new album TURNAROUND

Take a two hour journey back to 1933 in this cinematic recreation of 19-year-old Ruthven McNairn's remarkable four-month adventure across America during the Great Depression. 

Using authentic archival footage from the era, the film follows Ruthven's travels from Hamilton, Ontario through Chicago to Denver (Red Rocks before the amphitheater existed), Colorado Springs (Garden of the Gods, Manitou), Route 66's dusty roads, post-earthquake Los Angeles, and back—full of fascinating characters, historic sites, and youthful wanderlust. 

The story flows like a John Steinbeck novel, offering a rare glimpse into 1930s America with period-accurate visuals of the places Ruthven described in his diary. 

The original diary is available in multiple formats: - eBook, paperback, and hardcover editions with detailed footnotes and introduction adding historical context - Audiobook narration for an immersive listening experience. 

This unique 1 ½ hour documentary captures early Algonquin history: wildlife sightings, thunderstorms, lost boys, and forgotten places. Perfect for canoeists, historians, and Ontario explorers seeking vintage wilderness stories.

Full of first hand accounts of what is now Algonquin Park history, the film includes descriptions of people and places such as the bustling Highland Inn on Cache Lake (since demolished), the mysterious Camp Minnising, Taylor Statten camps Wapameo and Ahmek, the "American outfit" Camp Pathfinder, Bartlett Lodge (still open), Kish Kaduk Lodge (now in ruins), Camp Tanamakoon, Daventry. Joe Lake Station, the pavilion at Lake Opeongo, and the many portages we are now so familiar with, when some of them were "new". 

The original diary is available in multiple formats: - eBook, paperback, and hardcover editions with detailed footnotes and introduction adding historical context.

Excerpt from "Ruthven Goes to Colorado and California 1933" (36 min) —a rare first-hand look at Denver in 1933 through 19-year-old Ruthven McNairn's diary, recreated with authentic archival footage. 

Denver locals: see your city nearly 100 years ago—newly completed City and County Building, Golden Dome shining, City Park/Zoo, Cheeseman Park, Inspiration Point, Lookout Mountain, Mount Morrison, Red Rocks (pre-amphitheater), Tabor Opera House, Elitch's Gardens, Boulder Barker Dam, Moffat Tunnel insights, Berthoud Pass Parry Peak climb, Buffalo Bill's Grave, Hole in the Wall restaurant, and Rachmaninoff concert—all during the Great Depression.

Excerpt from "Ruthven Goes to Colorado and California 1933" (32 min)—a rare first-hand look at Colorado Springs in 1933 through the eyes of 19-year-old Ruthven McNairn. 

Using authentic archival footage from the era, this 30-minute film recreates Ruthven's diary entries as he explores "The Springs" and its surrounding wonders—Garden of the Gods, Cave of the Winds, Manitou, Seven Falls, Cheyenne Mountain, Williams Canyon, Helen Hunt Jackson's grave, and Native American culture including the Snake Dance story—nearly 100 years ago. From a Canadian teen's fresh perspective, see familiar landmarks in their 1930s glory: Red Rocks before the amphitheater, downtown streets, and Pikes Peak views during the Great Depression. 

A nostalgic window into Colorado Springs history for locals and history lovers alike.

Hitchhiking Route 66 in 1933: Eyewitness Diary from Colorado to LA (Dust Bowl Era) 30-Minute Excerpt from "Ruthven Goes to Colorado and California 1933" Step into 1933 America through the eyes of 19-year-old Ruthven McNairn—a bold Ontario adventurer hitchhiking from Colorado Springs to Los Angeles amid the Great Depression's grit. This raw diary excerpt captures his wild encounters: 

• Warm welcomes from "hospitable Mexicans" in dusty border towns • Eye-opening chats with Navajo "Indians" through Gallup and Albuquerque 

• A deep dive into Santa Fe's adobe mystique and hidden plazas 

• Eccentric characters and stark observations along the newly paved (and still gravelly) Mother Road—Route 66, just 7 years old. 

Recreated with stunning 1930s archival footage + modern recreations of the hobo life, it's like a real-time Steinbeck novel unfolding. Ruthven's words paint the desperation, kindness, and untamed beauty of Dust Bowl wanderers pushing west.

Step into the dusty streets of 1933 Santa Fe through the eyes of a 19-year-old Canadian hitchhiker—my great-uncle Ruthven Colquhoun McNairn—in this gripping 5-minute excerpt from "Ruthven Goes to Colorado and California 1933." 

Broke, waiting for mail that never arrives, and forced to telegraph home for $15 during the depths of the Great Depression, Ruthven arrives in Santa Fe after a ride with a cattle trader. He marvels at the "funny little town" hidden in a cup of plains and hills: narrow, twisting streets barely wide enough for two cars, ancient adobe shacks and stores, Mexican children playing in plazas, red foothills of the Sangre de Cristo dotted with Pinion pines and dry grass, and a vibrant mix of Mexican, Roman Catholic, and "American" life. 

Narrated straight from Ruthven's raw diary entries (April 26–27, 1933), with archival footage bringing the era to life: endless post office waits, winding adobe mazes, and a chance ride with a Spaniard and a full-blooded Indian in traditional attire. This is raw, personal Great Depression history meets timeless Santa Fe magic—perfect for fans of Depression-era stories, Santa Fe New Mexico history, adobe architecture, 1930s Southwest travel, hitchhiking adventures, and vintage New Mexico culture.

