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Rebecca: Welcome back to the Stonetable Podcast. I'm your host, Rebecca Innes. Today we're taking a different slant on things. We are on my back deck. We have been stone lifting for about three days, and the New England stone lifting folks are up with us, experiencing the Canadian context of stone lifting. And what we'll be talking about today is kind of the experience that they've had so far, what's next, what we're gonna make of this, and kind of talk a little bit about. how you can bring stone lifting to your own communities. So what we're gonna do is we're going to introduce the folks that have been joining us up here in Canada the last three days. We've traveled hundreds of miles and we'll start with the key guide to the crew to my left. I am Jarrett. I am New England stone lifting on Instagram. I am also a avasteymatey I like it here. I'm Victor. Victor Gravis on Instagram. I'm from Maine and been lifting with New England Stonelifting for two, three years now. Something like that. Yeah. I'm Mark Jones. Mark Jones Strongman on Instagram. I've been with the crew for about two years now. Two years now. I'm from Massachusetts. and I'm just here with my buddies having a good time in Canada. Well you're my favorite person of the crew so that's good to me. You can't beat me all the time, bitch. I don't know, I wanna introduce myself now. I'm Seth. Woodman Stones on Instagram. I've been with the crew of with Marky I think for about two years. got to go on our last tour through New England. And again, just here ripping it with our my buddies and just having the time of my life. Like it's been it's been fantastic. Awesome. Thanks. And over to you. Yeah. Dad. my name's Ted, Rocket Man3746 on Instagram. Had the same handle since America Online. A long time ago. before Victor was born. Yes. Yeah, probably. I've been stonelifting for a couple years. I don't even know when I started. But I've known jrt since 2019. I'm primarily a Highlands game Highland Games athlete, so I met him in 2019 when we threw together. And yeah, that's it. Awesome. Thanks Ted. I'm Cam, I'm Cam.r dot G3372 on Instagram. I've been lifting stones mostly on my own for like six, seven years now, and I actually only live like twenty minutes away from Bex and we met through the podcast. Yeah. So you're now an honorary member of New England Stonelifting Yes. You need stickers. definitely want a t shirt. Maybe pileofdirt.com There we go. Throw that in there. Gotta get those plugs. I am Bryan Clifford, Big Red Doc One on Instagram. I have been lifting about two and a half years lifting stones and almost all of that time with the New England stone lifting crew. I thought I was Bex's favorite member. I'm kinda heartbroken. but yeah, I kinda this I this tour that we're on now was kind of a idea that Bex and I came up with when she invited me to one of her kitchen parties but it was back in February and I figured driving to Ontario was not gonna be fun in the winter time. So started just brainstorming and saying like, wait, we can make a road trip And take all these other spots along the way to meet folks in Canada and then on our way back home through New York and invite the whole crew. And it just has kind of grown from there, and I'm super excited that we're actually finally doing it and having a a blast. So yeah, that's how it started. You and I were chatting. I've known you the longest of the whole group, because you and I s you and I met first when we were down at Well actually Fort Fort 4. You met Every person here except for Seth at Fort Four. But we chatted on on Instagram. You guys got a way before that. You had the IHGF Canada Stones of Strength. Yes. page. And I think you put up a story where you were asked like, if anybody knows of any stone lifting contests, please let me know. And I was always on the lookout for stone lifting contests, so I send you a bunch of info and you said, Yeah, thank you very much, you've been very helpful and then we just kinda kept in touch after that and then yeah, I think when I learned about Fort 4 sent you that and was like, this is also one and you were like, my god, I'm gonna come to that. And And we lifted the Lundstrom there. Yes, the Lundstrom stones, yeah. Yeah, very cool. And and you both lifted them as well at that time. Yes. So before we get into the planning of this trip, because it was absolutely an eye-opening experience for me being on this type of trip compared to or tour compared to other ones I've been on. It's a lot of work. But how did you guys get into stone lifting? Victor, let's start with you. Sure. so I think I think I started where everybody starts with the Rogue documentaries and and just there was some stones in the backyard, started lifting those. I I my I think my first stone lifting like memory, if you will, was during COVID, I was lifting stones in the front yard 'cause all the gyms were closed and everything. And I was lifting a stone and somebody was walking by walking their dog in the street or whatever. And they were they stopped and watched, they started like clapping and I was like it's like, whoa, like you know. so that was yeah, like twenty nineteen, twenty twenty. I was lifting stones, but I think really getting started with everybody getting kind of involved more with groups and New England stone lifting was Fort 4 and and that was I woke up one morning, I saw on Instagram that there was a stone lifting competition. I said, This sounds really cool and just signed up for it. I didn't I didn't know any of the guys at the time, I'd I'd never seen anybody and just showed up and it was such a welcoming and and and I did terribly but it was yeah I met everybody. Victor, if I remember correctly, you did come in in the top ten. Was there ten you were in the top ten? Well and I remember actually as we're sitting here because you dislocated your shoulder, walked away, and that one got docked it up now. Yes, yes. And we were like, where the hell is he? And basically you were going to be disqualified for the Yeah I had a run back. Yeah. Yeah. That was so that was my first encounter with you. but how did you get in involved with stone lifting Mine's like probably like the most poetical I guess. yeah. Of course you and I are like this. Alright, so I'm only gonna say first names out of respect of the man because he's not he doesn't like his name being out there but my old boss is a local legend in New England of stone lifting and like a Highland Games champion from the early 90s and I used to work for him doing doing burial vaults and he ended up selling his company and selling me his house and he had left a bunch of his training stones there. I mean he these stones have been lifted for like 30 years. You know Bill Crawford lifts some of these stones. Yes. So I was doing strongman and I had an event coming up and I found the stone which is a trone stone that he used to train for Husafell One of those stones. So I pulled that out of there and he's like, go take it for a walk, right? So because I had a shield carry coming up in one of Eric Dawson's shows. So I'm like, I can't even budge this thing off the ground, right? I was like, take it for a walk. So I trained on like a little smaller stone that was there, I don't even know how much it weighed. and then like that was it, you know. And then the competition at the Fort came up and he was harassing me, like the text messages. He's like there's only ten slots, Jonesy, get in there. Right? Like he's like, alright, so I signed up and did the competition, but like I wasn't set in stone yet, you know what mean? And then Bryan had to reach out to me to come on the stone tour. And now I'm just like I don't even gym train. I'm just lifting stones. Like a whole backyard. yeah, I have a lot of stones. I have the hardest spot in New England. Like I don't think it's questionable. Like if you want to test your strength and you come to New England, reach out to me on Instagram. Absolutely. Because there's some big boys there. And how many, like do you have ringstones there too? Yeah, so I have a pair of ring stones that I made to tr I trained with for the Lundstrom stones. Yeah. And so the advantage of my stones is the the handles, the rings are very sharp. They're like very thin. I mean Like pencil thin. So like training on those, when I pick up the lunch from stones, I don't feel anything. You know what I mean? Like there's no pain in my thumbs. It's just the challenge of that spin from the chain on, you know. And Seth. Yes. Well, how did you get into stone lifting? So I was into strong man for a while. but I found the competition aspect to be just not something I enjoyed. Yeah. but I loved the strength aspect. I loved challenging myself. I loved like the the effort That turns into growth that you