Toronto to Amsterdam or Traveling With The Dutch

I have stopped counting days and miles as both categories have accelerated and seem less applicable to the story these days. After being dropped off by my inn-keeper, driver and life-long friend, I ran the check-in and security gauntlets at Pearson airport in Toronto before waiting patiently to board my KLM flight to Amsterdam. Staring out at the 747 that would be my conveyance for the next 7+ hours, I noticed it was named "City of Nairobi". Kismet, karma, or just a wild coincidence? Who knows, but it felt oddly comforting, like the plane knew the way.


As is the case with so much of modern life, the call to board the plane was utter chaos despite the Canadian expertise at queueing. I blame all the non-Canadians for creating the mess. The clear announcements of who should board when were ignored and I, of course, grew angry. My anger momentarily subsided as I found my window seat in the "Comfort Economy" section. My hopes for extra comfort were temporarily raised as the 2 seats to my right remained empty as the rest of the section filled. It was all for naught as an elderly Dutch couple eventually arrived at my row and claimed their seats.

Fortunately, they weren't talkers and it was quickly established that our flight would be gloriously free of small talk. I think it may have been their aversion to the English language that was the biggest hint. Sadly, the gentleman took the middle seat and rested his elbow just over and onto my side of the armrest, resulting in the ever slightest yet constant poke in my ribs. Damned Dutch. Did I mention the thick, dark hairs growing from his ears? Or perhaps the fact that he required frequent trips to the rest rooms and made his wife get out of her seat each time? I'm also pretty sure there were anti-Canadian messages in his Dutch newspaper.

The flight was uneventful and 7+ hours later, we began our descent into Amsterdam while flying over off-shore wind farms, farmland, and the vast shipping infrastructure. After a long taxi and a quick de-planing, I roamed the airport in search of a lounge for my 3 hour layover.

Back Online

So it turns out that things move a little slower here in Kenya and it takes a few days (or a couple of weeks) to get up and running again. And now that my brief technical interlude has concluded, we take you back to our regularly scheduled programming of blog posts, rants, photographs and the sharing of my adventure as and when I feel like it. Enjoy.

MJF

Day 60 - Edmundston, NB to Burlington, ON

Days on the road: 60.
Miles today: 740.
Miles to date: 14,604.


Well, there it is. 60 days on the road and almost 15,000 miles. 23 states and 6 provinces. I crossed the Great Divide 4 times, the Mississippi River twice, and the Canada/US border 4 times. I went up, over, around, along and under mountains, hills, passes, gulches, canyons, deserts, rivers, lakes, creeks, streams, and oceans. My car was searched just once by authorities and I wasn't charged with any moving violations. I'm not saying I didn't commit any, I'm just saying "The Man" didn't catch me.

My last day on the road was an epic 740 mile run back to the GTA from Northern New Brunswick. It was the single longest day in both mileage and time terms, and it felt like it. The need to return to the GTA for 3 days of running around prior to my Kenyan departure necessitated the long run.

My good friend, LR will be happy to learn that I didn't even come close to the mileage allowance on my lease (but I've still got 3 days before I get on a plane - anybody want to drive to Northern Manitoba????).

And while the road trip is over, the adventure has just begun. I'll continue posting while in Kenya, but perhaps not with the frequency you've come to expect with this finest of web publications. So check back often and anticipate stories of a man in a white linen suit as he makes his way across the dark continent.

I shall return...

Maybe.

Day 59 - Annapolis Royal, NS to Edmundston, NB

Days on the road: 59.
Miles today: 543.
Miles to date: 13,864.

No pictures today. Too dang busy storming through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to try to get back to the GTA with time to do a bunch of running around before my Kenyan departure. Here's a map for all you budding cartographers out there:

Day 58 - Annapolis Royal to Victoria Beach, NS & Back.

Days on the road: 58.
Miles today: 32.
Miles to date: 13,321.


Bay of Fundy, natural wonder - even UNESCO might agree one day soon. And here's the photographic proof:

The same place (Annapolis Royal Wharf), on the same day, at 3 different times (9:30 AM, 3PM, and 8PM):



Remarkable.

Day 57 - Saint John, NB to Annapolis Royal, NS

Days on the road: 57.
Miles today: 41.
Miles to date: 13,289.



Day 57 was a Wednesday and the big adventure for the day involved a 3+ hour ride on the St. John-Digby ferry. A brief drive around the St. John waterfront led me to accidentally discover a ship being unloaded of its shipment of wind turbine blades and pylons. Very interesting to see and I tried to capture a few shots, but couldn't quite get the right perspective to best showcase this most "of our times" deliveries.





Following the photo stop, I headed off to the ferry terminal to sit in one of many line-ups of vacation goers, RVers, commercial truckers, and various State plated vehicles to board the Princess of Acadia. I was also fortunate enough to be beside some loud Americans who seemed to think discussing the details of a family member's rather ugly divorce with their windows down and speaking loudly on their cell phone was enjoyable to all those in a blue Audi TT.





Once aboard, I lounged in the, ah, lounge and we were soon sailing away from port. Not 15 minutes into our voyage, our captain came across the PA system to announce that we would be returning to the ferry dock to offload a passenger that was experiencing a family emergency. Ugh, could my life get any worse?!?!? About 20 minutes later, we departed St. John for the second time and steamed steadily across the Bay of Fundy and into Digby, NS. A short drive later and I found myself in the sprawling metropolis of Annapolis Royal, population 440. I checked into the Bailey House B&B and ended one of my easiest travel days with dinner with friends T&S who have been building a house across the way in Victoria Beach. Nicey nice.

Day - 56 - Quebec City, QC to Saint John, NB

Days on the road: 56.
Miles today: 446.
Miles to date: 13,248.


Fortunately, my brief stay of less than 24 hours in La Belle Province allowed me to stay focused and avoid falling under the spell of the following Quebequois temptations:

• Poutine
• Maple Fudge
• Cheese Curds
• Pepsi
• Mae West (Why isn't it called Mae Ouest???)
• Players No Filter Cigarettes

After decent coffee from a downtown cafe, I crossed the mighty St. Lawrence River and headed East along the Southern shore. Occasional glances North bound had my eyes landing on the patchwork of farmers' fields in various states of bloom, random shocks of bright yellow fields on dandelions growing wildly, the deep blue river and the dark blue outline of the mountains beyond. The day was cool yet sunny and the top was down. The miles melted away.




This must be the most hilarious town in the World: