Sketchbook of a GPS Artist

Sharing the GPS Doodles story at TEDxVictoria 5

Posted on December 12, 2015 by Stephen

On November 21, I had the distinctive honour of kicking off TEDxVictoria 5: IMPACT with a 12-minute talk about GPS Doodles – a journey of creative expression, urban exploration and oodles of time on the bike that all began a little less than a year ago.

The video of my TEDx Talk is now available for viewing online. I invite you to watch it and, if you’re so inclined, to share it with others who might be amused and inspired by the ideas I share.

Just click the image below to view the video. Enjoy!

What is TED?

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.

Posted in gps art, how to, News & media, tips & tricks | Tagged bicycling, creative expression, creativity, cycling, exercise, gps art, inspiration, strava art, TED Talks, TEDx, TEDxVictoria, urban exploration, victoria bc, YYJ | 6 Comments

Christmas stocking full of pressies from Santa

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Stephen

Stocking with pressies from Santa by GPS artist Stephen Lund in Victoria, BC, Canada GPS Garmin Strava art cyclist cycling creativity urban art street art Christmas stocking Christmas presents Santa Claus

A big Christmas stocking overflowing with presents by Victoria, BC’s GPS doodler, Stephen Lund

As a follow up to last Thursday’s tippy, trippy Christmas tree, I decided today to doodle a Christmas stocking embroidered with its own Christmas tree and overflowing with gifts from Santa.

Total distance for the ride was 45.2 kilometres (28.1 miles).

See it on Strava *

* Note: The GPS points will render correctly only if you are logged in at Strava.com

Posted in gps art | Tagged bicycling, Christmas, Christmas stocking, creativity, cycling, garmin, gifts, gps, gps art, Santa Claus, strava, strava art, urban art, victoria bc | 1 Comment

Kinda tippy, kinda trippy Christmas tree

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Stephen

Christmas tree by GPS artist Stephen Lund in Victoria, BC, Canada GPS Garmin Strava art cyclist cycling creativity urban art street art Christmas tree Christmas ornaments Dr. Seuss

Standing nearly nine kilometres (5.6 miles) tall (even with the limp and languid swagger of a drunken sailor), this towering Christmas tree is undoubtedly the largest Vancouver Island has ever seen!

Maybe it was the gale force winds howling out of the east for the duration of my ride, but this Christmas tree’s left-leaning, loosey-goosey posture gives it a decidedly Dr. Seussical feel.

But it’s exactly as it was meant to be, as I simply pedalled where Victoria’s roads took me. Following one continuous route, this Christmassy doodle required 95.3 kilometres (59.2 miles) of cycling.

I’ve provided close-up views of the tree-topper and some of the ornaments. The topmost ornament is an apt feature on Victoria’s map – Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary!

All the while I was riding, the wind was gusting from 50 to 80 km/h, and at the 77-km point the skies opened up into an almighty downpour. Which, according to Rule #9, elevates my status from GPS doodler to badass GPS doodler. Win!

See it on Strava *

* Note: The GPS points will render correctly only if you are logged in at Strava.com

Posted in gps art | Tagged bicycling, Christmas, Christmas tree, creativity, cycling, Dr. Seuss, garmin, gps, gps art, ornaments, strava, strava art, urban art, victoria bc | 4 Comments

Musclebound Thug catches some Christmas Spirit

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Stephen

Musclebound Thug prepares for his role as Santa Claus in the annual Thugs’ Christmas Pageant by stuffing a canvas sack with pressies

‘Tis the season to be jolly. Hence the Musclebound Thug’s jolly scowl as he rehearses for his part as the jolly fat man, Father Christmas.

Don’t be fooled by the stone-faced scowl and the brutish biceps. Come Christmas season, Musclebound Thug is a total softie. And when the casting call came for the Christmas pageant Santa, guess who jumped up and down squealing “Pick me! Pick me! Ho ho ho!”

Total distance for this ride: 57.2 kilometres (35.5 miles).

Note: I rotated the mapped image 90º CW for ease of viewing.

If you missed them, you can see the Musclebound Thug’s other GPS-doodled escapades here. And here. And here.