In this 17 min. excerpt from "Ruthven Goes to Colorado and California 1933", 19-year-old Ruthven McNairn arrived in LA after hitchhiking Route 66 through Arizona and New Mexico – broke, wide-eyed, ready to see the famous Los Angeles, California. What he finds is a "dirty white city": 

• Long Beach in ruins – just months after the devastating 6.4 earthquake 

• Homeless camps in Pershing Square 

• A bizarre "divine healing" night at Angelus Temple with Aimee Semple McPherson (he wasn’t impressed) 

• Surviving on donuts, oranges, and borrowed cash from his "high class bum" friend 

Amid the noise and haste, he finds moments of beauty, like "a pearl among swine." Recreated with rare 1930s archival footage + Ruthven's unfiltered diary entries, this is the Los Angeles tourists never saw – raw, real, and unforgettable.

Relive a thrilling 1933 mountaineering adventure from my great-uncle Ruthven Colquhoun McNairn's diary in this excerpt from the full documentary "Ruthven Goes to Colorado and California 1933." (7 min.)

On Friday, July 26, 1933, 19-year-old Ruthven teams up with stranger Charles Hendy for a spontaneous climb from the top of Berthoud Pass (11,000 ft) up the ridge to Parry Peak (13,397 ft) on the Continental Divide. Facing steep snow crusts, cornices, high altitude, and breathtaking views stretching to Wyoming and the Colorado plains, they conquer the peak in true old-school style—complete with snow burn aftermath! 

Narrated directly from the diary entries (July 24–27), with archival footage recreating the journey. Perfect for mountaineering history fans, Continental Divide Trail (CDT) hikers (this route overlaps the popular Berthoud Pass ridgeline traverse via Mt. Flora & Eva), Denver/Front Range adventurers, and anyone inspired by early 20th-century exploration.

Journey back to summer 1933 in Algonquin Provincial Park with this evocative 12 min. excerpt from the full film "One Month in Algonquin Park by Canoe: Ruthven's 1933 Diary." Narrated from my Great Uncle Ruthven Colquhoun McNairn's original handwritten diary, this segment covers July 31-August 1: paddling from Tea Lake through blooming water lilies to Tanamakoon, a generous campsite encounter, and multiple visits to historic Cache Lake—park headquarters featuring the iconic Highland Inn (now vanished), post office, and ranger station. 

Highlights include indulging in rare treats like ice cream and chocolate bars, securing a new travel permit, and hearing the true dramatic story of 16-year-old David Fensom's rescue after getting lost in dense bush near Bonnechere—directly from legendary Algonquin ranger Mark Robinson himself (whose own famous diaries have been published). 

Experience Depression-era park life: steep portages, rainy camps, reflections on home, and the bustling yet remote Cache Lake complex that welcomed trains and tourists nearly a century ago. Perfect for Algonquin history lovers, canoe enthusiasts, and fans of vintage Canadian wilderness tales.

Discover the sacred Hopi Snake Dance through the wide-eyed wonder of 19-year-old Ruthven Colquhoun McNairn in 1933. (6 min)

During the heart of the Great Depression, this young Canadian adventurer hitchhiked across America and found himself captivated by the Hopi people. In this rare excerpt from his handwritten diary—brought to life with authentic 1930s footage—he shares the mesmerizing Snake Dance ceremony and the intricate sand paintings created by Hopi elders. Fascinating!

Step back to summer 1933 in Algonquin Provincial Park with this captivating 8 min. excerpt from the full film "One Month in Algonquin Park by Canoe: Ruthven's 1933 Diary." 

Narrated directly from my Great Uncle Ruthven Colquhoun McNairn's original handwritten diary, this segment covers July 19-20: waking to a misty morning on Cache Lake, portaging to the winding Madawaska River, cheeky Canada Jays stealing breakfast, thrilling first deer sightings (including graceful white-tailed does and bucks), rainy camps on Lake of Two Rivers, leaky canoe repairs at Rock Lake, and vivid wildlife encounters like a sparrow hawk's dramatic hunt. 

Experience the raw adventure of Depression-era canoe tripping—portages, shallow rivers, oxbow bends, and Ontario wilderness nearly 100 years ago. Highlights include historic routes still paddled today, interactions with other trippers from Northway Lodge, and Ruthven's keen observations of flora, fauna, and the untamed beauty of Algonquin. This is authentic historical backcountry storytelling at its best—ideal for Algonquin enthusiasts, canoe trippers, history buffs, and anyone fascinated by vintage Canadian wilderness adventures.

Discover a lost Great Depression story from Ruthven's 1933 diary: In Pueblo Colorado, 19-year-old Ruthven McNairn meets hungry vagabond poet John Maupin (pen name Stanley Watson) at the YMCA. Ruthven buys him breakfast, and Maupin shares his life—self-educated in philosophy, math, relativity, and Christianity, despite limited schooling. This short (3 min) excerpt from "Ruthven Goes to Colorado and California 1933" is the only known record of this intriguing American wanderer. 

Who was John Maupin of Tennessee? Help uncover his story—comment if you know anything about him or Stanley Watson!