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So brutal, I hate that I have to do this again, we just lost another original member of the au/mc. Dan "Toad" Borthwick was discovered drowned, from what I gather it looks to be accidental drowning, his body was discovered near his overturned zodiac.
Dan and go back a good number of years, like any friendship we had our up and downs, but in the last few years we had grown pretty close again. I talked to him on the phone every couple of months. I loved Dan for his ridiculous quirky sense of humor and his easy going good nature. Way back in 2004 when we started the au/mc our urban exploration group, we together had a dream for a group that was all inclusive and welcoming. We thought if we could just get people out from behind their computer terminals and meet in person they would be a lot nicer to each other. So together we came up with the au/mc meet and greet gear swap. The event ran for a number of years with pretty great success. In those days Woodlands was still standing and it was the perfect proving ground to bring new people for a fun time, and many fun times were had. The silly thing about that first meet and greet was that the only people that showed up were Dan and myself. We had a good chuckle and still had fun, but together we conspired to make it out like it had been a hugely successful event with many people in attendance, and in fact our ruse worked. There was a buzz and some interest and the event was wildly popular for a period of time.
In recent years Dan had been living on the water he was really happy. I had wanted to road trip out there to see him this spring summer. Tragic as the accident was I do take a little relief from line in the story
" Borthwick was last seen on Nov. 21 in Cowichan Bay taking pictures of seals." He was out there to end enjoying his life living it exactly how he wanted to.
I don't have any photo's handy at the moment so please feel free to post some in the thread in you do. In the next day or two I will schedule an urbex memorial for Dan. Maybe meet at the toilet bowl one of Dan's favorite train hopping spots near braid station. A mellow event to just meet and do some photo's in memory of our friend Dan. Tentatively I will say for the 15/Dec maybe 16/Dec. Rest in peace Toad au/mc.
https://www.pqbnew...-daniel-borthwick/
[last edit 12/1/2017 4:19 PM by PorkRenegade - edited 3 times]
god created the au/mc to test the faithful.
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I hate hearing about things like this happening to people  I'm sorry for your loss and my thoughts go out to his family/friends.
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My condolences on your loss. It's never easy to read these things. It always makes me want to live each day a little bit better. <3
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I'm sorry for your loss. Even though I never knew him, like most I've lost people in my life, it's never easy. I'll keep him in my thoughts.
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Dam, sorry to hear that man. It's never easy.
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That's a nice tribute - thank you for posting it up. What a shock when I heard of this news.
I have never met Dan in person, I've only spoken to him on various threads on this site and several times by private message. We came onto this site at about the same time some 13 years ago (wow - where did all that go?) I always enjoyed reading his posts and I watched him become a better and better photographer.
He and I are from total different walks of life and would likely not have ever conversed if not for this site. Dan definitely had his issues, but really, so does everybody. He was brought up in Government care for the most part, but found his way and blazed his own path. Dan was an expert with all things 'radio' and installed & troubleshot radios on the transit system. Dan was also a HAM operator, and likely spoke with people all over the world.
In living my 'conventional' life, I can admit to feeling jealous of Dan on more than one occasion while looking at his photos and reading his posts of jumping on freight trains or sailing around coastal B.C. - a solitary lifestyle that many could long after. Dan spent many months working on a remote coastal fish farm. He was living an adventure all the time - many only talk about doing these things. He lived it.
When I last messaged with Dan, he told me of finally buying the boat of his dreams and living on board. He also told me he was making a concerted effort to work on issues that had always caused him trouble. I salute him for his efforts.
Dan was last seen heading out on his small zodiac inflatable, taking pictures of wildlife, exploring. If circumstances were different, we may have seen some of those pictures in his posts. The weather was windy & the sea was reported rough. The only comfort I take is that he died while living his life the way he was happy to live it. We should be so lucky.
In 13 years, Dan made 2293 forum posts on here. I encourage everyone to take the time - read those posts and get to know Dan. He was an expert at living life, a true adventurer.
"We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." -George Orwell
Rest in peace, my pal Mowgli - the best dog there ever was. | |
I was a very good friend of Dan for almost 10 plus years. I may have been slacking on keeping up with him recently, but I knew he was much happier on the boat.
We have done many adventures on Vancouver Island and Mainland BC; one of my favorites is when we set up camp on Salt Spring Island by the Stressand tracts where we did ham radio stuff, opened a few beers and did some light off roading in his diesel-with-an-auto-transmission Jetta.
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Dan and I have known each other for 12 years, though we've lost touch over the last 6. There a small window of time, though, where Dan and I hung out a quite a bit. We both loved long exposure photography, and Dan had even bought a DSLR and was itching to use it. We had quite a few adventures at that time. Some trips were big grand expeditions with the whole AU/MC crew. Some were smaller. I remember many trips driving up to Brittanica bay with Toad and TL to see the ferries and the mines. Dan never seemed to run out of things to talk about, he was an endless fountainhead of facts --- he'd tell stories about mudslides on the highway and houses on the hill run entirely by solar power. Entrances to logging roads that snaked up to the tops of mountains. He knew so much about BC. He'd talk about secret cabins in the woods that were impeccabily maintained, and forgotten mines on mountains you had no idea existed. Every adventure seemed to beckon more. I wonder how much of this will be forgotten forever with his passing.