can kind of see without somebody being like, I'm three points behind ya. And I'm just that's the worst. and so I was watching and it was just like mindlessly scrolling mindlessly scrolling Instagram and I think I saw one of John's videos and I was like, Jesus, that looks like fun. Shout out Peaky Boulders. Traveler Stones repeat. Yep, Traveler Stones. repeat and seeing them tomorrow. Yeah. and then caught Jrt's one of Jrt's tryits and just fell in love. was like this is like the dopest thing you can do. The energy's great, camaraderie's great, and then it just kind of flew from there 'cause psychopath less than a month later flew to Ireland. I did. Heaviest stones around. Yeah. I wanna go back. I wanna I wanna go back bad 'cause I have I have unfinished business there. I see. muscles that I can fuck I can finish that business. and it's primarily because I'm with These guys who without competing like allow me to challenge with well friendly competition allow me to both flourish and grow and challenge myself in a way that it was unattainable in like strongman competitions. It's not even not even similar, like because these guys actually care. Like they don't like every single one of them just wants you to hit a lift. as you can see how romantical my buddy. The sweet market. Just crying on my shoulder. I will. Don't threaten me with a good time on it. And so, yeah, I just it from there it's just been non-stop. got to go on Jared's first or the first New England real tour. and couldn't be happier to be back for the second. You're a hell of a lot stronger in just a year. Yeah, it's yeah, you know, I don't think it's a strength thing. I think it's a confidence thing. I think it's more confidence. And strength because Seth's a very strong guy. But he'd never commit to the lift. Like he was never committed. Come in, baby. Once he started commit- I'm like the lifts you had today were fucking commitment. Yes. There was it was a good Islander big boy. Ted's Ted's given RP on every lift this tool. Like 240 or 310. He's given it 100% RP. It's like crazy. That's crazy. I don't know how we're all together still. It's like we got three more days of this. I've watched Ted almost pass it like Ted Top The heaviest stone for tomorrow. We can't lose dads. We can't lose dads. We need to have dad. He's the D D. But speaking of dad, Dad and I started off kind of on the stone journey in the same way. We're both in Highland Games. We throw. is that how you started and there was like stones out of games or It was probably just through Jarrett because I think 'cause you 'cause yeah, 'cause you threw two Jarrett. 'Cause we met at Robert Sims you should come down sometime. It's far, but Robert Sims, he's like one of our Like the most special people I think in our community. we're actually doing we're actually doing a try it with him in September at at Old Home Day? At Old Home Day. nice. Yeah. Yeah. So we met in 2019. I met you and Steve both. and then I think I think initially the Fort #4 like when I heard it was happening I wanted to throw there, but it was like an invite pro kind of pros, yeah. so then I was like, just stone lifting sounds fun because I've always enjoyed that kind of stuff. Like just that primal picking up heavy weird stuff. Like it's always been fun. so I but that was probably the first like real serious stone lifting. And then All downhill from there. from there, baby. Sorry. No, no problem. Cam, so you're part of the Ontario Picks Up Rocks group. When did you start stone lifting? You said six years ago. How did that all come about? so That's what it but when I watched Stone Land for the first time. Right. Before that, I must have been ten plus years ago now, I was landscaping and we were like moving these stones over to a customer's garden with like these slings, right? And my boss is like, I bet you could pick that up. So I did. And then, that that was cool. I think I maybe did like a couple. on like a camping trip that summer and then I didn't really lift stones until I watched Stone Land. Like, damn, this is frickin' cool. And then you went to Scotland after that. Then yeah, I went to Scotland with my girlfriend at the time, like a couple of years ago and yeah, I definitely have unfinished business there. For sure. And we all have unfinished business. A cool cool moment from that trip was yeah, the girl I was seeing at the time, like she I don't think she had ever even done a deadlift before. Worked a physical job, but she picked up the I think it's a it was a hundred and sixty pound stone at the the sherrifmuir yeah. And like it was pretty cr awesome. Like we ran into locals there and shoulder the 265 like three times. Then later that same day we went to Braemar and I tried to do the Inver stone, but I was just Done. Yeah. I don't think my arms have ever been that sore. So you're gonna go back. I I need to go back. And you've done the brainware too, right? Bryan? No. No, I've not been to Scotland. I I've I've only been to Iceland. We're planning next to you. We'll hopefully open. Hopefully spring or summer of 2027. Awesome. Me and Mark are in the beginning stages. Everybody here is absolutely welcome to come with us. yeah, so me getting into stone lifting, It's kinda so Cam and a lot of other people I'm sure can say they got into stone lifting because of Bill Crawford and Martin Janscics kinda indirectly through Stone Land and then through their their book that they wrote, but I kinda got involved in it a little bit more directly, because of those two gentlemen. I'd always watched Strongman from like literally I remember being like a eight-year-old kid watching on my kitchen TV screaming for Magnus for Magnuson and So I was aware of like the Housafel stone and the Dinnie stones, just like it was in my head. I don't remember when I even learned. I just always knew about it. And then same thing, and like I I as I got older, I got into strength. And then when I was like 29, I realized like, you could compete in strongman, but not at the world's strongest man. They have it like local competitions where it's toned down. So I started training and competing in that. And then I saw the rogue documentaries, the Stoneland, Levantadories, and Full Circler. And it still was like, that's really cool, but I never tried it. When I moved to Massachusetts, I realized that there was a ton of Highland Games in the New England area. So I started trying to compete in Highland Games. And the second thing that the first show I ever did was one of Robert's shows that Ted mentioned. Yep, and that's when I I I met Ted. And then the second one I ever did was at in New Hampshire and it was just it was advertised as like it's a clinic where you learn how to do Highland games in the morning and then you have lunch and then the afternoon you have a mini Like five event games. And I didn't even know that Bill Crawford was gonna be there teaching until I showed up and was like, it's Bill Crawford, that's crazy. but yeah, I had a good time. I had some really good conversations with him that day, and I yeah, had some I don't know, not great throws, I'm not great at highland games, but Shortly after that, the organization that threw it emailed me and was like, Hey, we're we host an event at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire. we do these tried events where people learn how to do different strength-related or Scotland Celtic kind of events. can you host Figgle stick, what do they call it? Swiggle stick or moss wrestling? Moss wrestling, right? Yeah, I did that. But and they were like, Yeah, kid do you do you want to host this? And I wrote back and I was like, Hey, I have never done that before, I have no idea how to do it. And they were like, Well, because of the thing you did with Dr. Bill, we know that you have some bank throughout background in strength sports, so you want to do it? And then out of respect for Dr. Bill, I said, Okay, I'll do it. when I went there, I realized on the same day Martin Janscics was there teaching a stone lifting clinic. he was doing a stone lifting trid event. So I made sure that I signed up for that in between the moss wrestling things that I was doing. went over there, Jarrett was helping him out, so I met Jarrett that day. And yeah, it was my first time I ever lifted stones. And it just yeah, it felt like it felt natural. it felt different than any other sort of strength endeavor that I had done and it was it was almost like a puzzle where I couldn't figure out a stone right away so I had to move it and adjust it and then I really liked trying to solve that puzzle. And I was just kinda hooked. And within a week or two I I was in touch with Jrt and I saw that he had recently posted that he was setting up stones in Riverside, Rhode Island near him. I was like, Hey man, I really want to lift those