edwards block

Well, once again, I am unemployed-by-choice, and on the road. I finished work on Friday, August 18th, got on my bike and rode out to Ruskin for a little farmwork. I rode back Monday, and then flew to Montreal on Tuesday, having decided that I needed a little vacation before school starts on September 6th. This seemed like a good choice, as I never made it last summer.

After two semesters of gruelling French classes last year, I got off of the airport shuttle bus in downtown Montreal and told the driver “gracias”. I’m not sure where that came from – perhaps residual thinking from last year’s trip to Costa Rica, or maybe because I am reading a biography of Che Guevara. At least I didn’t say “gracias, comrade”.

I have probably walked about 50km, and my hip knows it, but I didn’t actually immerse myself in a lot of culture during that – sat in a couple of cafes reading, walked through old Montreal, and then ambled about The Main and had a bite to eat. Tomorrow I plan to go to La Musee des Beaux Artes, and then take the train to Quebec in the afternoon. The Grand Prix starts here tomorrow, which is one of my least favourite urban events. I will spend four days in Quebec, and then take the train to Toronto, where I will once again visit Ben & Carol (who have since added the now three-month-old Samuel) as well as Darren & Brian, who are about to move to New Brunswick.

The St. Lawrence river, looking east (old expo site on left):