It has been a long journey for hitchBOT, the beloved robot that has hitchhiked from Halifax to Victoria. And as it takes a break on the side of West Saanich Road to take in the view of the Saanich Inlet, it isn’t long before a fan spots it.
Nicole and David pull over to meet the robot. Asked if they’ve heard of it before, Nicole has a quick response: “Who hasn’t?”
HitchBOT arrived on Vancouver Island Sunday on a B.C. ferry. It is spending Monday getting acquainted with Greater Victoria, under chaperone Steve Sxwithul’txw, a video producer who lives in James Bay.
The day began with a tour of First Nation communities, starting with the Tsawout nation, before moving on to the Tseycum and Pauquachin nations.
“It’s a chance for the kids to see technology up close — embrace it, understand it, be curious and maybe one day, we’ll find one of these girls or boys will be the engineers who develop the next hitchBOT,” Sxwithul’txw said, pointing to about two dozen kids huddled around the robot outside the Pauquachin band office.
Since leaving Halifax July 26, hitchBOT has acquired some visible wear and tear. It goes through extended periods of silence before spouting a string of random conversation.
“Do you love me? Do you know the origin of the universe? What’s your favourite football team?” it asks a group of children gathered at the Tseycum after-school portable.
Interested in seeing hitchBOT today? After touring the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s patient care centre, it will take a Songhees war canoe through the Inner Harbour at 2 p.m. At 2:45 p.m., it will arrive at the Fairmont Empress for afternoon tea. And at 3:15 p.m., it heads to James Bay for some photos with the Mile Zero sign.
More to come.