stones and he was nice enough to say, Dude, I'll meet you and we can lift together and I went down had a blast and then yeah, from there it just went into like hanging out with Jrt and then doing Fort #4 meeting almost all of you folks here and then it's just kinda spiraled. Now it's where like almost at least once a month we're getting together and we're having a great time lifting stones. And yeah it's been a blast. Jarrett, I know that you've you are kind of like the I don't know what you would call yourself, but kind of like the originator of the New England folks. how how did you start into stone lifting? Is it through Highland Games as well? kind of tangentially actually. Okay. so I wanted to do Highland Games before I turned forty. And where I was in New England at the time, there weren't a lot of games that were like letting ams go in. Yeah. so I started looking for other things that were Highland Games adjacent. Yeah. And I stumbled upon stone lifting. I ended up with Dr. Bill's book, Dr. Bill and Martin's book. and I was like, Scotland. I'm Scottish. Let's do that. Let's go to Scotland for my 40th birthday. And I wanted to lift the Inverstone. So Steve and I started training in like 20 end of 2017, beginning of 2018. And I trained up until 2019 when I turned 40. My wife Emily and I flew over to Scotland. And on my 40th birthday, I walked up to June Richards' house and knocked on the door with my heart beating out of my chest. And got to lift the Inverstone, got to put my name the book, got to meet June and have cookies and chocolates with her. She had just celebrated her birthday not too long ago too, so she was like, what's your birthday? Yeah. And then from there, I just kind of like came back and kind of fell in love with it. We started New England stone lifting. Steve and I started New England stone lifting in I think 21, I want to say. Probably twenty twenty one. Yeah. So and it's grown to this and it's fucking awesome. It is fucking awesome because I was saying to I think it was Seth and Bryan today while we were walking back from Highlander Big Boy, that it I've been on stone tours and this is a completely different vibe than any stone tour I've been on. And Mark, I wanna kinda touch on something that you were speaking about, about the confidence piece and Jrt and I were just having a conversation before we went on the podcast here. I said, kind of one of the biggest things for me about being on this tour with with you all is that I haven't really lifted a stone, but yet I feel completely part of the group and If even if I did li lift a stone, I feel like, and for injury, I'm not I'm not lifting, but I feel like you you guys would have my back and you'd be 100% supportive. And even if it was an 80-pound stone or a 260-pound stone, it wouldn't matter. And I think that's kind of what the unique part is about this stone tour that I've seen is that camaraderie, that the confidence that you guys instill in each other. Like, can you talk about that a bit more, Mark? Because I think it you really hit the nail on the head. And I it's I'm not saying and Seth is like, my god, she's like in love with Shut up, Seth. I didn't say that. Shut up. I was smiling because I had joked. I am a very, very firm believer of strength builds strength. Yeah. If you do not hang out with strong people, you will not get strong. Right. And you need to bond with these people. And that's just kind of what happens. I mean, when we were at the waterfall and everyone was leaving. Yeah. And Bryan still hasn't lifted the stone. I fucking looked at him and I was like, I'm not leaving here until you lift this stone. And everyone's like, We're leaving. And I was like, We're not leaving. I was like, you're gonna lift this stone. I love you, Mark. And it happened. You know what I mean? Seth, can you talk about the what they're talking about here just to give the the viewers some context? Because it was our first stone. By the way, Pawel We love you. One, two, three, five. so first and foremost, what's Pawel's Instagram handle? of sand and stone, one of most impressive stone lifters, incredible human being, a wonderful family, can't say enough thing, nice kind things about him as a human being. except for what he did to us on our first day of that tour. he sent the stone called Gwen and it's just a hike. It's a hike in and one thing about stone lifting, anybody can do it. Stone lifting's for everybody, that's what Jrt's always said. but it tends to draw strength athletes, and we're not marathon runners. we're not even you know Marathon walkers. Climbers, traviners, rock climbers. That was a travine we had to go down. so after a mile hike and most of us just like hands on knees. I think it was more than a mile. it was like serious hike. Yes, It was hot as hell too. It was hot. And it was hot. And as a ginger, I could say it was hot. Even for non-gingers, it was hot. and so we got down, and there's this. We're all looking for the stone. We have no idea where it is because none of us decided that we need to take a picture off of Instagram, or we don't really think that through. So we start climbing down the side of these ruins and we climb up over and we find a stone that we're like, okay, this looks similar to what we remember the stone being. I don't know if Pawel wanted us to die that day, but It's sure Steve and I did. Sure. It was sh it sure felt like he hated us. first lift that platform sank like four inches. Yeah, it was crazy. And it was up and it could and let me just be clear here. Like the location was simply one of the most beautiful locations I have seen a stone at It was great. and to Pawel's credit, he did it when it was drier. we went and somebody decided to cover the stone in algae. I don't know, like if the dude who handled like the reflecting pool handled the stone, but like so we we get a hold of this like wicked slimy stone and none of us can move it. Terrible too. It was a very manageable stone. A very manageable one. And then it got covered in mud when we had to move it. Ted, Ted Dad hit the first lift and super successful lift. First lift of the tour, it was awesome. first lift through the tour was incredibly impressive. And again, this was what's that? I said my ankle survived. Ankle survived. Wow. That was the most awkward lifting position. Did you finally see it in the video? It was great that you're and we we were fr I mean we had been in the car for seven hours at this juncture. Like we were frustrated. We had tried the stone, Ted had gone, Jrt had had we had moved the stone is what ended up happening after Ted lifted it, the platform shifts, and we're just like, we gotta get the stone out of there. I have to add you and Bryan were a lot fresher than me because you left the fucking AC off in the back seat the entire ride and I was dying. After about the four fan button, it gets a little cold, so we turned it down. Mark never said anything. I'm like, I thought it just sucks. I was like, brand new cars AC is terrible. Yeah, and Bryan and I are just comfortable. We're just like turning the AC off at point. We're just like, Bryan, are you cold? And he's like, Yeah, man, I just don't know. And Mark must have been nodding off or on Instagram or something, thinking about playing Elden Ring on my playing Elden Ring. Yeah. so we shift the stone. Jarrett comes over in one motion. Because that's his thing. As he does. as Jrt does. and then so everybody sort of like floated away, and then there's Mark. Mark's like, We're not fucking leaving until we lift the stone. He's like, There's no way we're leaving. And then this point in time, Bryan's taking his shirt off, his other shirt's on, he's got his he's got his undershirt, it's covered in mud. He's trying to Turn it up too clean. It was short. Stop it. He wanted to be shirtless for Mark and I. That's Bryan 100% in front of you all the time. Whenever he gets a chance. And so Mark's just given it to us too. And and I think Mark, did you get the you got the first lift of the three of us? Mark found the handles that I think we both all f we all agree. Felt them got a great lift on the stone. Yes. And then basically tells Bryan, Bryan, you're not leaving until I feel bad because Victor's like, I'm out of here. Like, I'm not gonna do I went and jumped in the water. Waterfall. Mark knows me well enough at this point to know that I wasn't going to leave until I had it done. Yeah. and Mark, yeah, being a great friend and great stone lifter that he is, he knew exactly what I needed. He set the stone up for me. He cleaned the hand holds off with that t-shirt, the undershirt that I've taken off. He chalked it up. Seductive. He he gave me chalk to do while I was in the perfect position for it. And I literally would not have gotten it if Mark. Mark didn't hold my hand through. It was a