The Canadian Rockies are a shining example of the best our world has to offer. Like many who’ve been fortunate to visit, the feeling of awe and wonder I experienced in the shadow of its many inspiring peaks, along the shores of its glimering blue lakes, and seemingly endless forests has stuck with me long after I left the Rocky Mountains behind.
I hope this video evokes your wanderlust, makes you feel Saudades for a place you’ve been before or yet to see, and inspires you to seek out similar experiences and emotions in your own Rocky Mountain adventure.
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Porter Airlines has been in the news quite a lot here in Canada in the last few months. At the end of 2022, they took delivery of several brand new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft with the goal of eventually expanding their network from their traditional destinations within the Eastern regions of Canada and the United States (which are served by their existing fleet of Dash-8 turboprop aircraft), to one that stretches all across North America, taking advantage of the Embraer’s longer range and increased capacity, among other things.
Porter Airlines is striving to compete with Canada’s full-service commercial giants, Air Canada and WestJet, offering what can be described as an elevated economy experience. No middle seats, complimentary wine and beer served in glassware, premium snacks, and free wifi all come standard on their new Embraer fleet of jets, with a buy-on-board meal service offered on flights longer than 2.5 hours.
A Porter Airlines Embraer E195-E2 Jet taxiing past the terminal.
Porter Airlines has recieved a lot of praise over the years from consumers, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and try them for myself.
So, when I was looking to book a round-trip itinerary from Toronto to Vancouver in February, that’s exactly what I did. My flights with Porter cost a total of C$293 round trip, a quite reasonable price for a cross country flight on a full-service airline in Canada. I purchased the standard fare, which included a personal item and one carry-on, but did not include seat selection or checked luggage. Neither of these were really an issue for me however as I usually fly with just a single travel backpack, and didn’t mind where my allocated seat would be. Remember, the Embraer E195-E2 doesn’t have any middle seats!
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I arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport 2 hours before our scheduled 11:15 a.m. departure. We were originally slotted to leave an hour earlier, but Porter had to push the flight back to meet crew rest requirements. Despite a full flight, boarding was quick and painless. I settled into my assigned window seat near the back of the plane, popped in my music, and enjoyed the view of the ramp as we began to taxi out to the runway. Our total flight time was scheduled for just under 5 hours, and would take us over 5 Canadian provinces and 4 timezones, landing at Vancouver International Airport around 1 p.m. Pacific time.
Once in the air, I took notice of a few things. First, I couldn’t believe how quiet the engines were, almost too quiet. Normally, I feel like I have to yell at my seat neighbour in order for them to hear me, but on the Embraer E2, I could practically whisper and be paranoid the entire flight could listen in to what I was saying. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little bit, but it was such a great change not needing powerful noise cancelling headphones, being able to clearly communicate with the cabin crew, and not worrying about the moan of the engines keeping me awake should I want to catch some shut eye.
Exterior shot of the jet, and it’s incredibly quiet engines
The interior of Porter’s Embraer E195-E2 from the rear of the cabin
The second thing I noticed was how clean and fresh the cabin was. Obviously being a new aircraft, this was almost a given, but the design was bright, sleek and comfortable. I found the seats fairly spacious, althought the legroom was a bit tight at 30 inches of pitch. I’m 6 feet tall, so if you’re taller than me, you might want to think about paying for an upgraded seat with extra legroom. The tray table folded down and out, slid forward, and had indents for cups on either side.
A view of the legroom, and seatback pocket
Here’s the tray table’s size when folded in half.
The tray table folded out to maximum size
There are two washrooms on on board, one in the front and one in the back. Both were pretty small, but were kept clean and well stocked for the entire flight.
A view of the lavatory sink and countertop
A view of the toilet and the rest of the washroom
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As I mentioned earlier, drinks and snacks are complimentary on Porter Airlines. On this particular trip to Vancouver, the flight attendents came around the cabin several times throughout the flight, offering a selection of beverages including beer and wine, as well as a generous portion of snacks ranging from banana bread to nuts and cookies. As this flight was over 2.5 hours, they also offered a meal service. Although this usually costs extra, this was provided free of charge to the entire cabin on this trip, presumably as a introductory promotion, and to get some contructive feedback.
