Discovering the world on $20 per day ......................




Post 191: Toronto, Canada



'Destinesia', .... it's when you arrive somewhere only to forget why you came in the first place, .... or going to the store and forgetting what you needed, ..... indeed anything to do with travel and forgetfulness. I'd followed the signs for Toronto, probably around 80 miles from Niagara, I had all day to do it, there was no hurry. I turned away from the Interstate and kicked around on the shore of Lake Ontario, .. killing time, ... escaping reality, .. avoiding the end of this journey. By lunchtime, the air had warmed and the freezing morning had transformed into a beautiful Autumn day. I dragged the Primus stove from bike, boiled up a tin of soup and brewed a coffee, ... and then another. I made it last, ... possibly my last outdoor brew, ... I'd miss it.

I checked my free map of Toronto, ... I was entering a major city and wearing my 'Courier Head', it's a natural transition. Anyway, navigation in North America is easy, ... the town planners have done all of the work for you, everything makes sense, ... the systems work. I picked up the airport inner road, .... turned right onto Britannia Road East and counted down towards 2710, .... Building 2, Gate 5, ... easy. The girls at reception were friendly, .. coffee and a smile. I handed over the paperwork, .... I was in exactly the right place, ....... at exactly the wrong time. I had to hand over the bike two days prior to departure, the departure date was the 5th November. I knew that, I also knew that yesterday was Halloween, 31st October, ..... so why the hell had I just ridden to the cargo service area of Toronto International Airport two days early?

'Destinesia', .... I'm sure it's a real word.

www.justgiving.com/geoffgthomas

7 comments:

Bob said...

Hey Geoff what's your schedule once back in England or is all that still in the lap of the gods?

Anonymous said...

Ha ha ha ha That made me laugh Geoff - made me think of you landing at Heathrow!! ;)

Anonymous said...

.. it happened because you NEED two more days of riding.. sheesh.. it's obvious that the gods have decided you need more seat time and another couple of cups of road side brew!!

Take A Hint!!

LOL!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Geoff, I just spent the last few hours reading your entire story. I want to say what you did is both amazing and heavily inspirational. I hope you're enjoying your time in Toronto, one of my favorite cities, and good luck back in England.

Anonymous said...

Hi Again Geoff...

a serious thought...


I just get the gut feeling that you should visit a hospice in Toronto...

Safe Journey Home!

Jason

joenickkevin said...

your blog has been brilliant and u seem to have had such a great time while raising funds for the Darlington hospice
well done
guess who?

'Blue 88' said...

'Joe Nick Kevin?', .... I might be out of touch with music over the last 6 months, .... but that name suggests that your a 'Jonas Brothers Stalker' ;-)

I'm trying to sort out my 'Route' & 'Timetable' once I get back to the UK, .... but my first port of call is to visit a 'Jonas Brothers Fan' back in Braintree, .. a person who I feel is repsonsible for adding Jonas Brothers and Sponge Bob to my MP3 player before I left home, ... a young lady who may never be forgiven for that act of cruelty ;-)