clean lift. We both of you. Yeah, we got it, and once it finally went up, it it flew up. It was very manageable. It just was so slimy. Yeah. And then thank you, Mark. After Mark did it for him, he did it for me. Yes. and that's like this is what Mark is saying, and I don't think I it's funny because there's a correlation thing. and in this one I will argue that correlation is causation because when I started lifting more with Mark, I got a lot better at Listone lifting. and you know. I'm just making you better. Mark has sharpened mo has helped sharpen my game pretty considerably. And as everybody at this table has. Ted, you know, has forced me into lifting every stone because he's my muse. Bryan. Bryan's dad lifts the stone. I don't want to let dad down. Jar was the cause of all this. Like I'm here and a lot of his coaching has been incredible. He's helped me help help me like PR yesterday. Bryan's been on my bumper for the last two years. Like you can do this, you can do this. You're just being soft. Like you're capable. You're capable. You're a strong, capable, independent man. Like you can do this. and Victor as well. Like everybody's on your bumper and it's just there's so much support here, it's stupid. Like you get done with a lift and you're like, Holy shit, everybody's so happy for me. There's a line of people to hug you. Yeah, like I don't you get done with you you get like eight hugs when you're done, you're something. Yeah, like I cannot e express So my role in this lift was sitting on the other side of the ravine or the the river. And so I'm watching you all like thinking that you're gonna die. Because like I am not even joking. There was one point I swear to God you had less than a foot like of space. Yeah. Yeah, actually it was you Ted. It was you Ted that I was really wrapped down like And I like caught myself on a branch of Bryan's like, and this is what I've witnessed the most during this entire trip and we're gonna talk about a bit more of how we got to the trip in the first place, like how you planned it. But was I loved witnessing all of the the coaching that you gave each other, the camaraderie. you let people tr and this is what I liked best, is you let people try to lift the stone first before you give them coaching. And I think that's really, really important. because I've been in other situations where That isn't the case. And and I think I think part of stone lifting is trying it out, figuring it out for yourself, and then getting that advice. And it's always been done like in a super yeah, it's a puzzle. Yeah, exactly. but definitely I have noticed this about in every single place that we've visited, that is how you all approach it. So originally Pawel's lift was not supposed to be on this this this trip. No. So let's talk about how the how how the trip is organized and kind of how monumental this this tour has been. Monumental. I think it's monumental. Because we're because it really is leading into the part about like what we're gonna do with it, right? Yeah. Yeah. So so let me let me start this off by saying that Here in North America, we don't have this kind of long-storied history of stone lifting that we know of. so the stones that we lift here are, you know, the even the ones that we consider semi-historic that have been lifted for the longest time are maybe 30, 40 years old. but I really like the idea of this modern stone lifting, and we don't have this history, but we're creating it. So I know a lot of people in this career have said once you have a stone and once it's being lifted by people, all that you need is time for it to become historic. So I'm I'm a really big fan of supporting modern stone lifting circuits and I really enjoy meeting the people that have the same passion that I do. so the last two years I have done just solo road trips by myself through New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania in some order. And I've visited other modern stone circuits that other people have set up. And some of the people that set them up have come out and met me and left it with me and they've been great people and it's been great experiences. But nowadays most of my stone lifting is done with the crew here and other people in New England stone lifting crew and it's I i i it's it's such a great experience. Some of whom we're gonna see tomorrow. Yes, yes, some of whom we're gonna see tomorrow for sure. Bex, I was supposed to do Bex's podcast back in December of twenty twenty five. I got violently ill the day the night before and leading up to the morning of. And so I said, I'm really sorry, I have to cancel. but we were just kind of in touch back and forth through then about potentially rescheduling stuff. And then she said, Hey, by the way, February 2026 I'm having the kitchen party where people come over, they lift stones, we eat food, you meet people. I said, Yeah, that's great. but I can't I don't think I'm gonna be able to make it in the winter. And I said, but I would love to do it as a road trip in the summer. And then I just started looking at potential routes where we could go to get to Bex. And I was like, wait a second. I know someone on Instagram that posts stones in this area. And I know someone else who posts stuff here. And then on the way back, we don't have to go the same way we came. We could wrap back down through and meet even more people that I know that live stones, some that I've met in the past, some that I haven't. And I was like. I really want to do this road trip and I really want my my friends to come with me. so I yeah, I just started reaching out to the those people along the route that knew that I knew were setting up stones or lifting stones. and I said, Hey, I'm interested around this time frame. Would you be cool to have us? And every single person I contacted was super great and was like, absolutely, please come, bring as many people as you want. We would love to have you and everyone was super welcoming. Unfortunately as time went on the person that I contacted about meeting on the first day kind of I guess stopped using Instagram or fell off of Instagram. So they yeah, they just didn't keep in touch. They weren't responding to messages, so we had to kind of pivot. And I saw that our friend Pawel had set up stones a bit north of where we had initially planned on staying when he was there on vacation last year, I believe. So I said, you know what? It's the first day, we don't have to do a million stones, we could drive a little bit further. only do one or two. yeah, so we we pivoted and we we changed our plans up And did one horrible stone. The stone was beautiful. It's just beautiful. The the conditions were not great. But yeah, no, it it wasn't a bad stone and it was a very cool location. And yeah, if anyone's in that area, I would recommend bringing a towel and watching your footing. And bringing a lot of chocolate And there's no satellite service there. Yeah, when I'm going to look for stones that other people have set I'll watch their Instagram videos and I'll screen capture it on my phone or take pictures on my phone. And so then when you're there with no service, you can look it up so you kind of s can see the basic area where it's at and what the song looks What was the I've plant I had a lot of other things going on in my life than with the store and I don't think of it. Do we have the name of the park? Yeah, I don't we hadn't think we'd mentioned the name of the park yet. O'Brien? Yeah. Gatineau And back Canada. Yeah. So that's your location if you're looking for visit for sure. Yeah, very cool spot. Historical. Really neat. But before we pivot and go over to talk about Jared's Jared's role in this trip besides having amazing lifts, which we'll talk about as well. But I think kind of like the big thing that I've noticed is that you all spend an inordinate amount like you're you don't know my experience in stone lifting Clearly, I don't know yours until I've gotten to experience it with you. And you spend an inordinate amount of time at each stone. Like I can't believe how long you are at each stone. You can't leave till someone gets it up. Don't leave till the stone gets Don't bring the children or grandmother's ories in the head. Some people at Glen who heard words they've never heard. People born before sixty-four probably should not be around. To to to be totally fair to Bryan, if he doesn't struggle on a stone lift Like it really screws it up for the rest of us. We know it's a real problem. It's actually that seems to be a thing that really happens. If Bryan gets a stone on his first attempt, everyone else seems to struggle with it. It's gonna be a long day. And then if everyone else is like getting it on their first attempt, then Bryan's struggling with the stone. But it's gonna be a long day. I certainly don't want