My beverage and snack of choice. Steam Whistle and banana bread
For my meal, I had a Salmon Poke Bowl, which was delicious. Definitely something I would happliy pay for in the future. Other options included a Soba Noodle Bowl and a Ham and Brie Croissant. It was so refreshing having a complimentary beverage, snack, and meal service on a domestic flight in Canada, something that’s becoming increasingly rare these days, and is one of the selling points that will allow Porter to stand out in a highly competitive aviation market.
Here’s a picture of the Salmon Poke Bowl
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Let’s talk about in flight entertainment.
The free on board wifi was an absolute game changer. I was able to stream full HD YouTube videos, Netflix shows, and even Live TV on my phone for the entire duration of the flight. No buffering and no connectivity issues. With outlets provided at every seat, I didn’t have to worry about running out of battery either. Porter also offers a decent selection of movies and shows through their online streaming service, although this isn’t something I personally used on this flight. It’s quite impressive just how well the wifi worked, considering everyone on the plane was no doubt trying it out for themselves. You do have to put up with the occasional advertisment in order to continue using the wifi, but if you are a member of Porter’s frequent flyer program VIPorter, you get the wifi access ad free for the duration of the flight.
Unfortunately, there was cloud cover most of the way to over Vancouver on this flight, so I was glad to have the wifi to cure me of bordom, and to distract me from the disappointment of not being able to see the snowy peaks of the rocky mountains. Here are some views out my window from the brief moments of clear sky I was able to capture:
Taking off from Toronto Pearson Internatinal Airport
Flying over Northern Ontario, near Lake of the Woods
Landing at Vancouver International Airport
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Overall, I was incredibly pleased with my experience flying with Porter Airlines on their new Embraer E195-E2 jets from Toronto to Vancouver. The competitive pricing, free wifi, complimentary food and drink, lack of middle seat, a comfortable and quiet cabin, and friendly crew made for a really enjoyable flying experience. I would choose to fly Porter again every single day of the week. I personally think Air Canada and WestJet have a lot to worry about with Porter’s expansion plans, and hopefully as consumers, this increased competition will do nothing but benefit us here in Canada and raise expectations across the board.
Have you flown with Porter, or thinking about giving them a try? What are your thoughts about what they have to offer compared to the other airlines?
Let me know in the comments below!
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A short clip from my visit to one of the most photographed place in all of Canada: Lake Louise, Banff National Park. Video taken in September 2021.
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Despite constantly evolving regional and international pandemic restrictions, 2021 was a satisfying year for both my travels and for Seeking Saudades. To mark the start of a new year, I put together a brief overview of 2021: what I did, where I went, my top posts, and the overall statistics of the website and blog. You’ll also find a list of my favourite YouTube channels and creators of the year, and links to their respective pages. As always, thanks for taking the time to stop by.
| Travel Recap
2021 was marked by driving, and a lot of it. I worked in Algonquin Provincial Park again this summer, and spent a large amount of time commuting back and forth, as well as doing a little exploring on the side. I also went on a western Canadian road-trip which involved an incredible amount of time and distance behind the wheel. Here’s to more flying, and less driving in 2022!
1. Western Canada Road-Trip
In Septemeber, my friend Sam and I went on a 9-day road trip through 5 provinces to western Canada. There’s a lot to unpack on this journey, and as such I’ve procrastinated actually writing about it. However to summarize, it was a long, yet rewarding journey full of stunning landscapes, good company, and expensive auto-repair bills. Stay tuned for a full write-up in the future, but for now here’s some highlights of the journey:
Hwy 17, Lake Superior, ON
Kakabeka Falls, ON
Manitoba Welcome Sign
The Badlands, Alberta
Banff National Park
Lake Louise, Banff National Park
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2. Algonquin Provincial Park
2021 was my second year working in Algonquin park which meant plenty of time for hiking, camping, seeing wildlife, and photography. I managed to walk every trail in the park except 1 this summer, which means lots of trail guides incoming. Algonquin Park has become a special place to me, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to explore so much of it again this year, and yet I’ve only scratched the surface. Among the many highlights were the 52 moose I encountered. Further into this post you’ll find a YouTube video of one of these encounters.
Centennial Ridges Trail
Lake of Two Rivers
Booth’s Rock Trail
Track and Tower Trail
3. Niagara Falls
I listed Niagara Falls as one of my must see travel destinations in 2021 and I stayed true to my own advise, visiting twice over the course of the year. One of the highlights this time around was the Journey Behind the Falls experience, where I was able to walk the tunnels behind the Canadian Horseshoe falls, and stand within a stones throw of the water crashing down below. I’ve still yet to explore the American side of Niagara Falls, so maybe next year I’ll change things up a little and finally cross over.
