Sunday May 12
Vicki and I packed up and said our goodbyes. Having Vicki meet me on these trips is like a little oasis in the desert. Wish she had taken me home with her. You will read why in a minute.
rich has to address about 1000 people in atlanta tuesday. maybe he will have his presentation by then. oh yea, you have to actually work on it to get it done.
I had thought the traffic would be heavier on the U.S. side of the border but it was just the opposite. The Canadian side had moderate traffic. The plan had been to cross the border, turn left for a while and then turn east and parallel the interstate/auto-route. That did not work as there was too much traffic on that road, so I jumped on the auto-route which had almost no traffic, until I cleared civilization. Then I repeated the north turn to find an east bound road to parallel the auto-route to London. Traffic was not bad, but still more than the auto-route. It was a strange weather ride. It looked like a snow day. And then it DID!! The weather turned into rain, snow, sleet, sun and continued to repeat that cycle until I rolled into the hotel.
I checked into the hotel, grabbed thermostat and almost twisted it off the wall going for the heat. Despite having three layers of clothing I was still cold for a while. Once close to warm I went in search of food in the rain, sleet, snow, sun. I walked next door and had all intentions of eating in the restaurant, but even with long underwear and insulated riding jacket it was too cold so I told them to wrap it up and headed back to my warm cave.. Tomorrow will be no warmer but hopefully no snow.
Vicki was now back home in 80 degree weather.
Monday May 13
We waited until late morning to saddle up and head to Toronto.
We took the red light route. Not whore houses, stop lights, but we arrived about noon in Toronto at friend Wally Quan's condo. I met Wally last year when we rode scooters across the desert of Egypt in the Cross Egypt Challenge and if you survive you have to become friends. I threw the bags in the room and we headed out on the scooters for Dim Sum in Chinatown. I love Asian food and there could not have been a better welcome than a table full of Chinese gems. The great part about big cities is that you can get real ethnic food.
Then we headed out through Kensington Market, a very eclectic area, to the Fada Scooter shop. We ran into a Falon Gong protest parade. Fortunately Wally knows the way and off we went through alleys, around construction, to get in front of the parade to get to the scooter shop. Big Red needed a new rear tire and these guys were great. Despite being busy with the spring launching of every scooter in town, they took time to throw a wheel on the back of Big Red and then spray wax him when they were done. I thank Troy and David for a great job.
With fresh rubber on Red we headed back to the condo to get ready for the final game of the hockey playoffs between Toronto and Boston. Wally cooked up a great batch of chili and his friend Grant brought a super Portuguese grilled chicken. Food and beer in place, we sat down to watch the action. I know almost nothing about hockey, but watching with two active hockey players was an eye opening experience. They were very patient with a old novice and explained what tactics and strategy each team was using in real time. For me, it really made for a educational experience. I found out hockey is more than breaking noses and brawls. Toronto blew a huge lead, but neither Wally nor Grant were disappointed as they are not Toronto fans.
Tuesday May 14
We were on our way by 8:30 for "Wally's Scooter Tours" of Toronto. Wally is in the elevator business but is presently on strike for the second time in his long career. They are not trying to get anything just keep what they have. He figures if they do not go back to work soon he will have to start a tour business and I am the guinea pig. We toured until 4 p.m. We covered the whole city, Cabbage Town, Dundas Square where they were setting up to give away 10,000 DQ Blizzards, and the underground, a shopping arcade that goes for miles and miles and more. The Rolling Stones are coming to Air Canada center in six weeks, home of the hockey team and we asked if there were any tickets left. The lady says yes there are tickets and they start at $400!!!!! No wonder they have tickets left. From there we went to St. Lawrence market and had a world famous breakfast sandwich. Then we were back on the scooters and off to Port Land on the lake but the bridge was out so we did not make it all the way and we stopped at a Chinese grocery store and bought some dumplings to sample. From there we went east to their most famous beach and then turned around and got on the Gardner Expressway and roared through downtown to the Polish neighborhood. The idea for today was to be a rolling food sampler, but after half a breakfast sandwich and dumplings we just settled for a coffee and small pastry in the Polish deli. Then we visited where all the rich people live in mansions, some with armed guards, and the Toronto Botanical Gardens.
At 6 pm we met up with the Toronto Scooter Club at the DQ. Not a great turn out in this chilly weather but a lot of great people and though I did not get to talk to them all, they were all great people.
The second event today was to rendezvous with Jon Smith another Cross Egypt Rider. He lowered his standards and rode a scooter in Egypt but here he rides a crotch rocket. As we rode from the DQ to the New Hokeng restaurant for another round of great authentic Chinese food, the whine of Jon's muscle machine was like crack calling a former crack addict. It is just the pure sound of speed and I was addicted to that at one time in my life, but no more. He tried to lure me back in to the addiction by offering to let me ride, but I held strong and said no. It was a great evening, getting together with two friends who shared an experience of adventure together that probably has created a life long friendship.
Vicki and I packed up and said our goodbyes. Having Vicki meet me on these trips is like a little oasis in the desert. Wish she had taken me home with her. You will read why in a minute.