to cut you off Bex but I think the inordinate amount of time is the attitude that we all approach a stone with. Yes. Right, like you're making a great connection. Yeah, this this yeah, and I I don't actually mean to come off that it's a bad thing. I think it's supposed to be a spiritual. See Yes, exactly. That's what that's what I get. Thanks. No, like I I think that s you're actually with the stone. It's not something to check off of I mean, yeah, you are trying to to do as much as At the end of today I was like just get over. Or like not doing the dedication. Show up, yes and What the hell are you saying? What the fuck? Itinerary man? Like So Victor, talk to us about like what I'm trying what I'm trying to get out here. so we've been doing we've been talking as as a group and everything, and one of the things that I think for any stone tour or any stone, there's a couple there's a couple things that make stone lifting special, right? One of them is the community. So when you go to a when you go to a stone with a group of people, it's it's it's not singular lifts, it's everybody comes. Coming together to lift the stone. Right? So maybe Bryan goes and lifts it first, or he puts hands on it, and and then we're all we're all learning it together, right? Right. So so we we kind of we now kind of know each other's strengths and everything, and so you know Mark like might lift it one way with these crazy handles, and then and then and then Ted comes in, he puts it you know a totally different way. and so we're all we're all all working together to figure out the stone, not just for ourselves, but for each other. Yeah. Right? And I think I think the what Seth was talking about with Mark, you know, helping Bryan and and himself lift the first stone and in and Mark's there, you know, he lifted it and then he was he was giving kind of tips and and just just being there to help chalk and and everything. So that's one aspect of it is is it's a community thing. We're not we're not saying okay now you go you you know you did your turn now I go you know it's not that. It should just be said like we're on a time scrunch and we're leaving right we're leaving. Like and that never ends up happening. Right. It never once actually happened. We always made it work. Yeah. And that's why Even when the bugs were there, which I thought that you were going to completely back out. No. I thought I was just starting rolling around. Spring yourself down. Yeah. I felt like I was on fire. There's so much deet I took two years off my life. but then I think the other thing that makes stone lifting special is the locations you're going to. So it's not just a stone that's at you know you know, you know, a random park. It's it's really like, especially if somebody's bringing you there, they have placed these stones there for a reason. You know, maybe this is their local park, or they're like talking about, you know, this is where their community meets, or or the stones you showed us today, you were telling us how you're setting up stones here, and you were so excited for us to lift them. And and so it's you know, you're it would be a disservice just to walk in, lift the stone and walk out. That's not what it's about. It's about going and sharing it together and and kind of taking in you know the environment. environment and and where you're at because anybody can go lift a stone in in a gym or in in their backyard but lifting it together in a special place I think is what really makes it makes it very simple. Yeah it's been a really, really cool experience for me. And I likely I've been driving by myself between all of this and it would be even better if you were But yeah, there's been a lot of time to reflect about things that I want to take from the New England kind of culture that that you clearly have and impart it here. But let's let's pivot to that and talk about kind of what we're what you're doing with all of the kind of content and things that we're and the lifts that we're we're doing here, Jarrett. Yeah, so what what I'm doing with that is I'm I'm making The second video, the second stone lifting video. Like we have our first ones, Greetings from New England. check it out on YouTube. Check it out on YouTube, or you can purchase a copy on a pile of dirt. Yes. it actually just got accepted to its fourth film fest. here and we found out it won an award in that one which is fucking cool. Yeah. And there's gonna be a premiere for that in August at some point. So did you not tell me this? Because I wanted to save it for the podcast. That was hot. That was hot. That was sick. But yeah, so I had just found out about that and so what we're doing with this one, this is the first multi-country stone international North America. I this is probably the first storm tour anyone's done Canada. Yeah. Like as far as a tour. Yeah. We can't say that it's not like this isn't this isn't a hundred percent thing. This is just a those Edmonton boys are doing things out there. Are they? Those Edmonton boys disregard. I mean that might just be one spot. Disregard. Yeah. Either or but so I'm filming everything on this tour and I'm cutting a second video and it is very much gonna focus on what we're talking Out here on the podcast, it's gonna focus on the communities that's that we're building. It's gonna focus on the beautiful, beautiful spaces. Like I'm changing the videography from like action sports kind of to like really beautiful in the in the scene shots. Yeah. So hopefully I do it justice. We'll find out in a little while. I have full confidence that they will put something great together. Yeah. The audio guy. Yeah. Dad no sounds audio. Dad no sounds. So you've got to witness over the last three days the Canadian very I mean, yes, the Edmonton guys are doing stuff out west. I've been out there. they're they're kind of like in a forest similar to what we what we did. They have kind of a gathering. I don't know what they've expanded to. I think they're expanding further into Alberta, but it kind of gets to what I wanted to chat about next is how we can kind of create how to create these communities and how to How to grow them. And so we're relatively young here in Ontario. What would be some key pieces of advice that you would have for our Ontario folks as they as we kind of expand? you've seen some of our stones way heavier in our particular trail that I thought than I thought they were. But actually, I do want to talk about that. That is, I think there's a practice that you guys do that I think everybody needs to do. And I now I never am prescriptive on this podcast, but I I firmly believe in this. Seth, can you talk about what I'm talking about with respect to weighing of the stones? Yes. New England stone lifting has two rules, three rules technically, I think we said. which I don't remember the third rule, so very much. you'll fill in my third rule. I know you will. number one is one, two, three. Stone lifting is for everybody. That's that's number one, it's very important. number two in this one is Incredibly important, I think, for all of us. We feel this strongly. But you pick it up before you weigh it. we will not weigh a stone if we have not lifted a stone. And then you we don't get to name it until we've lifted it. Yes. and those I think are And usually the first person to lift it names the stone. Yeah. so for us number two is obviously I think the attitude thing you were talking about and sort of this practice that we have, and I've never even thought about it like that, because like we just it's something we do. Yeah. Right? Like the and that's maybe the cultural piece for us is like there are within our sect like behaviors that we expect. Like we do expect you to be kind to everybody. We do expect you to be respectful to the stones. We do expect you to like no, you don't come over with a scale and try to weigh it if we haven't tried it yet. Like those and they're all facets as to why our why this tour is the way this tour is. But I think this is what I we don't don't want to know what that stone looks like. You don't you don't want to get in your own head and be like, We wanna get this stone's light, I should be able to do this or be like, this stone is too heavy, I'll never do it. Right. We want you to give Your honest best effort towards the stone regardless of what it weighs. Correct. And that is, yeah, kind of the Yeah. And how are we supposed to bust each other's chops about how wrong you were about stones? If we don't do the guesses. We always lift it and go, yeah, 240. Two forty. Two ten. Then when we weigh it we're like otherwise. That was good. It was good. And if you're not following war yoga war yoga on Instagram, Shout out Tom, we love you. R210 Shout out King One Shots, Pood Rancher love you. Yeah, Mikey. Shout out Granite State