Canadian Horsehoe Falls
The Niagara River
Journey Behind the Falls Tour
Below Niagara Falls
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4. BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
Outside BMO Field
Home of Major League Soccer’s Toronto F.C. and the unofficial national stadium for Canada’s men’s national soccer team, BMO Field was the lifegiving force for me this year. Pandemic restrictions in Ontario were finally eased in July, meaning for the first time in almost 2 years we were all able to gather to watch live sports again. The first Toronto F.C. game back was special and although the team was absolutely awful this year I was happy to have the chance to finally voice my displeasure in person again.
Canada’s national soccer team was also in the midst of attempting to qualify for our first World Cup since 1986, and I was lucky enough to attend their qualifying match against Panama. Behind a near-capacity crowd, Canada rallied to a 4-1 win, strengthing our chance at finally making back to a World Cup. The highlight of the night was an Alphonso Davies wondergoal, which I’ve included a clip of below. The roar of the crowd and the energy that night was extremely theraputic and a semblance of normalcy finally begining to return.
Canadian Supporters
Toronto FC Pregame
The goal 😱 The reaction 🔥
Did you see Alphonso Davies’ goal last night to put #TeamCanada ahead 2-1 against Panama? 🤯
As I will dicuss later, search engine optimization was definitely my friend this year. A large percentage of the views came from just a select few posts and contributed to a more than tripling of total views, almost 5x the unique visitors and a doubling of followers as compared to 2020. While I’m very grateful and happy for these numbers, I know that with more commitment to creating content and regular posting, 2022 can be even more successful.
Where You’re Reading:
In 2021, Seeking Saudades was viewed in 76 countries and territories from around the world. This just blows my mind, and it’s amazing to see the kind of reach the content on here has had over the last year. Here is a map and list of where you’re all from, and a breakdown of each location’s total views.
1. Breakdown by Map
Shaded countries represent where Seeking Saudades was viewed
2. Breakdown by List
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Most Viewed Post:
The Kayak’s Maiden Voyage (Evoke Algonquin Kayak Review)
This post was by far the most viewed of the year, gaining a lot of attention from being highly ranked in Google search results. It’s a concise kayak review, but it also includes some pictures from a short paddle around the lake on a spring day.
What’s the Luckiest You’ve Ever Been While Travelling?
In this post I recall the incredibly lucky fortune my brother and I had on a trip to Japan in September of 2019 which involved narrowly missing an earthquake, and dodging 2 typhoons.
Waterloo Pioneers Memorial Tower – Kitchener, Ontario
This post was one of the first of 2021, and took the most amount of time and effort to write. In it, I explore the Waterloo Pioneers Memorial Tower in Kitchener, Ontario and discuss the landmark’s significance and history. This article is a good example of the type of writing I’d like to do more of on this blog, so check it out and let me know what you think!
I only posted 3 videos to YouTube this year, and while they’re obviously not going to be up for any Streamy Awards, I was happy to get the ball rolling on setting things up. Video creation is definitely an avenue I’d like to pursue so I have big hopes for my YouTube channel in the future. Here’s 2 of the videos I posted this year:
Stunning Views from Moraine Lake, Banff National Park
Algonquin Park Moose Encounter
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| Favourite Travel Channels
1. Kara and Nate
Kara and Nate are from Tennessee, USA, but have spent very little time in their home state over the course of the last 6 years as they’ve been travelling almost non-stop to 100 countries around the world. What started off as a 1 year break from regular life, quickly turned into one of the most successful travel channels on YouTube. I basically spent the last year binge-watching over 4 years of their travel videos and highly recommend checking them out if you haven’t already. Here’s their 100th country documentary which outlines all of their travels to 100 countries from 2016-2020:
2. Gabriel Traveler
I’ve been watching Gabriel’s videos for a while now, and for good reason: his videos are authentic, raw and generally show the sides of travel that other, more highly-produced YouTubers like to gloss over. Gabriel has been travelling the world since the 90s but has been vlogging his experiences since 2009. As mentioned, his videos aren’t very flashy; it’s just a man and his action-camera. However, I feel that this makes his content very relateable and gives you the feeling of being on the journey with him, rather than watching a highlight reel of someone’s vacation. I especially enjoy his Himalayan trekking videos:
3. Eamon and Bec
While Eamon and Bec are generally known as vanlife YouTubers, I discovered their channel through their Canadian cabin renovation series which they began during the height of the pandemic. Eamon and Bec are incredibly down to earth and positive people, and in my opinion that directly translates to what makes their content so enjoyable. Recently, they’ve gotten back into international travel and have been touring around Morroco in a converted sprinter van. Here’s their final cabin renovation tour:
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| Looking to 2022
While there was growth, I fell short of my own goals and expectations in 2021. This year, I am recommiting and as such there are big plans in place that I intend to capitalize on. Stay tuned for next week’s post which will outline my travel plans, overall goals for Seeking Saudades and what you can expect to see from me in 2022.
