Toronto Run

Distance: 3.23 miles
Max Heart Rate: 206 bpm
Average Heart Rate: 192 bpm

This was the only run I managed to do when on Holiday unfortunately. My heart rate dropped a long way then rose again nearer the end because I had to stop for traffic lights, then I walked a short stretch before starting again.

I wish I had managed to get another run in Toronto and one in each of the other places I stayed, next time :-)

The Good Stuff

Most of my posts from Holiday were very negative, well there was some good bits. So here they are:

CN Tower

We went up the CN Tower which is the tallest building in the world and walked on the glass floor and enjoyed the views.

Beats & Breaks Competition

On the Waterfront in Toronto, watching what we call breakdancing but they said should be called B Bopping. It was fantastic to watch, went back the second day to see the finals.

Whale Watching
I drove up to Tadoussac (1000km from Toronto) so we could go whale watching it was definitely worth it. We went on a boat ride and saw lots and lots of whales. I enjoyed the whole time in Tadoussac, from the nice posh meals to the fabulous views.

Meals
Anyone who knows me, knows how I eat nothing and am very fussy. I decided before going to Canada that I was going to try as many different foods as possible. I can't remember ever saying no to anything and even had cheese which I normally hate. I don't think there was anything I didn't like. A lot of the meals were quite posh but really enjoyed all of the food, even continued the food exploration by going to a proper sit down indian on Friday night once I was home.

Shout Out Out Out Out
I had almost forgot about this, after watching the breaks and beats competition we watched Shout Out Out Out Out who are a Canadian dance group who have 2 drummers and 4 bass players. They sound very different but enjoyed the music and at the end we turned around and there was a huge Fireworks display on.

Flight Home
This might sound bad, but I was pleased to go home so it was a relief when flying but more what I intended when writing "Flight Home" was the fabulous sun rise I watched and while this was happening a plane flew past us which made the sun rise look even more dramatic.

Montmorency Falls
We never made it to Niagra but at least we got to see a waterfall and this was impressive :-)

Accommodation
Some of the accommodation we stopped in was excellent, I think the best was Montreal but maybe thats because they had free Wi-Fi. No it was because the room was very nice and the owner Richard was incredibly helpful. The places we stayed in Toronto and Tadoussac was also really good. Shame Quebec and Kingston didn't match up, 3 out of 5 isn't bad though.

People
Almost everyone we met when in Canada was very friendly, helpful and laid back. That is one of the things I think both of us would take as a positive from Canada.

Run
I managed to get 1 run in before I was unable to, I really enjoyed this running through High Park and down to the the shore of Lake Ontario. I only did just over 3 miles but had intended to do more over the following days.

Last quick test

I've just done a last test using my phone to take pictures and I've removed the counter from the right of this blog. It's been replaces by 3 links to stuff relating to my holiday. Places I'm staying, photo map hopefully not long after taking them and the direct link to the photos.

The Flickr stuff is dependent on me finding free Wi-Fi coverage!

Holiday

I spent a couple of hours today hopefully finalizing where we are staying in Canada. We are still waiting for confirmation for the place in Kingston but fingers crossed it should be OK.

So I decided to do a Google Map showing where we are staying and start to add some of the stuff we are hoping to visit. I haven't finished it yet, but for the moment this is it:

Canada Holiday Google Map

You are best clicking the link above because the one below doesn't fit in the blog very well :-(

Good Weekend

For a change I feel like I have done something with the weekend, I put my shed up on Saturday which took a while. The longest part was laying the paving level, so the shed would have a level base.

Yesterday I ran the Raby 10K and achieved my target time. Then after the race Kay came over and we spent hours and hours going through accommodation and stuff for our Canada trip. We haven't booked any more than the original first week in Toronto but we have a more firm intinery for the second and have picked out 3 or 4 hotels in each place. We can now finally see a picture of the room (Rose Suite) we booked in Toronto.

Rose Suite (our room in Toronto)

We still have to book the second week but I think we both know what each other likes now and are thinking along the same lines (I hope). It looks like we have decided to drive the second week, not 100% but the train takes as long as driving for some reason?

Today I had a lie in, which I needed. Then I went to Ikea and Ilva with my parents for a look out. I found a table I liked in Ikea but wasn't sure if the colour would go in my dining room. Then walked over to Ilva and saw several tables I liked, at twice the price and most too big. I did find one the looked perfect, it was a Solid Mango Wood Table at £297. I didn't buy it though, can't afford too.