Stones, Mikey, we love you. Everyone else, Katie throws. Yeah. Keeper Kate. Keeper Kate. Keeper. Keeper Kate, sorry. Keeper Kate. We love you. Iron and Silver. Kristen, we love you. Everybody, everybody, we love you. There's too many to name at this point, I'm sorry. But we love Bryan. that's we've been growing exponentially two and a half years. Yeah. but I think that allows us to approach a stone with an attitude. Yes. and a w and like it's this weird sort of like It's the puzzle, right? It's this beautiful puzzle that you're approaching, but you don't know what the pieces are. Like you have no idea how big this puzzle's gonna be. You guess, like I think this is gonna be a three thousand pieces. that wants to cut you and remove most of your flesh. And then and it's one of those things that's very funny too because we you guys told us you were like, we haven't weighed this stone. We walk up to the stone today. It's a beautiful looking stone. Slipping. and I will tell you that stone's a fucking liar. because it was sharp as hell. It looked so smooth, and that stone lied to us. Because that thing took its pound of flesh. Yeah. You're talking about the clipper. The clipper. Second last one. Second last stone. I have been lifting a ton with Bryan and Mark. I've lifted and I respect I think they're building. Both incredibly talented. I think everybody knows how to Bryan put a 340 to his shoulder. 345. Bless, bless you. I'm a numbers guy, I'm sorry. Mark has done some of the most impressive lifts I've ever seen. He is nothing but smooth stones. Like, like you, if you come to New England, you reach out to Mark. Yes. Mark struggled to pick that stone off the ground. I was like, there's no way in in anything that I've watched that that stone is too below. 300 pounds. There's nothing I have seen from these two dudes. They call it, they said they estimated it was around 270. 270 pounds. Are we talking about 318? The clipper. The clipper. The clipper. They were 50 pounds off the stone. You win the fucking end of the story, Mark. 48 pounds off. Yeah. 48 pounds off the stone. Bryan's a numbers guy. Bryan's a numbers guy. But it's it's so funny because we've been lifting together for so long that that you actually like you pay closer attention. Right? You're more present in In the moment, like the entire time people are lifting, you're so present in it. And it's all if you want to get better, it's what what is required. Because like if I can focus on what these guys are doing, yeah. I'm sorry. I love you and I love what you're saying, but I don't want to discourage people that are lifting by themselves. Like being with a crew in supportive people is great, but you know what? The the stone lifting community at large on Instagram are also supportive and great and we can we can help and we can give you tips. And if you DM or or message anybody, we are everyone every single person I've interacted with, well almost every single person I've interacted in the Stone Lifting community has been great and we will answer your things. You don't necessarily need a group of six or eight people that are really good friends that are gonna help teach and do whatever. It helps tremendously. Right. It it it there there's really there's not a lot of things you can do that are gonna be better than that, but you don't need it. I'm sorry. But I'm I wasn't really saying that we need it, I was just trying to answer Bex's question, which was like, why do we have rule number two? Okay, I'm sorry. No no no. I'm not trying to start. To me, it has felt to take myself to where I am now. The growth that I have had since the last tour. In the very short. Which has been a lot fucking tremendous. So like that's what I said. That's all I'm saying. In in s since last March. that's all I'm s the reason why I feel like I am where I am is not because of it's not necessarily because of me, it's because of us. Right? Like, yes I have put in the work. Yes, I could have done this. Yes if I had that attitude. And I think there are people in the world who can do that, who can just slay at home, who will and who if if they put in the effort and they do the thing a hundred percent. I find I have become a significantly better stone lifter. I've built my confidence with the I'm iron sharpens iron. Like that's steel sharpens steel. People talking shit to you make sure. Busting balls helps. Busting balls helps. Like and and that's not to say if you reach out to any single one of us, we will answer you. We will anybody will a hundred percent. John, it will probably answer you. Like Dude, I've talked to so many people before I met him just from DMing them. Dave Man Caveman who has Shout out to Dave. So like Shout out, I bite it, Dale. Yeah, Dale too. Like the the any you can do it with anybody, but I think as far as why rule number two is really important, it it brings presence to the lift. It allows you to figure out the puzzle yourself. It is part of the reason why we stay at stone so long. Yeah. because we're just like, well, why would we ever give up on the stone? We don't know what it weighs. and so I I just think that like Bryan is correct, if if you are a self-starter, you can get out there and kill it. but I think as far as culture is concerned, rule number two has allowed, at least this is how I view it, the presence of lifting, being cooperative, doing those things, sort of the collective aspect that that Jrt sort of hammers upon. You know, I think it helps a lot. or has helped my growth a ton from a selfish perspective. Well, I particularly liked it because on the Clipper, which was I added my mind was two seventy, I walk that trail as you know, and I go and I try it every time. And I was convinced I was gonna get it to my lap. There was no reason in my head that I wasn't gonna get it to my lap. Like because I thought it was two seventy. Right. And so getting air under it and then learning it was three eighteen. Like it's kind of like it just solidified for me that my mind is my limitation. Yep. I I almost regret that you learned how heavy it was. Yeah, I kind of like you had it in your head like, I'm totally capable of that. And you know what? You are totally capable of that. Yeah. But sometimes putting the number puts it in your head. And I I don't want you to have that that kind of like governor on your body where you're like, it's too heavy, I can't try hard. No. Commit. Give it give it your all. You're you're gonna get that. Just think it's too simple. Commit. So that's the number the number one word of this trip is commit. Like and it couldn't it couldn't be any more clear. And and we saw that with Gawain and I'm gonna pronounce it right. the MacWax, yeah. I have never seen anybody sit with a stone so long. That was definitely and I was getting worried there as well. I was like, can somebody please get behind him? Because that that yoke was way too close to you. But that was incredible seeing that and then your Highlander Big Boy today that was like after a thousand couple thousand kilograms that we've already lifted bugs, heat, dehydration, you lifted that. That was that was amazing. I've I've got one more rule for us. Drink water. That's another good rule. Hydrate. Drink water. Yeah. Drink water. And and Ted, like I was kind of wanting to get your views on for the for the Ontario folks or for any other communities that are starting out. what are some other things that that you've witnessed on this this trip that we could improve upon or that we could bring in? We could get to places on time, god damn it. I haven't nagged anyone about time. I know. I'm joking. I've been put I put times on the schedules, but I put ish next to them. Ish, okay. For what? Amish? Like two ish. Well you guys being late today totally worked out for me. And I actually were right on time. No, we we showed up exactly when we were supposed to. Yeah. Well 'cause we're all wizards and we're never late. But we show up exactly when we intend. Exactly. I started to appreciate though Ted, why the timing. Because Like obviously I wanted this trip to go really awesome for you all and and so like I w and I wanted you to do the Makwa And so you line up all these people, right? Who've never been on a stone tour, who don't understand the heat impacts, how long you stay at something. And so the later you are Like with the first stone that it throws everybody. Yeah, it compounds. And so I started to understand why is that why you you like the timing or is that just how you are? It's just me being an airline pilot okay, okay. Like being neurotic. So like I like like in the group chat, you know, I was talking about like our family vacations and what they were like. Yeah. like I am very much like that and I have to make I am just like that. I have to I have to make an active effort not to be like that. If it