I appreciate all those who have taken the time to read and watch, and thank all of you for the support in 2021. Happy new year, and cheers to a successful, happy, and healthy 2022!
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I’m just checking in to inform you that I’ve published a new video on my YouTube channel, and if you read my last Photo Friday, you’ll find that this clip is essentially the video version of the picture I showcased in that post.
I just felt I had to share some more of those stunning views from Moraine Lake in beautiful Banff National Park.
Check it out below and enjoy!
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Earlier this month, I had the absolute pleasure of visiting one of the most beautiful places in the world: Moraine Lake, located in stunning Banff National Park, Alberta.
This visit was part of a cross-Canada road trip that spanned 9-days, 5 provinces, 7100 kilometres, and 75 hours worth of driving from my home province of Ontario to British Columbia. Looking back on this photo, and others from my time in the country’s oldest national Park, it’s still hard to believe that this was a real place.
The mountains seemed like they were CGI’d into the background, the water looked as though it was scooped up and delivered straight from the Bahamas, and the trees seemed to go on for eternity. I was only able to spend 24-hours in Banff before having to turn around and begin the long drive home, but it was worth every single second and penny that it took to get there…
…including the $1,300 emergency brake job I had to get in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, but that’s a story for another time.
See you next week!
Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada (ca. Sept. 2021)
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This week, I’m sharing a video I took of one of the many (46 thus far!) moose encounters I’ve had in Algonquin Provincial Park this summer.
Taken in June 2021, I was lucky enough to have spotted a cow and her calf munching on some leaves for a midday snack. From where I was standing, the moose couldn’t have been more than 25 feet away, one of the closest encounters I’ve had to date.
Of course, moose can be extremely dangerous, especially if they feel threatened or are protecting their young. However, I was calmed by knowing that this particular mother had been raising her calves in the busy campgrounds of Algonquin Park for years, and had become relatively unbothered by humans in her presence.
While they may seen like elusive animals, spotting a moose in Algonquin Park is far easier than it may seem. I’ve encountered upwards of 70 in the past 2 summers! If you’re looking to see some moose of your own, be sure to keep an eye out for my Algonquin Park moose spotting guide here in the near future!
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This week’s picture was taken at the lookout on the Track and Tower Trail, located in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada last month in June 2021.
The longest hike I’ve done this year, and certainly the most interesting, the Track and Tower Trail had a wide variety of historical stops, wooded paths, river crossings, and scenic lookouts. Keep an eye out for a full trail report here on seekingsaudades.com in the coming future.
In un-related news, I’ve finally received my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which means I’m fully vaccinated, Canada is closer to completely reopening, and international travel isn’t too far away either.
Exciting times ahead!
Track and Tower Trail, Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada (ca. June 2021)
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Earlier this year, my parents and I split the cost of a new kayak, something we’ve been thinking of purchasing for a few years now. We bought it from our local Canadian Tire for around CAD $999. After accessorizing paddles, roof mounts, and other various items the final total was bumped up towards CAD $1200. We decided on the Evoke Algonquin 12-ft.*Edit: Be sure to read to the end for a 6-month update*
We’ve had a canoe up at the lake for years, but it’s extremely heavy, hard to maneuver, and a pain to take out for longer trips. After spending a significant amount of time in Algonquin Provincial Park last year, I aspired to find more time to spend outdoors, and so I felt it was finally time to bite the bullet and look for a boat that could both be used at the cottage for a good workout, and something that could potentially be taken out into the backcountry on weekend portage camping trips. Seeing as most new lightweight canoes will set you back upwards of CAD $5000, the next best option for us was to look for a kayak which could check off the same wish list as a canoe, but at a more reasonable price, resulting in the purchase of the Evoke Algonquin 12-ft.
