Threat Down

In some parts of Canada, driving on the highway requires a pair of eyes on the road, and another pair on the lookout for large animals. Night driving is definitely a bad idea.

The Mountain Guide published by Parks Canada contains a lot of information on why it is important to maintain distance from the local wildlife. Unfortunately, many of them have become habituated to human contact, and come right up to you.

#6 - Squirrels (Johnston Canyon, Banff National Park)

#5 - Gophers (Rogers Pass, Glacier National Park)

#4 - Beavers (Moraine Lake, Banff National Park)

#3 - Geese (Bowen Island, BC)

Don't let their cuteness fool you

#2 - Deer (Grand Drive, Camrose, AB)

Right next to the road (Banff National Park)

Right next to a house (Bowen Island, BC)

#1 - Bears! (Glacier National Park)

The Mountain Guide also describes how to avoid bear encounters, and what to do if that fails. In the rare case of an actual physical attack, the general rule is to play dead, unless the bear displays predatory or aggressive behaviour, or the attack lasts longer than two minutes. In that case, it's time to flee or fight back hard.

It's Big!

Western Cuisine

Three standouts:

Yeti Gourmet
#103 5003 - 30 Avenue
Beaumont, AB
T4X 1T9
780-929-9398
Recommendations: Thuppa (Nepalese fried noodles), Vegetable Pakora

The Rotten Grape
231 Bernard Avenue
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 6N2
250-717-8466
Recommendations: Bison, any Okanagan Valley Pinot

Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
1505 West 2nd Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V6H 3Y4
604-734-4488
Recommendations: The prix fixe three course menu of the day

Gone West

I've been to Calgary, and I've been to Vancouver. I've spent a fair bit of time in the National Parks. And now, I've covered the road in between. I can see the appeal of Western living, and why so many people want to move there.

Ogopogo Sighting - Kelowna, BC

This trip also marks my first visit to Edmonton.

Alberta Legislature

The West Edmonton Mall is a mall like any other. Just a lot bigger. Plus a skating rink, water park, amusement park, and pirate ship.

Pirates of the Mall

Mileage Run

A new first for me this week - a business trip which turned into essentially just a mileage run. The cancellation notice came out very late and while I was already in flight and incommunicado. Had I been a Crackberry addict, I still wouldn't have avoided the trip out, but could have immediately turned around on the red eye flight home.

Instead, I obliviously picked up a rental car, drove 60 miles, stopped for dinner, checked in to the hotel, called home, and then logged in to check e-mail, where I received the voice mail message not to fly out.

Faced with a choice of driving back to the airport at 1 am with no sleep, or driving back at 3 am with only two hours of sleep, prudence dictates the former. I then contemplated sitting around the check-in counters, waiting for them to open at 4:30, to ensure that I'm the first in line to get tickets, on the fastest route to my destination, ahead of all the other...

No Waiting Lines

But wait - I already have a confirmed e-ticket booking. A helpful AAgent tells me about the 24-hour Subway in the food court. After a whole day of healthy eating, it has now come down to pizza and coffee for breakfast. At this hour, all the booths with soft bench seating are occupied, by the lost, the unlucky, and the mentally ill.

It's quite surprising how many people are actually travelling around first thing in the morning. There are lines at security, and again at the lounge. Finally, we start boarding. All the way back in Row 41, I take my window seat and a long-delayed nap. Eventually, I arrive home 27 hours after I left. At least I got to see a couple of movies along the way...

I can't believe I ate the whole thing...

(See below)

It's always a challenge to eat right while on the road. A mini fridge in the hotel room goes a long way, letting you store some fresh foods (at least more than can fit into a bucket of ice). However, a pint of ice cream is a step in the wrong direction.

I had hoped to stretch it out over several days, but the "freezer" section of the mini fridge isn't very good at keeping ice cream. In the end, I was "forced" to finish it in two sittings: an after-dinner dessert, and breakfast the next morning.

I found it!