To get to Canada I had to two choices, interstate or Michigan Ave. I was leaning toward the interstate but the locals said the interstate was just as bad for potholes as the other roads, and being Sunday, Michigan Ave. would be fine. And it was. The road was good, but more impressive was stop light timing. With very little traffic I was able to make it all the way without stopping for lights. In 38 miles in a urban and city environment I may have stopped for 6 lights.
motorcity art
Welcome to Canada
interesting. they paint the bottom of the towers to blend in. you won't miss them but it does make a difference.
I checked into the hotel, grabbed thermostat and almost twisted it off the wall going for the heat. Despite having three layers of clothing I was still cold for a while. Once close to warm I went in search of food in the rain, sleet, snow, sun. I walked next door and had all intentions of eating in the restaurant, but even with long underwear and insulated riding jacket it was too cold so I told them to wrap it up and headed back to my warm cave.. Tomorrow will be no warmer but hopefully no snow.
Vicki was now back home in 80 degree weather.
Monday May 13
We waited until late morning to saddle up and head to Toronto.
no honey, no jewels from the paris jeweler
We took the red light route. Not whore houses, stop lights, but we arrived about noon in Toronto at friend Wally Quan's condo. I met Wally last year when we rode scooters across the desert of Egypt in the Cross Egypt Challenge and if you survive you have to become friends. I threw the bags in the room and we headed out on the scooters for Dim Sum in Chinatown. I love Asian food and there could not have been a better welcome than a table full of Chinese gems. The great part about big cities is that you can get real ethnic food.
Then we headed out through Kensington Market, a very eclectic area, to the Fada Scooter shop. We ran into a Falon Gong protest parade. Fortunately Wally knows the way and off we went through alleys, around construction, to get in front of the parade to get to the scooter shop. Big Red needed a new rear tire and these guys were great. Despite being busy with the spring launching of every scooter in town, they took time to throw a wheel on the back of Big Red and then spray wax him when they were done. I thank Troy and David for a great job.
i don't think a had another 1000 miles on this tire
david pulls the tire
troy waxes and wally inspects
With fresh rubber on Red we headed back to the condo to get ready for the final game of the hockey playoffs between Toronto and Boston. Wally cooked up a great batch of chili and his friend Grant brought a super Portuguese grilled chicken. Food and beer in place, we sat down to watch the action. I know almost nothing about hockey, but watching with two active hockey players was an eye opening experience. They were very patient with a old novice and explained what tactics and strategy each team was using in real time. For me, it really made for a educational experience. I found out hockey is more than breaking noses and brawls. Toronto blew a huge lead, but neither Wally nor Grant were disappointed as they are not Toronto fans.
my hockey tutors
We were on our way by 8:30 for "Wally's Scooter Tours" of Toronto. Wally is in the elevator business but is presently on strike for the second time in his long career. They are not trying to get anything just keep what they have. He figures if they do not go back to work soon he will have to start a tour business and I am the guinea pig. We toured until 4 p.m. We covered the whole city, Cabbage Town, Dundas Square where they were setting up to give away 10,000 DQ Blizzards, and the underground, a shopping arcade that goes for miles and miles and more. The Rolling Stones are coming to Air Canada center in six weeks, home of the hockey team and we asked if there were any tickets left. The lady says yes there are tickets and they start at $400!!!!! No wonder they have tickets left. From there we went to St. Lawrence market and had a world famous breakfast sandwich. Then we were back on the scooters and off to Port Land on the lake but the bridge was out so we did not make it all the way and we stopped at a Chinese grocery store and bought some dumplings to sample. From there we went east to their most famous beach and then turned around and got on the Gardner Expressway and roared through downtown to the Polish neighborhood. The idea for today was to be a rolling food sampler, but after half a breakfast sandwich and dumplings we just settled for a coffee and small pastry in the Polish deli. Then we visited where all the rich people live in mansions, some with armed guards, and the Toronto Botanical Gardens.
practicing their act in dundas square
there is no such thing as "gourmet" tofu
can't say i have ever seen a fiddle head
as of yesterday you can no longer park your scooter on the sidewalk. wally did not believe them. he has to pay $50. i am leaving town.
the chinese grocery has pre-packaged soup packs. i like this chicken feet with herbs one.
wally spotted the sign after we parked
this is maria. well that is not her real name but after she told me her real name in polish, i know why she says "call me maria". she was selling little things on the street and we had a great visit.
At 6 pm we met up with the Toronto Scooter Club at the DQ. Not a great turn out in this chilly weather but a lot of great people and though I did not get to talk to them all, they were all great people.
she is the leader of the toronto scooter club. is he tall or is she short?
The second event today was to rendezvous with Jon Smith another Cross Egypt Rider. He lowered his standards and rode a scooter in Egypt but here he rides a crotch rocket. As we rode from the DQ to the New Hokeng restaurant for another round of great authentic Chinese food, the whine of Jon's muscle machine was like crack calling a former crack addict. It is just the pure sound of speed and I was addicted to that at one time in my life, but no more. He tried to lure me back in to the addiction by offering to let me ride, but I held strong and said no. It was a great evening, getting together with two friends who shared an experience of adventure together that probably has created a life long friendship.
what do you mean you want a burger?