Fast forward to this past weekend, and the water was finally warm enough (46 ℉) to feel confident that I could attempt to take it out for a spin without risking death if I fell overboard. I had been in a kayak once before at my buddy Alex’s cottage, and I came pretty close to going for an unwanted swim several times, so I was skeptical about my chances of staying dry this time around.
In the end, the new kayak proved to be extremely roomy, stable, and tracked in the water like a dream. It took some thinking, but I was also able to get in and out of the kayak pretty easy. It’s still a bit of a heavier boat at 56 pounds, but I didn’t really feel it during the paddle, and it was easy enough to carry. Some of the features include an adjustable seat and foot rests, 2 storage compartments, 2 rod holders, and a removable front dash. I’m yet to try and stash any overnight gear in it yet, but it looks like there’s plenty of room for some potential camping trips later this summer. (Update: it was a little tight and took some thinking, but I was able to fit several days worth of gear into the boat with limited effect on comfort and manuverability)
The total length of the maiden voyage ended up being around 4 km, and took about an hour, the most of which was used up getting a feel for paddling, fiddling with things, and stopping to take some pictures. After about a week straight of rain, it turned out to be a calm, warm, and overall really nice day for a trip out on to the lake.
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Despite being 10 days into May, the tree’s have yet to show their leaves. I didn’t take a picture of it, but there was actually a large pile of snow and ice still holding on for dear life a little ways back into the forest. I figure there’s still another week or so until the leaves start to appear, and while it looks dreary at the moment, it means that the blackflies and mosquitos are still yet to arrive, so it’s not all bad.
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Overall, the kayak’s maiden voyage turned out to be a great success, and I’ve got big plans for it in the coming months, most of which involve Algonquin Park in some respect. However, before I do that I figure the kayak should have a name, because you know, all proper boats do.
So if you’ve got a suggestion for a name, or have any questions about the kayak itself, let me know in the comments below!
*6 Month Update*:
In my opinion, the Algonquin Evoke 12-ft kayak has turned out to be a very good purchase, and I recommend it if your in the market for a kayak. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment! Here’s a quick summary of the boat’s pros and cons thus far:
Pros:
I still find it easy(ish) to carry and transport
It withstood an entire summer of admittedly pretty rough use with only a few scratches
The colour held up flawlessly despite being in the sun 24/7
It tracks very well in the water and feels incredibly stable, even under light chop
Enough storage for overnight camping trips
The centre-console is fantastic
The hull rarely warped, but quickly bounced back when it did
The seat is fairly comfortable and never became an issue while paddling
Cons:
The adhesive/glue on the knee padding started to peel on very hot days, but I was able to get it to restick
The seat-back adjustment is very weak and will fold under pressure if fully extended. You’re best to either keep it at the lowest position or brace it with something to remedy this.
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I was finally able to make it out to the lake last weekend, thanks to the ice going out earlier than expected. This means a whole bunch of good things, most notable of which is the ability to sit on the dock with a piping hot coffee to watch the sun as it sets below the horizon.
Long before I started this blog, or even made seekingsaudades.com, I created a YouTube channel with the intent of one day posting travel videos. Until now, I’ve never uploaded anything, instead choosing to focus on creating content here. I figured I needed to get the YouTube train rolling at some point, and so today I decided to do just that.
Luckily, time-lapses are technically photos, so I can shamelessly promote my YouTube channel here and still have it loosely connect to the blog. This particular time-lapse was taken on April 17, 2020in Algonquin Highlands, Ontario.
I would greatly appreciate it if you considered subscribing to my YouTube channel once you’re finished watching the video. While I don’t have any immediate plans to post a bunch of content, I will be making an effort this summer to try and put together some videos of whatever travels I end up doing.
Thanks for all of your support, and see you next week!
Thank you for reading! If you’ve made it this far please consider liking the post, sharing it with your friends, and hitting the follow button so you don’t miss any of my upcoming material!If you’re looking to connect, make sure to follow me on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!
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![[NEW VIDEO] Lakeside at Lake Louise, Banff National Park](https://seekingsaudades.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/lakelouisethumb.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Video] Stunning Views from Moraine Lake, Banff National Park](https://seekingsaudades.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kjshfsdhfjk.png?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
Seeking Saudades 