See it on Strava *

* Note: The GPS points will render correctly only if you are logged in at Strava.com

Posted in gps art | Tagged bicycling, Christmas, creativity, cycling, garmin, gps, gps art, Santa, Santa Claus, strava, strava art, thug, urban art, victoria bc | 1 Comment

A ‘shroom with a view

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Stephen

Magic mushroom by GPS artist Stephen Lund in Victoria, BC, Canada GPS Garmin Strava art cyclist cycling creativity landscape art mushroom mycelium psychedelic

GPS doodling is magical, and Victoria’s GPS doodler is a “fun guy”

A GPS doodle from October 14, 2015…

Here’s a magical mid-afternoon doodle from mid-October…the height of the mushroom foraging season here on Vancouver Island.

Pine mushrooms, golden chanterelles, gypsy mushrooms, Sweet Tooth mushrooms…all around the island, you’ll find edible fungi of all sorts ripe for the picking – if you’re into that sort of thing.

Me…I prefer the bright red mushrooms that pop up under the wheels of my bike as I pedal around Oak Bay. Like this one.

See it on Strava *

* Note: The GPS points will render correctly only if you are logged in at Strava.com

Posted in gps art | Tagged creativity, cycling, cyclist, garmin, gps, gps art, magic, mushroom, psychedelic, strava, strava art, victoria bc | Leave a comment

A post-show nod to TEDxVictoria: Impact

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Stephen

TEDxVictoria 5: Impact • GPS art and bike-writing by Stephen Lund on the streets of Victoria BC garmin gps cycling cyclist bicycle TEDx Talks Impact innovation artistry ideas that inspire

A tribute and a thanks to TEDxVictoria 5: Impact – a truly inspiring experience!

Two days ago, I enjoyed the honour of sharing my passion for cycling, creativity and GPS doodling at TEDxVictoria 5: Impact – a full day of inspiring presentations and unforgettable entertainment.

As happy as I am that I can finally stop rehearsing my presentation in my basement, on my bike, in the shower and in my sleep, I’m a little sad it’s all over.

Being a part of TEDxVictoria pushed me out of my comfort zone, challenged me to package up and deliver my ideas in a taut and compelling way, and exposed me to a collection of amazing people who made indelible impressions with their passion, their vision and their talent – my fellow TEDx speakers, yes, but also the organizers and volunteers who poured untold hours into pulling together a show that was nothing short on spectacular.

I feel blessed.

I doodled this GPS doodle as thanks for (and an enduring reminder of) this life-changing experience.

I’ll share the link to the video of my presentation as soon as it’s available.

What is TED?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bicycling, creativity, cycling, gps art, ideas, inspiration, strava art, TED Talks, TEDx, TEDxVictoria, victoria bc, YYJ | 1 Comment

Victoria’s GPS doodler on CTV News

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Stephen

Chandler Grieve, who interviewed me on Tuesday in the midst of my Remembrance Day doodle, put together a fantastic spot for CTV News Vancouver Island. It aired November 11 on CTV’s evening newscast.

To see the story, click the image below and skip ahead to the start of the “Island MVP” segment at 3:37. (That’s right – Victoria’s GPS doodler is the Island MVP!)

AND ON CFAX 1070 RADIO…

Earlier in the week, on November 9 at 6:50 am, morning show host Ryan Price interviewed me live on Victoria’s CFAX 1070. To listen in, click below:

Posted in News & media | Tagged bicycle, bicycling, CFAX 1070, creativity, CTV News, cycling, cyclist, garmin, gps art, Island MVP, media, news, strava, victoria bc | 7 Comments

Lest We Forget

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Stephen

A heartfelt GPS doodle for Remembrance Day 2015

This is my Remembrance Day GPS doodle – a tribute to soldiers and service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

I biked the route on November 10, and CTV News Vancouver Island – who met me mid-doodle to interview me for a story about my GPS art – unveiled it yesterday in a story on their website and on their evening newscast.

We started the interview at the bottom of the W and, as they wanted some footage of me on my bike, we ended up at the top of the L. So as not to botch my half-done doodle, I paused my Garmin for the interview. But at the top of the L, they asked for a close-up of me pressing START – which produced an unwanted line connecting the W and L. I removed the line from the main image here, but this is what you’ll see if you look at the ride on Strava.com…