My most vidid memory with Dan was train hopping with him. Our plan was to take some long exposure shots from the moving carriage. I remember Dan talking about a new tripod he bought that would "grip" the train, making for some possibly awesome shots. It would be my first and would be my only time hopping a train, and we stationed ourselves at a bend in the tracks, waiting for a freight to pass. Dan gave me a swig of some moonshine i think his buddy made, for courage, (he always seemed to have a beer or some alcohol on him that he wouldn't hesitate to share), and we waited for an an hour. And just as we were about to give up waiting, a train came. I don't know what about the night had stuck with me. Was it the leap of faith it took to embark? Was it the paranoia when the train stopped, fearing an inspection from the conductor? I don't know. But we were soon crossing the second narrows. I don't think I've ever seen the bridge that way before. It was majestic, up close, all steel and concrete, lit up by tungsten, rising to a terrifying height. I dont think my camera could ever do this jutice, and I ended up too taken in by the sights to take a single good, non blurry photo. Dan however was taking loads. The train then ducked into the thornton tunnel. It was pitch black. My only sensory input was the rumbling thunder of the engine in the distance. Until Dan pointed out the bioluminescent algae that glew faintly on the ceiling. I think we sat for a few minutes in silence just admiring the roof of the tunnel (at any rate, the train's engines were too defaening to talk). We arrived in Vancouver by the first light of dawn, just in time for me to catch the nightbus home.
For me adventure was a hobby, for Dan it was a lifestyle. Dan never dwelled too much past glories, but I've always felt he had many more stories to tell. When probed he'd sometimes talk about his time on the streets, stories about bouncing radio waves across oceans and hopping trains across the country. Dan had lived the "life of adventure" - a cliche, sure, but Dan was the genuine article. The real deal. No, he was not a perfect by any means. But in the broadest strokes he was gregarious and good spirited, and generous enough to share some of that adventure with me.
Thank you Dan (Toad, Hypnotoad, Steampunk) Borthwick.
RIP.
[last edit 12/3/2017 12:15 PM by dogyeaars - edited 5 times]
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Sorry to hear.
Sounds like a great guy.
RIP
The Urbex Zine Guy
https://www.cavecl...wtopic.php?t=12259
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So sorry to hear of this.
One of UER's long time and outstanding members.
I remember reading his posts when I first came to to UER.
He was still posting regularly here.
It deeply saddens me when we lose good people like Dan especially in an untimely manner.
My condolences to his friends here.
Requiescat in pace, Dan
[last edit 12/3/2017 5:20 PM by blackhawk - edited 1 times]
Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
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Dan was a great honest explorer, Dan didn't judge anyone or anything. I'm deeply saddened to hear of his passing, I last hung out with him a few years ago just after he moved to the island. we were most recently taking about getting together as it had been a few years and he had much to show of the island.
Dan, you will be greatly missed... You were one of a few true urban explorers
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real shame for his loss.
RIP and godspeed.
may he sail the waters on the eternal ocean
Create don`t destroy.
http://www.flickr....tos/104842213@N04/ | |
RIP Toad gone but not forgotten. TL au/mc
Rest in peace dear friend.
Memorial event listing.
https://www.uer.ca...nt.asp?eventid=832
Edit: Removed broken image links ~Wang
[last edit 12/18/2017 12:32 AM by Emperor Wang - edited 3 times]
god created the au/mc to test the faithful.
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Goddamn. I'm late to the party here, took a while to think of what to say. I never met him in person, but interacted off and on here over the years as you do. Shit sucks, it's shitty when one of us dies and it's shitty to lose someone who clearly loved the history of BC as much as he did.
RIP.
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Memorial event for Dan. We went down to one of his favorite train hopping spots.
Hypnotoad/Steampunk; Daniel Borthwick
[last edit 12/17/2017 9:31 PM by PorkRenegade - edited 2 times]
god created the au/mc to test the faithful.
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I only met Dan twice, I think. Even though we both live on Vancouver Island, we never made any concrete plans to meet up. From what I remember, he was everything people here have said- friendly, knowledgeable, and always up for an outdoor adventure. My sincere hope is that he died doing something that he loved- being out on the water. My condolences to those who feel this loss.
reduxzero - DrainsofmyCity | |
I am putting together some framed prints for Dan's mom. I am also compiling a collection off the various websites of the good stories and expressions of condolences people are writing. I will put these into a word document and print them to give to her. So if you would like to add a story or even a few nice words please do, I'm sure she would appreciate it.
god created the au/mc to test the faithful.
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Very sorry to read this.
Condolences to his friends and family.
Godspeed Toad.
R.I.P. NickSan | R.I.P. Don Corleyone | |
Just seeing this now...I am very sorry for your loss...my condolences
"if you are not selfish enough to make yourself happy, you have nothing of value to offer the world." | |
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I am an amateur radio operator and knew Dan by talking to him locally. He was very well versed in knowing stuff about railroads. He was always telling me to go out and explore stuff and see stuff about our local history. I might start doing it in his memory but have never done it eagerly or interestingly before. Sad to hear about his passing. Here is a photo of Dan at my late friend's house holding up his BC Rail T-shirt and Dan in the black shirt at a coffee get together.1.
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RIP my friend.......
[last edit 1/16/2018 6:43 AM by Dirty_Harry - edited 1 times]
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