Category: Travel blog

B161 – Downtown

joshfspearLeave a comment

this morning a lot of time was spent filming down town, which meant we got to see what life is like in proper Downtown. and to be honest on a Sunday its pretty quite. aperently Goldboro is in the Bible belt, which means strict religious rules, like church on Sundays, no alcohol and all shops are shut. That basically meant we had the town to ourselfs, which was actaully pretty weird, the only other people there were the curious locals watching us, or the one lady who came up and asked “what is that?” while pointing to the camera…

North Carolina has been a tough few days and tomorrow we leave for the next destination, im looking forward to eating some organic food. its tough eating processed food all the time. one question I have for anyone reading this for the south, why are you using polystyrene plates and cutlery to eat? that stuff is bad for the environment and must cost you a fortune! some people east every meal off of polystyrene? why?

I dont want to moan but that is a crazy amount of extra waste, just use china like the rest of us and wash up after. trust me its not that much more time consuming and means you can re-use your plates. I will happily send anyone a link to cheap cutlery if you need help finding it. 70 polystyrene plates are $18, now that will last 2 people a month, or you could by 6 china plates for $30 and they will easily last you a year. and thats 3 each.

on a lighter topic, today I saw my first proper american motor cycle gang unspoken sons, at first they scared the hell out of people and one of them even looked like he was going to kill me or something, the president even introduced himself as Nasty, which didn’t make me to confident but after a quick google this evening I realised that they are actually a massive support of Children’s charities. so I think I’m pretty safe.

Heres my photos, hope you like them.

161 (1 of 1)
– the unspoken sons MC, president a man called Nasty –
161 (1 of 1)-3
– downtown goldboro after church –
161 (1 of 1)-2
– a pick up truck cruising through town –

B159 – SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

joshfspear4 Comments

So it seems these past few days Ive been in a bit confused as to what day this is of me posting, Ive been sat at my laptop trying to figure out how I messed up counting. but ive figured it out and its all correct now I think.

its my first proper day in the south and its a really cool place, everyone it proper nice and just happy to chat, from the people in Walmart to the guys we are down here filming. At the moment its around 26 degrees, I have no idea what that is in fahrenhiet, but apparently its not too bad for this part of the world, the hurricane has brought down the temperature a bit.

tonight we went to some bar in town and had a few beers and some food, it was good to speak to people from this area and to learn about them and how they live compared to life growing up in London. I completely forgot that its legal to carry guns in this part of the world and when I saw a gun at the bar, it was a bit of a shock. drinking a pint and carry a gun at the same time is something Ive never seen, but thats how they live so as long as my nights not ruined, who I am to judge.

Im happy to be there and looking forward to seeing more of this place and definitely think I should come back not for work, but to take cool photos and get to know the people better. I want to explore the south more and really see what this place is about, it’s full of people with a lot of stories to tell.

on another hand the food is crazy, today I tried deep fried corn on the cob, its not for me, I dont think I will ever be eating that again. ill stick to the way my mum does it. Burnt.

159 (1 of 1)-3
– Taking photos of striaght roads is pretty fun for some reason –
159 (1 of 1)-4
– this is a post box –
159 (1 of 1)
– Hurricane Irma has emptied the shelves –

B158 – Im in a STATE OF EMERGENCY / Hurricane Irma!!

joshfspear5 Comments

So good news is I’ve landed in the USA, bad news is I’ve landed in North Carolina, where they are currently in a state of Emergency for Hurricane Irma. Everywhere has sold out of water and the military are on stand by. Its re assuring to know that the hotel I’m staying in also doesn’t have any bottled water. We are just following the Hurricane at the moment and waiting to see what it does with Florida, if it travels north up the coast, it could be an issue with us or does it travel in land, either way its looking like our flight out of Raleigh on Monday is going to be delayed as that’s when they are excepting the weather to hit us. The waitress in the bar next door said they are expecting to get hit with possibly a category 3 Hurricane, I have no idea what that means but im sure its nothing compared to a category 5.

The worst thing about this whole saga, is that when there’s a state of Emergency, the sale of alcohol is stopped. Meaning I cant even have a beer and ignore this whole situation.

