Miles to date: 3,149.9
I’ve traveled to several countries in my 58+ years. Everywhere you go, you recognize things are… different. I feel the problem with many global travelers or expats is their belief that different from their home country usual is “ wrong”. E.g. Americans get fed up in Europe because the waitstaff is not interrupting their meal every five minutes as they would in the States (because US waitstaff want to move you along and free up the table, in Europe the dinner is your whole evening social event). Americans are annoyed in Australia because they have to ask to be served water when they are at a restaurant (Australia is a dessert and they are great conservationists as opposed to wasteful Americans). The slower highway speeds and units in Canada are annoying to Americans (they have safer highways and the metric system is used on 90% of world highways). So, different is not wrong, or even better, it’s just different.
Tonight is our third night in Canada (and possibly our best night so far). We are camping outside the Ramblin’ Road Brewery where we had some recovery drinks and dinner. We didn’t provide a credit card and open a tab when we ordered our first round; there was no electronic order system or even paperwork for taking orders. Geeto and I simply asked for things (beers, appetizers, burgers…) and they were brought to us. At the end of the night (and I do mean the end; they were mopping the floors before we left), when all was eaten and drank, we simply went to the cash register to agree what we had and pay. I can’t think of anyplace in the US where this would fly: an honor system for food AND beer. It seems to me that no place in the US is the on the honor system. Madie, Kyra and Alyssa were the absolute best hostesses; and Geeto declared the Gringo Burger as the best burger in his 60+ years on this planet (he didn’t specify a rating for his years on other planets). Huzzah to the Ramblin’ Road Brewery and staff; they’ve given us another reason to return to Ontario.
Today’s ride was relatively routine and uneventful. Maybe I’m getting a bit numb to the riding part of the day, but I’m finding less exciting things to photograph, and I’m sure my video clips from the trail are quite repetitive: look at us… we’re riding bikes… it’s gorgeous weather… here’s some farmland… But, we’re still enjoying every day and are thankful for this opportunity. Though we’re also ready for it to conclude.
Today started in usual Canadian fashion: Geeto was on the phone with Xfinity trying to get his mobile phone coverage sorted out. Though he pressed “Y” when texted by Xfinity to accept the $5 charge for unlimited mobile coverage for Canada, he racked up international data charges over $1000 in the first 1/2 day and is threatened with suspending his mobile service altogether if the charges get too high. It’s entertaining to watch these conversations as Geeto tries to sort this out with the Xfinity staff in Bangalore.
Tomorrow we should finally get a chance to see Lake Erie. The wind is supposed to let up a bit, but that promise didn’t quite come true today. Don’t take the Lakes for granted; they go from calm to a hundred knots so fast they seem enchanted. 80 miles to Port Colborne is the plan to leave ourselves a short ride to Buffalo in time for the Bills game on Sunday: Day 44: Ramblin’ Road to Port Colborne
For the Pedaling Pilgrims! playlist tonight, here’s another from a lesser known Canadian (for you Bob Curran). If you’re a Gordon Lightfoot fan, you’ll probably appreciate Stan Rogers. He was from Ontario and died in a plane crash in Kentucky when he was only 33. White Squall
Also, this morning when we woke at our Natterjack camp it was 45 degrees. Tonight’s low is predicted to be the same. It’s harder to get moving in the morning when it’s that cold outside (and somewhat warmer in the tent). I realize while stumbling out in the cold, I’ve been struggling for way, way too long. It’s time for a change; I’m ready to move on. Lost in the Cold
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