Solid Mango Wood Table in Ilva

Eve of Holiday

Tomorrow I will be setting off for Milngavie on the train if they are running on time after a derailment today. To be honest I have mixed feelings, I'm not exactly looking forward to it yet because I've not had time to really think about it. I've spent all day listening to everyones problems and rushing around.

I suppose it will be good to get away from everything (I should be saying it will be good). I just can't get into holiday mode yet. Finished packing my bag about 10 minutes ago, it doesn't feel too bad. Although this time I've spent a bit of time adjusting everything. There is also the slight omission of water so far, I don't need that filling up until Saturday morning when I leave the hotel I'm staying in. 3 to 4 litres of water adds quite a bit of weight to the pack!

In some ways I'm slightly nervous or I know I will be once I get to bed tonight. I have only had 1 night in the tent so far and I'm not sure I will like Youth Hostels but its an experience which is what it's all about.

I haven't over stocked on food, I do have enough Cereal bars to last me several days. I have got 3 Wayfarer meals, 4 cup-a-soups, 5 peperamis, supanoodles and a few other things. This may not sound like a lot considering I will be away for 8 nights but I will be staying in hotels 2 of those night (beginning and end), 2 Youth Hostels (although need own food) and I will be stopping in any pubs for meals when I pass them when I'm hungry. Of course I will be sampling a few local ales while in those pubs ;-)

I wanna, I gotta, I need to..

...Run the Las Vegas Half Marathon.

I saw this mentioned in an advertisement in Runners World, they wanted £1200 for 4 nights in Mandalay Bay. I'm sure I could do it for 5 nights at a lot less money than that, this would be absolutely fantastic, running along the Las Vegas Strip being set off by fireworks and Elvis "Viva Las Vegas".

Before I even saw this race I had said that I really wanted to go to Vegas in December. I can't really afford it but it would be absolutely fantastic. I wonder if Kay fancies Vegas, the Half Marathon would only take up 2 hours of the 4/5 nights/days.

It sets off at 6am (what the hell), suppose its the only way they can let you run the strip by doing it early.

The Marathon would be great but not ready for that, but the Half.

I gotta do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Accommodation Booked

Today we finally booked our accommodation for mine and Kay's holiday to Canada. We have booked the first weeks accommodation in Toronto anyway. We looked at lots of places some of which are listed further down in this post.

We finally decided to stay at "By The Park" but had to decide between 2 rooms in separate houses. There were advantages and disadvantages to both. We decided to go with 89 Indian Grove's Rose Bedroom, the only problem with this is there are no pictures of it because they are still renovating it. Every other room they have looks great, so we've taken a chance. Although it is quite a bit cheaper than some of the others, most of them come with living rooms and stuff though!

Anyway I have emailed all the details and have had a confirmation back from Margo the owner. We don't have to pay anything until we arrive which will be $455 (Canadian), this works out at £221 for a week. Which is of course shared between us, all this works out at less than £16 a night each. Its an extra $8 (£3.50) per person for breakfast but will decide this once we are there.

If this hadn't been available we were thinking about staying in Summer Residence in Toronto University (basically the dorms). This looks loads better and isn't too much more. It's a bit further out but there are good public transport links near by.

We are now both really happy we have somewhere booked, we just have to plan what we want to do when we are there and where we want to go the second week. So far Ottowa, Montreal and Quebec have been mentioned. Also a trip around "A Thousand Islands", White Water Rafting and of course we will be going to Niagara Falls in the first week. Can't wait...

The other places we looked at were:
www.aplacetostay.ca
www.alexandrahotel.com
www.annexquesthouse.com
www.bbmyguest.com
www.bondplacehoteltoronto.com
www.bbcanada.com/beaconsfield
www.citynights.ca
www.glengrove.com
www.torontores.com

All of the above are probably different from what most people would look at except maybe the Bond Place Hotel. I think it's a good idea to stop somewhere a bit different and get a feel for the place (I hope this is a good idea anyway).

I checked all of the places out on Trip Advisor, which is an excellent place to look for reviews of accommodation from people who have stopped in the places.

Holiday for Planning

This week is more about planning my next year as well as doing some hopefully interesting stuff where I can fit it in. I was hoping to do some work around the house but not sure when I'm gonna get chance to do that.

I am always planning stuff on here and making lists, looking back at the lists from earlier in they year I have done many of them. There are some big holes like Classical Music and theatre/musicals. I am very tempted to go and see Chicago this week even if I have to go on my own. I can't really afford it but what the hell, anything could happen next week so "LIVE FOR TODAY".

