Back Home From Canada!

Pat and I at the Relay coffee shop in downtown Hamilton, one of Pat's daily hangouts. They make a great mocha coffee!

I'm back home from my annual weekly end of summer trip to Canada! 

Obviously I was having such a good time I didn't have time to keep all of you, my faithful blog followers all these years of my daily activities. Heck, I hardly had time to update my daily journal.

So how was my week in Canada?  In one word GREAT!  

Pat is the perfect host. As some of you may know Pat's condo is in a converted downtown historic hotel. Pat lives in an ultra modern and minimalistic 568 square feet one bedroom unit. Small but still spacious with lots of light. Actually a whole wall of windows from his 14th floor condo overlooking downtown Hamilton.

During my stay we at out every day save one. Hamilton has many new restaurants which we sample. All the restaurants are good but I was disappointed with the Indian Nepalese restaurant which was a bit too spicy for me this time.  I like Indian food but not real spicy. Pat liked it though so we boxed up that spicy cauliflower for Pat to eat later.

We met up with Harold, the Hamilton Dancing Guy who was in the hospital recovering from surgery. What a gentleman, a pleasure to meet him in person. 

Pat and Harold at St. Joseph's Hospital - Harold was being discharged this day

Harold told us he'll be back dancing as soon as he convalesces

I finally got to meet some of Pat's friends. We traveled out to their new home in Port Dover. Traveling the Canadian countryside reminded me of the days when I was a young child and my father would take our family out for Sunday rides in the country. There is no "country" in the Pennsylvania countryside today.  That hour ride to Pat's friend's new house (they just moved in) through the rural Canadian countryside was such a pleasure. 

Pat's friends Paul and Deb welcomed us to their new house.  Took us on the mandatory tour. After a wonderful dinner (we inaugurated their new dining room table) we topped off the night by a visit to a nearby bar with a live band. I danced!  Or more accurately I did my "Elaine Dance".  Video will follow in a subsequent blog.

On subsequent days we visited our mutual friend Tom, who also recently left the hospital. We're all old folks, hospital stays are part of our lives now.

Pat and I also witnessed a bridge opening of a huge tanker passing through a drawbridge lifting to the Hamilton steel yards. Quite impressive.  Video will also follow.

We also did the movie scene, "Hobbs and Shaw".  Not my usual taste in movie but nonetheless entertaining. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) is always good. But I'll never get those two hours of my life back. 

What Pat and I do on our quarterly get togethers may not sound exciting but we always have a good time. We enjoy each other's company and whatever we do is enjoyable. Even if it is just watching an old film noir movie on his TV.

My trip back home wasn't as stressful as it was going to Buffalo. I sailed through the TSA pre-check this time. The only delay this time was we arrived early in Philadelphia and had to sit in the plane on the tarmac for about twenty minutes before we could disembark the plane. 

Next trip, Philadelphia! 

Day One - Canada Adventure

Toronto, Canada

Day One on my Canada Adventure is coming to an end folks.  Another busy, interesting and activity filled day.  Kudos to Pat, my tour director.  I hope he doesn't wear himself out keeping me entertained.

The house where Pat grew up

Briefly, what we did today was Pat drove me around Toronto showing me all the different places where he lived. Toronto is a vibrant and diversified city.  Much different than any American city I've visited or lived in.


We're still on a vegan diet and I'm not hurting for it.  In fact my body is saying "Thank you!" for not ingesting animal meat and artificial ingredients.  I'm planning on eating nothing but vegan for the whole two weeks of my visit to Canada.

The Big Carrot meal

This evening we went bowling.  Wow, was that ever different.  The last time I bowled was in 1966.  I was a fairly good bowler back in the day.  Not tonight though.  I guess I was trying to show off and all I was getting was gutter balls.  My first game I scored 45!  Second game I beat Pat, I scored 104 to his 102.  I couldn't believe how lame I was bowling.  I couldn't get my steps right.  We also played some pool. At that game I was much better and more relaxed.  And another thing about the bowling.  It cost $32.00 for the first hour!  First . . . the cost. What's up with that?  Then by the hour?  What's UP with THAT?  We did have "Cosmic Bowling" which was fun but man oh man, bowling wasn't like when I used to live bowling back in the Sixties when I think I paid $2.00 a game, unlimited.  

Pat, Cosmic Bowling - Expensive

Tomorrow Pat is going to church and his regular yoga session.  I advised him to take up his regular routine and not to worry about keeping me entertained.  I have my MacBook Pro laptop and blogs to catch up on.  Plus, Pat's house is very comfortable.  He was worried I would miss all the "amenities" of a regular house but I don't.  I didn't think I would.  No problems so far on that score.  And the weather has been absolutely fabulous, in the low 70's.  

Pool Hustler

So far so good folks.  Tomorrow will be a quiet day then Monday we meet up with Urspo and Someone.  Now that is guaranteed to be a fabulous time.  Those two gentlemen are a delight.  I just with Doug Taron was with them.  

Good night folks!