a couple "woe is me/it's so hard/I am tired/where's my mommy" days (haha) - it's been great!

2. Canada has some form of beauty lurking around every corner - seriously. The East has set the bar very, very high. Hey, West Coast - you better bring it!

3. People are generally kind - especially Canadians. I have met adventurers from all over the world who always have good things to say about the people here and it's true. I haven't come across a single 'bad seed' in the East - only really, really good seeds who have fed me, housed me, guided me and even took me up in a plane.

4. I love Archie, my 2011 Chevy Cruze. I am absolutely turning into a crazy car lady (worse than cats) and talk about Archie like he's my boyfriend. So, what?! He's been the best road companion a girl could ask for. I have even started reading Archie Comics.....obsessed.

5. I have gained a new skill - I can now (pretty much) sleep anywhere. Nasty motels, fancy hotels, couches of all shapes/sizes, floors (all levels of cleanliness), chairs, car seats & even in church parking lots. Think I should add it to my resume?

6. I have been so inspired by the people I have met. Every organization is different but their one common thread is passion and dedication and a desire to make change!  It's been an honour to meet these do gooders - I can't wait to follow them as their organizations flourish and change.

7. Video editing is difficult - much more difficult than I expected. It turns out that I don't have a special secret skill (I was hoping) and so, the vision in my head never ends up on the screen. The process is frustrating and long and overwhelming....but I am trying. I want my non-profit videos to be worthwhile and useful and decent which is why it's taking so long. Thanks for keeping up your patience (even when I have lost mine).

8. Live music, campfires and ice cream are still my favourite things. Who said travelling changes people? Not I! 

9. I have discovered an independence in myself that I didn't even know existed and it makes me feel awesome. I used to be the girl who was terrified to sit and eat alone and now I do it on the regular - and actually enjoy it. It makes me glad to know that I can be happy, with or without people surrounding me.

10. I continue to be incredibly grateful to my sponsors, family, friends and viewers for making this journey a reality. I am trying to absorb every moment as it passes me by and take full advantage of what being on this Roadtrip with Reason means. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Off to edit, I go...xo

Bonjour, mes amis!

It's Tuesday. Around here Tuesday = music! Yep,  it's time for yet another Tune-eee Tuesday. We have been featuring music from a new province each week and this week it's time for QUEBEC to step up to the plate! I have to admit that I don't know too much about the QC music scene, so I decided to stick with what I know. Sounds boring, I realize. I can assure you that the following 5 tunes are anything but....

1) Karkwa --  Combien

2) Malajube -- Montreal -40C

3) Patrick Watson -- The Great Escape

4) Radio Radio -- Cargué dans ma chaise

5) Winter Gloves -- Plastic Sides

Good, eh? As the road trip gets closer and closer I can actually visualize myself driving down the Trans-Canada listening to these tunes. Eeeee!!

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky xo

Hi Friends,
I realize it has been WEEKS since I posted my last edition of Tune-eee Tuesday. I got so caught up in Pepsi Refresh that I forgot. Woops! My bad. Now that Pepsi is (pretty much**) done, I am back with some music to share.

This week I am focusing on just two artists who are from/living in the province that is full of surprises - New Brunswick! I admittedly didn't know much about NB when I visited a couple years back, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The more I hear about it, the more i like. I am really looking forward to my volunteer visit this upcoming summer....

1) Andy Brown -- Crazy

2) Pat LePoidevin -- 97

3) Andy Brown -- Happiness

4) Pat LePoidevin -- The Constant

This past weekend I was lucky enough to have Pat (& his drummer Matt) play a super intimate show for myself and some friends in Bracebridge at the Bohemian. It was such a shame that he had to play to our small crowd -- way too talented for empty rooms. Really nice guys, too!

Love both musicians with their (very different) sounds, so much!

Check back next week with tunes from Quebec. It'll be a fun one.

Happy trails & travels!

Much Love,
Becky xo

** We are currently in the process of completing the next steps for Pepsi Refresh. If approved in two weeks-ish time, Roadtrip with Reason will be officially named a $5K winner! Fingers crossed!

It's Tune-eee Tuesday. Musssssssic! It is mighty important to have a solid road trip playlist, which is why I have been compiling weekly lists of wonderful tunes. This week I am focusing on artists from PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND! This province happens to currently hold the title of my favourite province. I just love it oh-so-much and can't wait to get back in August!

Here are my top 5 choices this week. I strongly urge you to check these lovely musicians out on Radio 3 or Itunes etc -- these videos just don't do them justice!!  Enjoy!

1) Two Hours Traffic -- Stuck for the Summer

2) Boxer the Horse -- Hotel Song

3) Haunted Hearts -- There is no understanding between tree and man

4) Cynthia McLeod (with Gord Belsher) -- Ballad of the St. Anne's Reel

5) Racoon Bandit -- River Song

During the last round of Pepsi Refresh Canada won $10,000 to open a permanent all ages music venue / rehearsal space! Pretty sweet. Not sure if it's going to be up and running by the time I hit PEI, but if so I will have to check it out! Don't forget to vote for ROADTRIP WITH REASON .... 18 days left & 4 spots to go. It's going to be one tough road to get there but there is still a chance. Please please please get your daily votes in & continue to spread the word! Merci!

Until next week....

Much Love,
-- Becky xo

Hi Friends!

it's Tuesday which means it's time for another Tune-eee Tuesday (duh)! I had originally planned to focus on musicians from Prince Edward Island today BUT I had forgetten that the Juno's were on ... so P.E.I is coming up next week. Promise!

I have chosen a few songs featuring Juno WINNERS from various genres -- songs that are great for the road!. Some of my favourite artists actually won but I didn't include them on this list because the majority of them have already been featured here before - it turns out I have SUPER good taste in music. Bwahaha!

