The Peg

I’ve been here for 2.5 weeks. It is late at night, the sun has just gone down (the summer solstace was only a few days ago) and it is 26C, 60% humidity.

I’ve done so much in the last weeks with Stu and Rachel, and yet now that I’m logged in, there is little that needs writing about. I could write about my small trip out east, to Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec. One day. I have procrastinated a little the last few days (while pretending to be looking for work), but until then Stu and Rachel kept me busy – out with their friends, family, cottages, golf… You name it. I was planning on leaving for Toronto today except I was convinced to stay for a family barbeque tomorrow. My arm was easily twisted Maybe I’ll go Sunday.

It has been great staying with Stu and Rachel. Thanks heaps guys. Now I’ve been introduced to the Prairie and Corner Gas. Sure is flat.

To Winnipeg

I made it. The latest challenge was to get from Toronto to Winnipeg (to visit Stu!)… hitch hiking. Would you pick this guy up?

Well someone did.

It was just over 2000km, and took 4.5 days. The drive flat out takes two long days, so I made reasonable time.

No time now. Stories later. I’m due to go down to Rachel’s good friends parents cottage for the weekend. Ah, finally a break from… well doing nothing really.

Ice hockey

Pitsburg beat Detroit (4-3) in the 3rd overtime of the 5th match of the playoffs. Watched on TV. Now Detroit are 3-2 up in the series. Next match on Wednesday.
Who would have thought I could get interested in the ice hockey finals? Good thing the rules aren’t terribly difficult to learn – as a spectator anyway(s). If only I could skate…

Cyclists

Long distance cyclists are everywhere in Canada. I’ve just met two cyclists from Boston. Another yesterday from somewhere out east. I saw a few more in Mont Tremblant. They all seem to be heading for Vancouver, despite the prevailing wind. And the prairie.

Travel anyone?

I’ve been on the road for just over 11 months. That’s not really all that long compared to some.

I’m done. For some reason randomly traveling around is just not exciting at the moment. Since I’ve been living hedonistically this last year, a few moments of normality and I’m bored.

Canada is nice, in the spring it is even beautiful (out of the cities). Unfortunately, that is part of the problem. It is nice. There is nothing challenging about backpacking here – it is simple, the only way to do the country justice is to get a car (or motorbike) and travel thousands of k’s. For a few reasons I’m not interested in that right now. I guess it would also be possible by bike. Three months of prairie don’t drive me wild with excitement right now. Maybe in the winter it would be more fun Autumn might be pretty cool though (if not downright freezing).

I’ve got a few options now: Continue overseas again (India is a possibility – on two wheels); go home and return to the real world; or work here (and while pretending to be in the real world, actually continue the escapism). Of course I’ll give working here a whirl. I tmay not sounds like it, but that could be a challenge. A few more cities, then try to find a job and live in Toronto. More than likely – who knows, almost every plan I’ve made so far on this trip has fallen through.

So it looks like the traveling “adventures” will soon be over… for a while. Let’s see how long I can handle “normality”. Whatever that is.