Back In Time.

I sat around my computer doing nothing, staring at the screen trying to get a good strength in the stolen connection while refreshing websites. Nick finally gives me a call at around twelve noon to see if I wanted to check out some yard sales. I of course agree over the cell phone and we agree to meet at the G&P Milk Variety store where he can pick me up. I’m wearing regular jeans and a shirt, and knowing that it is raining a little bit outside I put on my Reebok warm-up jacket. I get across Parkhill barely, as the traffic was pretty heavy. I lightly jogged towards Nick’s car which is already parked awkwardly across several yellow parking lines. “How’s it going?” Nick says dryly.
“Not bad, not bad.”
“So where we heading?”

We discuss several options which lead me to suggest we check out the East city first and then make our way back to University Heights later. He agrees and starts to drive downtown. The car zips along and the rain starts to drizzle a little heavier, people are smoking in doorframes along George Street, and to top things off the classic guy with a white t-shirt is running down the sidewalk to his location. “Which street do I take?” Nick asks. I tell him to take his next left on Hunter. The car tries to pick up speed over the Hunter Street bridge and we hit the East city just past the Quaker Oats building. This section of the city looks completely different than the rest of Peterborough. It almost is comparable to seaside towns in Ontario. Much more pleasant and less run down, and has that home-like cottage feel to it. We drive around the suburbs and stop at a few garages sales. We look and pick up the odd thing on the tables, one guy had a working organ player for sale too and he started to play it. I bought a CD by The Doors which is sort of a “best of” compilation. We pop it in Nick’s car stereo which was currently playing nothing at the moment. We weave around streets until Nick spots a wooden bridge. “Man, a wooden bridge, should I take it?”
The car is stopped in the middle of the road.
“No, don’t bother, probably nothing over there.”
“Man, it’s a wooden bridge, I have to take it.” Nick says and pulls up to it and makes his way over.

Once we got over the bridge the scenery totally changed. The overcast clouds were greyer, and all the houses were made from aluminum panels along the sides, some white, some light blue, some even green… with the odd brick house in between. We stop at a house having a yard sale. We get out of the car and look around, light rain falling on us. A couple was outside near their junk and all their stuff was from the seventies. Even their vehicles and clothing were from that era. We poked and prodded and found nothing of interest. Though the guy did show us this vegetable oil fuel system he implemented for his car which was really cool. As we got in the car the Doors began to play again and we went back over the bridge. “Man that was so weird.” I said.
“Why’s that?”
“Well, with this music playing, and all that stuff. It was almost.” I stop my sentence to think.
“Well it was almost like we traveled through time, which the houses, his cars and all that.”
Nick started to chuckle and agreed with me. “Yeah that’s kinda funny.” He said.

We looked in other areas in the East City, further along we kept on the road that ran underneath this giant stone bridge. It had huge narrow arches and ran parallel to the river. “Wow, I have never seen this part of town before.” I said. We look to our left and right at the foreign place we were at. Large fields, a bunch of boats at the docks, chip trucks every few miles, and an elementary school made from red brick. Continuing around this area we found more cottage-like houses with aluminum panels on the exterior. All of them were up top of hill with streets curving all around, and each were coloured in various pastel-like paint. They overlooked the river to the West, and in the grey rainy sky it almost looked like a great view.

After we finished our yard sale adventure on the East city we drove all the way back to University Heights to check out if anything was around there. Before we got there though, we noticed a yard sale sign pointing towards the country road North West. We decided to take a small trip there. We looked around everywhere but couldn’t actually find the yard sale. The rain started to pour really heavy no when we were driving along the road, so we decided to turn back. When we finally got to University Height we saw a giant sign telling us of a big street sale. We looked around and it looked like everyone was packing up. I notice one house that still had some stuff out so me and Nick get out and walk towards the door. Two little kids look at us and head out the door and run about with no one around. I’m starting to get a little nervous because I’m thinking “what if this isn’t a yard sale.” But a girl came eventually and told us to look around. We did and I noticed some old computer hardware that peeked my interest. Nothing I could use though. The rain started to pick up heavier just then as we were walking back to the car so we rain the rest of the way and jumped in.

Satisfied with our finds, we drove back to Nick’s house where he invited me for some beers. We sit down at his kitchen and he cracks open a bottle of his homemade beer and pours it into some frosty glasses. Cheers.

“That vegetable oil car was kinda cool eh?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, that was cool.”

After enjoying some beers with Nick I decided to head back home with my loot. It was raining outside so Nick let me borrow his roommates’ umbrella. It was a long walk home, all my stuff was in a price chopper bag that Nick gave me, tied up at the loops and held by my index and middle finger. I took the shortest way possible, meaning of course, the rotary trails. I finally made my way home and left the black umbrella open outside while I put stuff away inside. My cell phone rang.

It was Andrew on the other end. We talked for a bit and apparently he was in town and wanted to meet up. Andrew was my next door neighbour when I was in Champlain College residence for my second year. He was in town signing a lease for a place for next year. I took him up on the offer and we agreed to Dreams & Beans on Hunter Street. Even though I had plenty of time, it was soon later that I realize that I am running late so I put on my white Reebok jacket, pick up the umbrella outside and jog down George Street careful to avoid any puddles along the way. I finally get to the coffee shop and see Andrew at a table. I get my coffee and sit down and we have our usual conversation about games that we are playing, funny stories, preposterous ideals, and various other boondoggle subjects. I usually come to this coffee shop when I go on dates with girls, it all started in first year when I went on a date with a girl from San Francisco; Davida was her name. The entire place is composed of wood, from the furniture to some parts of the walls. Very obscure photos line the sides of the yellow-grey bricks, and in the front is a black iron patio. The actual coffee counter is in another room separated by a door frame with no door.

We finished our coffee and made our way around town, stopping in at some local used gaming shops before they closed up. It started to rain heavily now and we decided to get some food from a place near Night Kitchen called Caribbean Cuisine. I tried to persuade him into pizza, but he would have none of it. We both ordered a rotti with some banana soda. It was very spicy and overwhelming with curry. It was not too bad though. After that we went back to my place at Unit 5 where we had some beers and wine. I invited Kelly over too who showed up soon after. We all had some laughs and then Kelly wanted to head out to the bars. We convince him to come to Gertis with Andrew and I.

Gertis was fairly busy this night but we all managed to get a spot at the bar and ordered our drinks. I of course got a pint of Murphy’s, Andrew got some Creemore I think, and Kelly didn’t get anything, but the bartender gave him some water anyways. Cheers. We all had some laughs and got to tell Kelly some stories about our residence year together. Those days will certainly be missed.

After we had our drink Andrew parted ways with Kelly and I who walked back home. Laughing and joking the entire way.