1) Neil Young -- Harvest Moon -- (Winner: Artist of the Year)

2) Meaghan Smith -- If you asked me -- (Winner: New Artist of the Year)

3) Karkwa -- Echapper au sort -- (Winner: Francophone Album of the Year)

4) Deadmau5 -- Sofi Needs a Ladder -- (Winner: Dance Recording of the Year)

5) Elaine Lil'Bit Shepherd -- Likkle But Mi Tallawah -- (Winner: Reggae Recording of the Year)

6) Drake -- Over -- (He didn't win anything BUT he was a host & from what I saw, he was pretty good at it!)

Good ol' Canada! We have such a wide range of talent in this country. I love it!

Anyway, break time is over! It's 8:00p.m. and I must get back to work. It's a busy, busy week around here with a whole lot of stuff going on! I hope YOUR week is super fabulous. Please don't forget to keep VOTING everyyyy single day in Pepsi Refresh! 5 weeks, 5 spots! I appreciate your kindness oh-so-much.

Happy trails & travels...

Much Love,
-- Becky xo

It's time for another Tune-eee Tuesday - Nova Scotia addition! I had a really hard time choosing only 5 songs to feature because there are a ridiculous amount of incredible artists from Nova Scotia...so I chose 6! Talented with a CAPITAL T! Haha. I will absolutely be adding a whole bunch more Nova Scotian (?) songs to my grande list of Roadtrip with Reason tunes! For now, this is what I came up with...

1) Joel Plaskett -- Soundtrack for the Night

2) Buck 65 -- Paper Airplane (with Jenn Grant)

3) Amelia Curran -- Hands on a Grain of Sand

4) Old Man Luedecke -- I quit my job

5) Wintersleep -- Oblivion

6) David Myles -- Cape Breton

Next week I will be featuring songs from Prince Edward Island. I don't think I generally listen to many artists from P.E.I so this will be a fun discovery.

Thanks for listening!

Much Love,
-- Becky xo

P.S. Don't forget to get your DAILY vote vote VOTE vote vote in for Pepsi Refresh Canada. Our project is currently in 10th place - only 6 more spots to jump! We can do this!!!!!! Thank you!!

Hi Music Lovers!

So it's time for another weekly post of tunes for the road! As you're aware, I am compiling a grande list of songs for my Roadtrip with Reason ... this week I am focusing on artists from Newfoundland. I have decided to spend the next few (13) weeks posting music from a particular province or territory. So next week the music will be from Nova Scotia, and the following week the tunes will come from Prince Edward Island. Do you comprehend? Hope so!

I spent multiple hours skimming through artists on CBC Radio 3's BIG LIST to find (most of) my picks this week. My obsession with Radio 3 has finally come in handy! Huzzah.

1) The Mountains & The Trees -- More & More & More

2) Hey Rosetta! -- Yer Spring

3) Matthew Hornell & The Diamond Minds -- Red Crescent

4) Great Big Sea -- When I'm Up (I can't get down)
Note: How could I not include this classic?!

5) Colleen Power -- Newfoundland Weather
Note: I thought this was SO funny. After watching it about 10 times in a row I am now familiar with all the lyrics. Hilarious.

That's all for now! Leave me a comment if you know of any awesome musicians from Newfoundland....I would be happy to add them to my list. 

Don't forget to keep on voting in the Pepsi Refresh Canada contest. You're the best!

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky :) 

Howdy Partners!

It's Tuesday again which means it's time for another list of awesome road worthy tunes. As stated in previous posts, I am putting together a master list of music to keep me entertained during the drive from Newfoundland to the North! Have you done any long road trips before? Are you a music fiend? Do you have a master playlist from your recent travels? Feel free to give me some musical suggestions - I am open to alllll genres!

This week I have put together another list of random songs that make my ears happy......enjoy!

1) Wildlife -- Sea Dreamer

2) Jenn Grant -- Getcha Good
Note: I just love this video so much. It makes me smile!

3) The Decemberists -- Rise to Me

4) Bedouin Soundclash -- Brutal Hearts (feat. Coueur De Pirate)

5) Simon and Garfunkel -- Homeward Bound

Ta-Da! Hope you like what you heard :)

Now just a little plug for the our journey -- as mentioned in a previous post - we are entered into the Pepsi Refresh Project in the $5,000 category. This is a BIG opportunity and I need your voting support to help me get there. Voting begins today at 12-noon until April 30th. You can vote every single day!

Check out my last post for the details, and feel free to spread the word! Thanks!!!

Happy trails & travels,
-- Becky :)

Hi Friends!
It's time for another list of awesome road trip tunes! This week I decided to throw together a mish-mash of songs. As always, I welcome any suggestions for my master list of tunes for the road! Feel free to leave a comment. Enjoy!!

1) First Aid Kit - Tiger Peasant Mountain Song (Cover of Fleet Foxes)
Note: My pal Vicky led me to this cover of this amazing Fleet Foxes song. Listen to the echo in the forest when they sing. It's the best!

2) Shad - Rose Garden

3) Rural Alberta Advantage -- The Ballad of the RAA

4) The Get Up Kids -- Campfire Kansas

5) Florence and the Machine -- Drumming Song

As promised, today is the day that I embarrass myself and my best friend Ana by posting this hilarious BIRTHDAY RAP that we created last year. Deniz was living in Nova Scotia  at the time and we wanted to send her something special for her 23rd birthday....so the OBVIOUS thing to do was to write/create/film a birthday rap just for her. Tooooo funny.

One year later and it's time to celebrate....
HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY DENI!
Love you oh-so-much. xo

please note: we know that neither of us can rap OR sing. please don't make fun. haha!