You can always throw up a filter, if you want to get his attention. That's what most people do.

[He shrugs. Please don't mind the fangs and horns-- leftovers from the event.]

As for travel... well, without a bike or a Pokémon to ride, it's pretty time consuming. If it's that important, though, I've got some Pokémon up for rent. A Steelix could probably make short work of the routes.