For now the plan is to stock up on water, food and anything else and then carry on as normal till we have more news and then depending on how it goes drive somewhere safer or try and get on a flight. What ever happens, I will try and capture as many photos as I can. Im sure the whole thing will be fine, over the next few days we will have a better idea of what is happening and worst case I just end up getting my socks a bit wet.

In other news I met a nice guy called reverend Jones from South Carolina, he was up this way to preach and sing at a funeral and was staying at the same hotel as him. I managed to grab a photo of Reverend Jones, what a guy he was. Top man.

Heres my photos from today, started off in Toronto Canada now in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

158 (1 of 1)-2
– Reverend Jones, South Carolina, USA –
IMG_1912
– flying into a state of emergency –
158 (1 of 1)
– Toronto yesterday morning –

 

B157 – I got the shot though.

joshfspear2 Comments

Today has been the first day of filming and so far so good, everything seems to be coming together. Its going to be an exciting four weeks I think. Im writing this post just after lunch time on Tuesday, Its been a bit of quite time and thought it would be productive of me to get this done sooner rather than at 11 O’clock tonight. Tomrrow I hit theroad for a 7 and a half our drive, from Toronto to Kingston and back to Toronto, all while filming, so it will take a fair bit of time. I think this is going to be a bit of a baptism of fire, which should be good for every one, I’ve just got to remembered to put everything on charge tonight and then just lock everything down tomorrow.

I’m sat here writing this and Im not going to lie I have only got two photos in the bag, I’m still trying to think of a third photo, I’ve seen a few of these black squirrels bopping around, they are literally jet black Squirrels… if I see one again I’m going to snap it and post it one here, but now I’ve said this I probably will never see one again.

It feels a bit weird writing this post with only two photos in the bag and not at the end of the day, but it’s the better option rather than me missing a day or doing it late tonight and having to wake up really early in the morning.

One thing I have noticed about Canada and if anyone knows more about it let me know, but the sun seems to be a lot lower, the light in the morning is so much nicer and lasts a lot longer than in the UK its doesn’t seem to be golden hour, but more like a golden two hours, which helped me to get that shot of the suburbs today.

This also wouldn’t be any sort of daily blog if there wasn’t a picture of the Kenworth truck, these things are massive and rule the roads, I remember the first time I saw one in the UK and it made those English lorries feel like some sort of go-cart, I cant imagine how hard they are to drive, but I wouldn’t mind giving it a ago. They are sell from anywhere from $30k all the way upto $100k+, and weigh an average of 68,000lbs which is 30.8 tonnes. If you were to look at something like the Volvo FH Lorries, which are pretty common on the roads in the Uk they weigh 14,572Lb, which is 6.6 tonnes. So these American Kenworth Semi trucks are just over 4 times heavier than a common lorry in the UK.

An even better fact is the Kenworth on average gets 8 MPG out of their trucks, in the UK the Volvo FH is getting 9.8MPG to 13.5 MPG with Germany Light (what ever that is, anyone know?), so I guess we are a little bit more efficient… but they definitely get more marks for the overall look, these things are like 30 tonne beasts.

Moving on, hopefully by the time you’ve read this Ive got some cool photo of a black squirrel, if not I’m sorry but I hope you like which ever one, future me has decided to upload. Sorry for rambling on about trucks and lorries, I kind of got a bit carried away with all the facts.

B156 (1 of 1)-2
– this thing is a monster –
B156 (1 of 1)
– a nice quite canadian suburb –
B156 (1 of 1)-3
– me trying to take a quick photo of the black squirrel but having my settings completely wrong, least I got the shot though –

B156 – street food at its best

joshfspearLeave a comment

first day proper day and we are off to a flying start, after spending about 5 hours in a shopping centre trying to get our phones sorted with american sim cards, we finally have one working phone. apparently having an unlocked iphone doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work with a Canadian sim card.

but who cares because I’ve finally had a hotdog from a man on a street corner.  and oh my god, it was perfect. Ive always seen people in movies eating them, and never had the chance till now and all for $3 dollars, he even had Saracha sauce and load of different toppings you could help yourself too. it was all worth the standing inside a shopping centre running between the Apple store and other phone stores, though, because as we left and crossed the road, this old school american car stopped right in front of us, I think its a Chevrolet, but I cant find it on the internet. so please does any one know what it is, I’ve spend like half an hour on good and not having much luck. it was literally a case of right place right time, and made my afternoon. so check out this photo and let me know what car it is and if you know the year that would be even better.