was my Decision, we would start these stone tours at like 5 a.m. You would leave at 4 or 5 a.m. Yeah, I'm with you on that. I would just be going to bed. Yeah. When I'm going to meet someone and I say I'm gonna be there at 12, I'm there at 12. I'm gonna be there at 12, not 12.01, not 1159, maybe eleven fifty nine, but definitely not twelve. Yeah. Not even twelve and thirty seconds. Yeah. Like yeah, it's and and and that's the thing that with when you're organizing these tours is that you think you're gonna take an hour somewhere and it's not that at all. Like you end up And you just have to have contingency of like okay, we're running late. Yeah, exactly. Maybe we take less time or maybe we skip something or we're also way too friendly. Like it's a real problem for our our group is that like Canadians are too friendly, man. They just like take em home. Everybody has given out Yeah, you guys have done it. It's been crazy. It's been crazy. It's been so so incredible. But it's hard to say no. Like these offers come out like, hey, can we take you to this property? We're gonna get you an incredible picture. We're gonna have stones to lift. Like we we cooked food for you. We're cooked food for you. Like you wanna come back and eat with us, like have a cold beer on a hot day, talk shop. I mean, in Lansdowne, we had two fathers who showed up to just support their son. They're grown sons they just hang out with us. Yeah. So like all of a sudden that was so So then it's like how do we stay on time? Thanks, buddy. Mark's saving my life. That's a dead bug. That's that's just normal for us. That's Mark's always got my No Bryan saved our lives when that person was. Bryan do accident. We almost got in a car accident. I just started screaming like a banshee. Well we had we had shot past the community center and we need to take we need to turn around so there was driveway, but I didn't realize that it was kind of like a blind hill. Yeah, there was a hill. So I had looked, nobody was coming. Yeah. And so I started to go and then Bryan's like because he's looking to make sure no one's behind us so he could turn around. And all of a sudden something crests the hill coming real fast and I'm just I just started wait way. And he like he started the turn and then corrected the wheel and got himself back in our lane and the car fucking flew past past us. That's crazy. Yeah. Yeah and so one of the best co-pilots hands down. I think you sir. Really? I think having that on a trip is if you're going in a group is super helpful to have, you know, co-pilot. But I think Victor, I wanted to talk a little bit about how When you walked into Makwa, you're like, I've never lifted a stone in a gym before. And then for me, my experience is that half of my time is spent out in the garage in my stone gym and the other half when it's not snowy here were out on the trails. can you speak to the the Makwa experience? Yeah. so that was what town would that have been in? So it said it was in Rosneath, but the gym was Alderville Towers. Center? Yeah, on the reserve. Thank you, Sean, for letting us come. Super cool gym. Super super. Very, very nice. Yeah. Amazing gym, also. Like that's awesome. Kick-ass gym. If you're a strength athlete in the area, that's a gym you get strong in. That's a gym you get strong in. But yeah, I think I've always just lifted stones, you know, that people have found outside and have left outside and stuff. I think you know, it was nice going in there. And not having to deal with mud and mosquitoes and the sun. Yeah, yeah, there's plenty of chalk Yeah, yeah. Yeah. No bugs. Right. No bugs. Yeah. So that was really great. And and I think and and Sean's hospitality was great. He he you know had us in and everything. but I wanted to circle back on you've been talking about how to grow kind of a group. Yeah. you know, my kind of advice, I have two pieces of advice. One, message your local stone lifter. Anybody, I I think everybody here will say that they are more happy having other people lift their stones than lifting their own stones, right? It's more about sharing your stones and seeing other people lift the stones that you found or that you've you know worked to set up is the best thing. So that'd be my my first my first piece of advice. And then my second piece of advice is if you don't have a local stone lifter, become the local stone lifter. Just go out and find stone. Stones because they will be everywhere. And if you can't find stones, then then go somewhere where there is stones. And you know, I think that's where groups start. And what I love about this group that Jarrett set up is that it's everybody has their own little area, and we all just kind of satellite around and and and everybody kind of has their own their own sets and it's all different different aspects of it. But so I think you know stones in gyms are great, stones outside are great, it's just it's the atmosphere, it's the community. That really makes them special. Okay, so you're at the midpoint of the tour, and thank you so much, Victor, for talking to us about how kind of when you came to Canada, there's a whole bunch of different venues, you know, compared to what you're used to. so maybe before we go to the other folks, if you can kind of talk to us a bit about what you're most looking forward to on this trip. I mean, you still have new the the US portion, which I'm also tagging along. I don't know if If it's welcomed or not, but I didn't know. I'm really pissed you're coming right. But it's not on a dad's schedule. But if you could tell us what most you were looking forward to on the trip and you know what's to come, that would be awesome. Yeah. I I didn't know any of the stones that we were lifting before coming. So So so I don't have any s like stones in particular that I'm looking forward to because I just I don't know. They're all I know they're all gonna be amazing. I'm looking forward But I'm just looking forward to meeting more amazing people. And I know everybody that we've met has been amazing so far. So such hospitality and just seeing what people are creating because one of the things that I love is just seeing what people are passionate about. It can be anything. And our niche silly hobby is picking up rocks, and when you tell the border control border patrol agent that you're going to stone lifting, they will give you a weird look. That story is weird. but I think just I mean I could be anywhere. I it doesn't matter. I could be anywhere in the world and just as long as there's people that are passionate that are lifting stones and being kind, it's sign me up. Mm-hmm. Mark. So I was just kinda looking forward to lifting as many stones over three hundred pounds as I could. Yeah. Because I had injured myself at a Ex Associates place. So yeah, so I my SI joint was all messed up, so like I wasn't lifting for a week. And then we had the who I don't know whose smart idea was it to have two state tours the two weeks before we fucking came to Canada. So I we went to Connecticut and I was like doctoring it up, you know, like be like trying not to go hard. And luckily I came in here pretty fresh, but I'm kinda still in that mindset, like I don't really to go over 90%. Yeah. but it's been great. I mean, Seth's hit like some crazy lifts. Like watching some of these crazy lifts that like Seth has hit. It's been like, I mean, I expect these things out of Bryan, you know what I mean? Yeah. I get disappointed when Bryan doesn't like lift heavy. You know what I mean? Like I have to like, come on, we're gonna we're gonna step it up a notch, you know? Yeah. But Seth just comes out of the woodwork. Like me and him we'll go back and forth. You know like I'll lift one and he won't lift it and then we'll go to the next X one and he'll lift it and I'm like, all right, I'm gonna give up on it. So I mean, the back and forth is nice. the friendly band is amazing. Yeah. You know, I mean, me and Seth would never have been friends. Me and Jrt never would have been friends. I mean if it wasn't for Stoner. You're a joke, right? Yeah. Because your professions are completely it was very funny. The Border Patrol crossing, it was like, we're we like pull up, he's What do you guys do for work? I'm like, I'm a teacher, but it's like I'm a vet. He's like, but grave digger Vault technician. Vault technician. That's what I said. What was that? Every time bodies. And then he starts looking in the back. Yeah. But yeah. I mean you kinda gotta be the way I am with my job, I guess. But it wasn't a job. I am just this way. Like there's only one being. Mark is Mark. Mark is authentic Mark. I let I've been letting it fly since I was a young man. You know what I mean? Unapologetically, Mark. And we love him for it. Yeah. it was great. It's a great time. Yeah. Go ahead, buddy. Surpr there's just