ROVA Forty-Five: October/November 2024

I’m risking getting a little too existential on you, but I’ve been thinking (for a change). Why is it that we do the things we do? We’re strange, humans, living these similar but entirely personal lives. And nowhere is it more evident than in the roadtripping community that we’re all odd little creatures with a variety of things that really float our individual boats. It might seem obvious: we do what makes us happy. But so often we don’t—we do what we feel we should do, or what other people want us to do. It’s when we figure out that we don’t have to do anything a certain way that we really start to live—that we can truly experience joy. For example; for years, I pretended that I loved sleeping…

Charmed, Obviously American indie-pop sensation Clairo is back with her third LP, Charm. For the loved-up and the currently crushing among us, “Sexy to Someone” sounds like the teetering anticipation of slinking into the wilderness with a lover. For the single pringles, it’s a fun fall song that is best listened to when soaking up the crisp sunshine and crunching fallen leaves with your boots. Morning coffee with a view is best paired with “Juna,” while road trips along the coast are perfectly accompanied by “Add Up My Love.” Fall just got a new soundtrack! clairo.com Level Up Your Card Game Craighill’s Playing Cards bring a fresh spin to a timeless classic. Designed with a unique cassette tape silhouette and a satisfying magnetic closure, these cards blend nostalgia with modern…

Pit Crew, Please! No one likes a flat tire or a dead battery, especially when it’s eating into your four-wheeldriving adventure time. Thankfully, Zeus Air from Uncharted Supply Co. is here to save the day. The game-changing three-in-one power case is a rugged powerhouse that boasts a 16,000-milliampere-hour battery and a 130 PSI air compressor, perfect for jump-starting engines up to six liters, inflating tires, or even charging your devices. With USB-C and USB-A ports, an LED flashlight, and all the essential adapters, it’s like having a portable pit crew ready for action. The Zeus Air keeps you prepared so you can focus on the adventure, not the hiccups. $219, unchartedsupplyco.com The Everywhere Chair Imagine a chair so stylish that it feels at home both indoors and out. Enter the…

Amanda and Jeff Just over two years ago, we started to look at alternate ways of living after being priced out of Vancouver. We landed on the RV life and we are loving it. We spend four to five months in one location so we can work seasonal jobs. This is super stressful when we are in limbo between jobs, but it gets easier each time. We’ve made new friends and discovered local adventures, which is one of the reasons we chose this lifestyle. The chance to explore while working is so much better than just a two-week vacation! We hope to explore the rest of Canada in the coming years, and maybe even the United States. Instagram: @justthetwoofusrv Mathew and Rosa We’re often told what the “American dream” should…

Since ancient times, people have sought ways to harness electricity. Thales of Miletus (c. 625–545 BCE) is credited with the observation that rubbing amber caused it to attract particles, a demonstration of static electricity. In fact, the Greek word for amber is ἤλεκτρον (“ēlektron”), which is where we get the word electricity. It would take until the 1740s before a reliable method of storing static electricity could be found. The Leyden jar is an early capacitor. It is simply a glass jar partially covered with foil inside and out, filled with water to the height of the foil, and a stopper containing an iron rod or chain that makes contact with the inner foil. It is estimated that early Leyden jars could be charged up to 60,000 volts. For comparison,…

A decade of road-tripping, car-camping, and van-living helped make my initial foray into life by bicycle feel almost effortless. I was already well-versed in living with fewer luxuries than I’d have in a traditional home life, had developed a deep appreciation for the ever-changing dinner-table view, and had become moderately addicted to the novelty, exploration, and adventure that only life on the road could seemingly come close to providing. And while I loved the security, sanctuary, and efficiency of riding around in the steel-chassised home on four wheels that my partner, Mathieu, and I had self-converted, we both found ourselves longing for more adventures without a windshield wedged between us and the outside world. When we finally made the call to swap life behind the steering wheel for long days…