In other news, 4 months ago and properly damaged the ligament in my quad muscle training for an ultra marathon and couldn’t walk for 6 weeks literally had crutches the works and since then I’ve comfort eat Pizza and done nothing, well today I woke up early and got in a 15 mile cycle and a 30 minute swim, the first bit of proper exercise I’ve done in 4 months and my quad muscle didn’t hold me back or hurt, so maybe that little bit of physo I’ve had has helped. So the plan now is to find another over the top and stupid challenge for 2018, I’ve got a few ideas and will start planning when I get back in the UK. Mum and Amy Im sorry.

Im now just sat in my hotel room, doing the last little bits to the camera for tomorrows shoot and then going to head out meeting the guy we are filming and have something to eat, all in all though I think Ive beaten the last of the jet lag and back on top form.

Anyway heres my photos from today, please let me know what car that is.

B155 (1 of 1)-3
– this was the coolest thing Ive seen in a long time, what car is it? –
B155 (1 of 1)-2
– the hot dog guy was the second coolest –
B155 (1 of 1)
– it would be rude not to post a photo of the Canadian flag –

B155;I’ve got a Dodge

joshfspearLeave a comment

for most people in the states and canada a Dodge is just a car, but for us brits every dodge is a viper, they even sound cool ” I drive a dodge” and the car Im driving for the next few days is no exception. I have no idea what model this is, I only know it says dodge on the front and is pretty big. Ive only been in Canada for about 5 hours, its now 21:30 at night here in Toronto but thats like 2:30 in London, so its been a pretty long day. My plan is to say awake for as long as possible and then fall asleep for like 7 hours and be completely back to normal, Im refusing to let jet lag get the better of me.

since ive been here Ive literally seen the motorway and in side of the Chinese restaurant, so I can really comment on what its like here, but so far it does look really clean and the people seem really cool. Wish I had time to get out into the forests and stuff maybe see a few bears, but im not confident that will happen. but I have heard a rumour of some cool islands around here which you have to get a boat too, so hopefully if tomorrow isn’t so busy we might be able to get out and explore some.

If any one know of anything fun todo in Toronto, I would definitely like some inside information on this place. I really want to go and see the CN tower, but im not even sure if that is possible. I have 4 days here and will probably have a few hours spare over the four days, so anything quick, easy and not too busy would be ideal.

Anyway heres some photos from my last few hours here.

B154 (1 of 1)-3
– even the gease stick to the pavements –
B154 (1 of 1)-2
– there she is, what a beauty –
B154 (1 of 1)
– Sport at the front, soccer mum car at the back –
B154 (1 of 1)-4
– this was the street I walked down earlier, looking forward to seeing more of Canada –

B154 – see ya later London 

joshfspearLeave a comment

Just at the airport waiting to get on my flight, so thought I should get this post in now. 

First stop on the list is Toronto and then on to the states, I think. Yesterday was my last day in London, so did all those things like breakfast, pack and eat some more. Lucky I managed to get some clothes washed and fresh socks. Not sure if I have enough Clothes for the month but we will just have to see. 

A big shout of out to apple for fixing my phone yesterday evening. I really needed an unlocked phone that works, and they basically saved me a load of money. There’s a first for everything. 

Looking at my schedule for the next 20 something days it’s going to be hard to keep these post updated at 10am each day, so it could be any time really. I’m determined to to let it slip but we will just have to see. 

– good bye London, see ya soon –
– brunch’n, yesterday at borough market –
– I’m not going to miss this, the underground –

B152 – biggest trip of my life

joshfspear7 Comments

today is the last friday before I leave london for a massive trip filming somewhere in canada and the states, im not really 100% sure yet but apparently but flights have been booked, im leaving on Sunday.

so yesterday was all about getting ready for this trip, buying some last minute essentials and make sure I haven’t forgotten anything. What im thinking is on this trip, was every day I might not be able to take photos on my 5d, upload them to my laptop edit them and then write about them on here, the whole process is normally about 45 mintues from when I start to when I finish. some days it might just be a case of taking some iphone snaps and doing it on my phone, which isnt the worst idea, but yesterday was quite a good test for me todo, in the idea of taking some quick snaps when I get the chance and then having the content there for me to write about when ever I can.