so many beautiful things that have happened that it's hard to like pick one. Like the car ride has just been like the car rides the entire time. I've just been like laughing hysterically. What is a six hour ride to feels like too? Like I've just been entertained by Mark and like Mark's taking lyrics and turning his own songs. They're not I'm never gonna resing them, but like they're very funny. He like Bryan's, you know, and we're just connecting and having a great time and like I mean it's my own growth has been great, but like I watched Jarrett one motion at 350. Like that was wild. That was wild. You know, Mark the beauty of Mark helping on Gwen, Ted's lift on Gwen and Makwa as well, like the effort. you know, it's literally been just i i like I have incredible moments with everyone in addition to my own moments that I like have been celebrating, that it's just been so rich, like even you know, I don't know, dinner last night was just hilarious. Like it was such a good time. and you know, Victor's lift today in the garage. Like that was sick. Yeah. fucking move so fast, like just It it's it's it's so fun to watch these people who you care about do so well and then allow that to feed you and then you do well. and then it just kinda like compounds. and then we get to see the homies, we get to see Benny One shots. Benny one Benny One shots. says he's not gonna lift be able to lift any stone. Which is a f we know it's a lie. It's a lie. And he's gonna and he's gonna train so fresh. I haven't been training. He's gonna leave his power slowly. I'm only training twice a week. instead of four times a week I'm so weak. I think I'm looking forward to see the friends and then I'm also looking forward to this potential first his real historic stone in in the US like that could be a really cool experience. Yeah. but I won't say anything else about that. So Teddy pretty for a nap. We're good. We're death there. Yeah. I don't know, for the rest of the tour I'm just looking forward to Being on time. Being on time first. No, it's always fun seeing John Travel of Stones repeat lift 'cause he's like he's a really great example of what a human body is capable of you if you train it to do like the one thing. Like He yeah, he's insane. He's a twisty he's gross. Would paralyze everybody else. Yeah. And like injure them for life. He like he's got steel cords in his back. He's got so much trust in his adamantium. But there's just like all these people that you see like that I've seen online even over the past few days and tomorrow, like John Johnson - Rockman It's like I see him on Facebook all the time. He's always like lifting com pieces of concrete at his job and stuff. So it'd be cool to actually get to meet him in person. And I know you haven't been on the the tour, but you had one section of it. Cam, what were you looking forward to on this part of the journey with us? yeah, it was awesome to for you guys to come and tour our local stoneman circuit that Rob had started. He unfortunately couldn't make it today. Yeah. Shout out Robert. Shout out Rob, thanks. And back to the the clipper stone. Right. And as soon as I lifted that the first time, like maybe three weeks ago, I'm like, it's gotta be more than that. I've was thinking maybe two ninety, three hundred, not three eighteen, but that just goes to show that like how grip can be a limiting factor in stone lifting and just how strong Rob's grip is. Yeah, he's a cr he's a crazy. Man handled that thing today. He made that thing. Cam had a great off cam. Till you should awesome. I still struggled to get in there, man. You made it look seamless. So yeah, I mean I've I've said it in the private group chat. but the this tour to me has always been more about the people than the actual stones. Like the stones are what bring us together and the stones are great and it's an incredible challenge and it's it's I always say it feels just innately human and you're lifting stones you're you're doing what feels natural for your body and you're doing this activity that has probably been around for as long as humans have been humans and and it's great and I love the stones but the people to me the more and more that I've done this the more I've realized how important the people are and like everyone was saying before there's a theme like real friends steel sharpened steel and we we are stronger together as Jrt often says we we make each other better and we have a great time I I've almost never had a bad time lifting stones. So this to me, yes, I wanted to come because the stones have been set up and I want to support these modern stone circuits. But meeting the people has been great and meeting the people that we're going to meet in the coming days or seeing people that I've met before but like lifting their stones for the first time is what I am most looking forward to on yeah in the in the coming days. Awesome, thanks Bryan. And finally to cap it off, Jrt. Yeah. I'm just so excited at how much we have grown as a group and as people and how giving everybody has got with their time and like teaching and Just themselves. Yeah. Like I am so proud of every single person on this tour and how much they have grown. It it makes me so makes me so happy to be able to like sit back and be a little back from it because I have to film everything too. And see it through not just like my personal enjoyment but like through that lens I can see the growth and I can see everybody getting better every day that we're out here. Like even though we're all beat up, we're all better than we were when we started. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. And I'm so grateful that Y'all put this trip together and I didn't have to do anything whatsoever. and I'm also really looking forward to seeing Niagara Falls for the first time. Yes. Because I've driven past it for like twenty times and it's been like ten minutes away from me, and I've always been like, Niagara Falls. And now I get to see it. So I'm super excited about that. I'm super excited about the fact that we're gonna see what is possibly the first historic, truly historic. stone stone in North America or in the United States. Tomorrow or Yes, tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow's a big day. Can I add an addendum to mine? Yeah. Sorry, so I said this tour is about the people and not necessarily the stones. The stones are great, but it's about the people. It's also it's about the people here right now. Yeah. Like Hanging out with these guys has been a blast. Lifting stones with these guys is great and I love how encouraging everybody is. And everybody here is just as excited to see somebody else lift the stone as they are themselves. Even if you miss it, you're rooting for the next guy to get it. And that's something that you don't get in most other strength endeavors. That is correct. And it's it's I love it and I love these people and they honestly make my life better. And I'm so happy that you guys all decided to come on this crazy idea that Bex and I have had. And it's It's it's great to have you guys. Excited we all got the invite, man. Like we started with like fifteen people. Yes. Yes, and all we're doing. Yeah. But we're we we whittled down to six from the New England crew, but we've made up for it with meeting all these great folks that we have. And I think honestly at six I think that was a good six Yeah. Six is a good number. Six is a good number. Because it took long enough with the six. Yes. Because of the inordinate amount of time that you spent. No, I I think Bryan, that's a great way to cap off the episode is just saying that, you know, I'm completely thankful for allowing the opportunity to you know, hang out with you folks for the next couple days, for the last couple. It's been an amazing opportunity to see what you see on Instagram is what is real. So I think on that note, if you have not hit up the New England folks to go down there and lift their stones or visit them, you can reach them at or get their merch, you can reach them at. you can use New England stones Stone lifting on Instagram and I will put you in touch with the right people. if you would like any of the merch that we make, I keep it all up on a pile of dirt.com. So buy a shirt from a pile of dirt. you can also see the first video that we talked about, Greetings from New England, on YouTube on our New England Stone Lifting channel. So please check it out and watch for the upcoming movie tentatively titled Canada? Okay. so on that note, thank you so much all for listening to these folks today. I think there's a lot to takeaway, not only on the technique of stone lifting, but on the culture itself. so do not forget to like and subscribe, and you can reach us on the Stonetable Podcast on Instagram. Thanks so much. Slainte Thank you guys. Thank you.