On June 24, 2006, William Davison and James Bailey of The Recordists set out on a collective dérive following instructions from the London Surrealist Group. The instructions were printed in the LSG "Communiqué #1", published March 2006 and ran as follows:

Mass Dérive '06

A collective dérive, to take place on Saturday 24th June 2006. The dérive will be algorithmic and should be conducted as follows:

1. Devise a method of deciding on a starting point. (chance methods, such as picking place names at random, sticking a pin in a street map are preferred.) Go to your chosen starting point, either alone or with some friends;

2. Follow these directions: second right, second left, first right;

3. Repeat these directions until you reach a dead end and/or have had enough;

4. Record method of choosing a starting point and your thoughts, dreams, desires, impressions, observations along the way, using pen, paper, cameras, video or just your memory as you prefer.

5. We will assemble at 6pm to compare notes and experiences in various places (according to geographical location) - to be specified later.

On this page we record the results of our journey.

- J and W agreed to meet at Rotate This record store in downtown Toronto, 2pm (W has an important errand there - pick up tickets to Jandek concert!).

- J and W then proceeded to nearby pizza joint to fuel up and prepare for excursion.

- at the pizza joint, W proposed chance method for choosing dérive starting point. The following method was used:

A regular, six-sided die was used to choose both the direction (north, south, east, west) and the number of blocks (maximum 3) from their current location. Direction was chosen first with 1=north, 2=east, 3=south, 4=west, 5=roll again, 6=roll again. North was selected. Number of blocks away was then selected with 1=1 block, 2=2 blocks, 3=3 blocks, 4=1 block, 5=2 blocks, 6=3 blocks. Three blocks was selected.

- J and W proceeded to starting point three blocks north of pizza joint.

- en route to starting point, it was decided that laneways and alleys would be included in directions.

- at starting point, J and W prepared their recording devices (J used 35mm still camera and mini-disc recorder, W used digital camcorder and pen/paper) and set out following the LSG directions - second right, second left, first right (the die was used again to determine the starting direction, which turned out to be West).

- these are some of the things we collected along the way:

butterfly variations billboard, digital video still (W), dérive starting point
(perhaps on closer examination the actual product this is advertising would become apparent but we chose to leave it in the realm of pure imagery. Much better that way!)

chance arrangement of u.s.o.'s (unidentified sidewalk objects), digital video still (W), after starting point, before second right

a wheelbarrow full of garbage and dirt, digital video still (W), between second right and second left
(we had the sense that this had been abandoned for some time and had become permanent. A lovely decorative feature of the neighborhood!)

zoom in on magazine page (land/skyscapes) found lying on sidewalk, digital video stills (W), between second right and second left

- the find of the day was a vintage 1960's (?) "Street Map Guide".

"Street Map Guide", found on sidewalk (with other loose maps and papers) between second right and second left
(32 page booklet found by W also contained other goodies, see below. Strangely appropriate find considering the dérive's emphasis on mapping, directions, etc. BTW, the cover photo shows the beautiful Pickering Nuclear Power Plant; apparently one of the highlights of these communities!)

one of the many fine photographic illustrations from the pages of the "Street Map Guide"

drawing of a mysterious bay and lighthouse found on a folded piece of paper, tucked inside the "Street Map Guide"
(no date, signature, nor any indications as to whether this is a real or imagined place)

a strange diagram was drawn on the inside back cover of the "Street Map Guide"

- after examining the "Street Map Guide" (of possible use in future dérives!), J and W continued on their way.

enigmatic object with wheels, digital video still (W), at second left

suspended stone ring in yard, digital video still (W), at second left

- after first set of directions was completed, we repeated the directions in reverse order - first right, second left, second right.

White Orchid, digital video still (W), between first right and second left (2nd set)

zoom in on dog sign (J in foreground), digital video stills (W), between first right and second left (2nd set)
(this is one for Engrish.com! Puzzling and hilarious!)

zoom in on found magazine image, digital video stills (W), underneath dog sign

concrete footprint and natural debris, digital video still (W), between first right and second left (2nd set)

graffiti, digital video still (W), between second left and second right (2nd set)

beautifully rusted tin wall, digital video still (W), between second left and second right (2nd set)

anthropomorphised cable box, digital video still (W), between second left and second right (2nd set)
(or is that a robot face?)

- after second set of directions was completed, we reverted to the original order - second right, second left, first right.

instructions found on sidewalk signage, digital video still (W), between second right of second set and second right of third set

Cocteauesque wall drawing, digital video still (W), between second right and second left (3rd set)

cartoon graffiti, digital video still (W), between second right and second left (3rd set)

- as it turned out that a second left was not possible, J and W called it quits.

- went for ice cream!

Note: Jim's dérive documentation is unavailable but will be added to this page as soon as possible.