One thing I promise you, is I will still be posting everyday, I have no idea what time, but it will be every day. with me probably being in quite a few different time zones, I think it would be impossible to post at 10am GMT every day, it might just be better if I post at 10am where ever I am. my plan for Sunday and Monday is to have those posts lined up before, so my first post would be in Tuesday, which should give me time to take some bangers and also see about time differences and how I can still post for the mornings in the UK, instead of like 11pm GMT.

anyway this post isn’t really a fun one, its just me apologising in advance for properly some really unorganised posts.

(sorry for the spelling mistakes)

B152-1
– walk away from the light –
B152-1-3
– this pizza deserves a review – I paid 70p for a small tub of sauce, after I paid £18 for 4 slices of pizza , review on its way when Im back –
B152-1-2
– ignore the lamp post, I didn’t see it when I took the photo –

B151 – it was nearly over

joshfspear1 Comment

the day were failing at post 3 photos each day was nearly here. ive had a pretty long day and a few technical problems a long the way but nothing that can be sorted and the only picture Ive taken today was of two people playing the guitar on the street. I literally just took one photo and I’ve been starring at a computer screen all day. its been one of those days where you genially just want to watch some crappy tv and sleep.

Well thats no happening now, im doing the true brit thing, Ive put the kettle on and im about to smash out four photos, screw doing just three im going to post four, just becuase I can. my thinking is, over this weekend I took so many sick photos and have a few cool stories and that I should post them and give you guys some content, i can do what I like.

At the weekend, Amy’s mum was baking some cakes, all of them were really tastey, but one went a bit wrong, it didnt rise or something. she was about to throw it away and start again, but that saying waste not want not popped up, so I though I would give this whole bake off thing a go and see if I could make something out of it. a biscuit cutter and some walnut sprinkles later and you have a finished bake off worthy cake.

please see below, ill leave the guessing up to you as to which one is my  cake and which one Amys mum made. just a little bit of a guessing game for ya.

On a different topic, that picture I took today of those two people with the guitar, none of it is in focus, its not even straight and you cant even see the whole guitar. im not really sure if any of that matters. its street photography. but I would like to know what anyone think, is there a certain level of photography that goes into or can a perfect photo from the street just be right place right time. i think ive got away with it and can all it photography.

this post is a bit jumpy and all over the place, but so am I tonight.

B151-1
– this was the only photo I took today –
B151-1-4
– was this my attempt at saving the cake –
B151-1-5
– or was this my attempt at saving the cake –
B151-1-3
– the chappels garden –

B150 – MY NEW TOY

joshfspearLeave a comment

After one stollen package and then one being delivered to the wrong flat, my new flash gun has arrived, its one of those ones that sits in the hot shoe on top of my camera, so naturally the photos tonight are of Amy and me, testing out the flash after dinner. its only the Amazon basic Flash, Ive been looking at getting on for a while now and the other day amazon had a sale on and were selling them for £20 with prime, so I thought it was time to see what these things are like.

and first things first, it was so easy to set this up, i have no idea about the technical side of it, but focusing in low light is so easy, im not sure if the flash, kind of works as an auto focus or what, up all the stills came out sharp. What is also really good about the flash is that it draws all the other light, so even in “well lite” area’s you get a much better image, for £20 this has got to be on the cheapest camera essentials you can get, I cant wait to take more photos and really see what its like.

Tonight was just about going out after dinner and seeing if it works and what we can do with it, Ive already started thinking of some cool things I can do. I really like the idea of shooting some fast movement stuff, like skateboards, boris bikes or even the occasional pet. for now though you’ll just have to check out these photos I got of Amy at 9:30 last night, she’s a good egg that one.

Heres the snaps, let me know what you think or if you have any tips for using the Flash, I want to up my low light photo game.

Thanks again amy for being my model!

150-1
– amy getting ready for her big moment –
150-1-4
– “come on josh bake off is on” –
150-1-5
– swag’d out #HypeBeast –