There's going to be minimal photos for this one. Going through that days pics, there really wasn't too many. I must have been a bit worn out, long day. Sort of the same vibes I am having today. What's funny is I managed, without intending to, photograph two derelict vehicles that day. One old school bus and an old car. The bus was on the farm I was stating on, it looked like it had been there for years, as you will shortly see. Same thing with the old car. It was certainly a find, that car in itself. I was biking along. My camera bag was so insanely heavy. I had my tripod, some lenses and some flashes. That bike ride got me thinking I needed to invest in an actual bike rack, because on top of all the sitting in the car, biking around with that much gear wasn't exactly helping the situation. As I was biking along, I saw an old looking garage. It was about 30 meters or so into the property. There was a sign posted - "NO HUNTING." Although I was hunting for pics, I sort of took that as a friendly invitation. I think I wouldn't have proceeded if the sign straight out said 'NO TRESPASSING.' Alas I rationalized in my head it was okay.
I was in this old garage when I heard a voice from behind me - "WHAT THE F*** ARE YOU DOIN'?!" The man certainly didn't seem impressed with me being there. I'm not exactly sure how he even knew I was there, maybe he saw me walk in, maybe he saw my bike in the laneway, or maybe he saw my flash going off. I quickly ran up to him. Either way, he was pissed. I told him I really liked the car and was taking some pictures of it. He retorted back almost before I could finish "PEOPLE WILL SHOOT YOU IF YOU JUST WALK ONTO THEIR PROPERTIES LIKE THAT!" I think he sort of saw the incredulous look in my face and continued on "I'm not even kidding! People will shoot you and bury your body - no questions asked - this is Salt Spring Island!" I continued to mumble more apologies - to me it seemed like his way of telling me to basically piss off. However, he said it was fine by him but once again reiterated the veiled warning - while continuing to say it was okay. A very Canadian way, we're nice no matter what. 🤣 It was a bit confusing but basically just for me to take a few pictures and 'become scarce' or something to that effect. Thanking him, I ran back, continued my shoot and after a few more minutes continued on my way, back to the farm I was staying at.
The next day, when I brought this up, the owner of the farm said that nobody had been killed on Salt Spring Island. And he said that most likely the dude was probably growing something somewhere. Chatting with someone else at some other point, they seemed almost in agreement with the property owner, and said almost self righteously "I would never walk onto anyone's property like that!" So I wasn't sure what to think in the end, other than this guy was probably growing something, but also, having been on a piece of property myself and having random 'lookedy loos' come popping out of the woodwork, I sort of understood where the man yelling at me was coming from. It's sort of annoying to have random people come poking around, nobody wants to have that and like the time I was on the Vancouver DTES, I should have learned it's always just better to ask in the first place.
To sort of make amends, before leaving Salt Spring Island I went to a local print shop and had a print made of the old car, as well as some other ones I had captured on the island and returned to the property, to give him along with my business card. I rode up the laneway, wondering if anyone would be home that day, and to my surprise the man and his wife or girlfriend were both there. I learned his name was Carl and I believe his partner was Jade if I remember correctly. I apologized and he reiterated he didn't mind but just or be careful. We kind of had a laugh over the situation and he said that if I am ever back on the island to return, he said there was some other old vehicles like that tucked away on the property, which I really wish to do. So to sum up, I don't necessarily think he was 'growing anything' just sort of annoyed at my self-invitation onto his property. In which my only response is, add another sign, brother 😜
I wish I could have remembered to ask what sort of car that was. Doing a quick cursory internet search turned up some sweet looking old cars but nothing exactly the same. If anyone is familiar with this particular one, please let me know in the comments, it would be greatly appreciated!
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School Bus, she don't run no more