[Cue balloon drop and patriotic fanfare]

Living the Americone Dream

Orange Alert

There is a constant tension at airports these days, maintained by endless pronouncements of threat level orange, and about what will happen if you leave your baggage/car/children unattended. At some locations, at least they're providing paper slippers to wear, while unshod. No slippers at the transborder terminal in Pearson airport though, where there are now permanent signs ordering shoes off. On the domestic side, no such requirement.

Heading through security this morning, the CATSA agents pulled aside my backpack for additional screening. They were trying to identify two "microphone" like objects. After putting my shoes back on, I started taking out all the various power supplies and cables. They weren't satisfied. I took out my magic umbrella (guarantees it will never rain). Still not the object they're looking for.

They show me the X-ray image on screen. That's not my bag. Somewhere in the terminal, someone may be wreaking havoc by making a recording...

The Airline Snack

Following in the strangely popular world of airline food photography:

Airline Snack of Champions

The Cranberry-Apple Cocktail contains a stunning 60g of carbs, in only 15% real juice. Almost seven times more than the Sun Harvest Mini Pretzels (cute, but salty). Just five cans and you're set for the day.

I have definitely got to work out more. The travel agency booked a connection with only 33 minutes between scheduled arrival and departure times. I had assumed that flights within the same airline would use gates in approximately the same area of the airport. I was most incorrect.

Arriving ten minutes late meant doing an O.J. Simpson Hertz run through the Philadelphia airport (PHL), from Gate C26 to Gate A18, carrying a 30 pound backpack (Thinkpads T41p AND X40, plus a big binder of course notes). What's more, the moving sidewalks all seem to be closed for maintenance.

Perhaps aided by those 58g of sugars, I still manage to be the first connecting passenger from my inbound flight to get to the departure gate, in about 10 minutes. But certainly I didn't arrive gracefully, staggering in flat-footed and winded, with shin splints. The gate agent even gave me a look of pity, before assuring me that we would all make our connection.

As an airline just emerging from bankruptcy, we waited a further 20 minutes for other connecting passengers, to ensure the plane left full. Probably a good thing, or else I might still be looking for my checked luggage.

Waterways

Although Toronto lies on the shores of a Great Lake, it doesn't have a very strong maritime feel. In fact, decades of apathy and political infighting have left the waterfront a mess of industrial wasteland or concrete jungle, which may someday require a Big Dig to remedy. One need only go to Chicago to see how it should be done. The one saving grace is Toronto Island.

Chicago Skyline

I find a certain appeal in cities on rivers or the ocean. Perhaps because I never grew up with long ferry rides or driving along bridges and causeways that are miles long. I did live in The Beach neighbourhood, but for most of my childhood, entering the water was at your own risk.

When I was in Tampa, there were jetski rentals at the edge of my hotel parking lot. I could see powerboats go back and forth from my window. Even if I had brought appropriate beachwear, I think I'd still prefer a nice tourist cruise on a river.

Welcome to De Swamp - AAAIIIEEEEEE!!!

There are many creeks and streams in the Toronto area, but no majestic rivers you can sail down. Nothing which cuts through the downtown core, with many grand bridges across it. Unless you include the hidden and often forgotten Taddle Creek.

Three Rivers

Even Pittsburgh, a city crawling out of economic recession, is making a good run at waterfront re-development. But nothing compares to the rivers and canals of Europe.

Copenhagen, Denmark

A great way to quickly see the sights, and highly recommended if you're pressed for time.

View from the Riksbron - Stockholm, Sweden

The old architecture and palaces along the water only add to the mystique. The ABBA soundtrack on the English narration (for the benefit of the tourists) does not.

Stockholm is situated on 14 islands - AAAIIIEEEEEE!!!

My favorite estuarine city though, still has to be London.

Tower Bridge

So much history, and so many bridges across the Thames, including the initially-wobbly Millenium Bridge.

...is falling down

Engineering marvels for their age.

Passing through