Below are some of the things I am planning, many are already added to my Calendar. This is quite a big list already. I have wasted far too much time already so am on a bit of a mission. If I complete these I will be fit as hell and I'm determined enough to. I have quite a few more ideas but wrote these yesterday and thought I would jsut copy and paste them in :-)

Walks
West Highland Way
Ben Nevis via CMD Arete
Mt. Snowdon
Ill Belle
Scafell & Scafell Pike
North Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge

Runs
Great North Run
Raby 10K
Blaydon Race
Redcar Half Marathon
Beamish Tram Challenge

Cycling
Downhill Mountain Biking - Fort William
Cycle the Coast to Coast

Other
CANADA
Learn to Climb
Learn to Canoe/Kayak
Learn to Hore Ride
Motorbike Lessons
Learn to Ski/Snowboard
Ice Climb (Xscape)
Fishing
Shooting

Canada

My flights to Canada for me and Kay are booked :-)

We are flying July 5th 2007 from Newcastle and Returning on July 18th. We have only booked the flights so far, but will hopefully book the initial accommodation soon. I am really looking forward to it, just wish it wasn't so long until July.

We are flying from Newcastle to Toronto and will be going to Niagara Falls and we are thinking about Ottawa as well but so far haven't really planned any of our Itinerary.

So 1 thing is booked for next year or 2 if I include INXS but better not mention that!

Planning

I sent this last night from my phone but hasn't appeared yet, so copied it from my mail!

i have spent the last couple of hours adding things to my google
calendar for next year or penciling them in if thats still the correct
term to use.

i have added my canada trip in and have narrowed the dates down to the
beginning of July. looking at the prices of flights it would mean
departing either the 28th June or i think it was the 5th June if
that's a week later. then returning 2 weeks later. the prices start
increasing after that.

besides for canada i have added in several races, including the great
north run, blaydon race, raby 10k, beamish tram challenge and Redcar
half marathon. i don't think i will be able to make all of them
because of other things but would like to do the 2 half marathons and
at least 1 of the other 3.

i also added a couple of other things like a show at the newcastle
theatre royal and the whole leeds festival weekend.

i have added a week in may to walk the west highland way or another
long distance path that would take a week. i haven't booked anything
at all yet and somethings others may want to go too but just jotted
then down while i was thinking about them.

i have all the other walks i want to do to add in yet as well. i
downloaded an overlay for memory map tonight which shows all the
wainwrights on the map and then i can mark when i've done them. if you
don't know what a wainwright is google it.

so this year hasn't even finished and already i in starting to plan
all sorts for next year!

ah Egypt, would love to go there but wont be able to afford that as
well as Canada. unfortunately it will probably have to wait until 2008
:-(

i'm planning stuff for next year yet haven't planned next week when
i'm off except for one day.

Planning

I started to make a list of things I wanted to do over the next year at work on Thursday. I thought I had put it in my pocket on Friday but now I can't find it. So I will try to create a new one:

CANADA
Great North Run
Raby 10K
Blaydon Race
NY 3 Peaks
Snowdon
Ben Nevis via CMD Arete
Scafell Pike & Scafell
Ill Bell
West Highland Way
Wolsingham ME Walk
Blencathra & Sharp Edge
Helvellan via Striding Edge
Weardale Way

There are more to add to these and I want to try to add them to my calendar so I actually do them rather than just thinking about it.

I still need to think of a BIG thing to do, I know many of the above are BIG things but I mean something that will really push me, like Skydiving last year and Great North Run this year. The West Highland Way would be an event if I wild camp it all, but I want something that stops and makes you think that its an achievement.

I started writing this post 2 days ago and hoped to add to it but haven't had time to sit down and really think about plans for the next year. So just posted it as it is so far and will try to add them to my calendar this next week so I have a firm date to do each :-)

World Cruise

I was listening to someone at work talking about the cruise they had been on to Iceland and Greenland and I thought it sounded fantastic, right up my street. I used to think why would anyone want to go on a cruise but I have changed my mind over the last year or so and think it could be an excellent way to see lots of places. I often get bored easy when looking around places so a cruise where you only spend a few hours in a port would mean I wouldn't have the time to get bored.

While looking at the cruise mentioned at work I saw this one. an epic 85 day cruise around the world stopping in 24 ports. I might book it after tomorrow when I win the lottery (yeah right). You can see the ports of call here. I would maybe get bored spending so much time on the boat, unless they had wi-fi access, lol (wonder if they do?)

It would be nice to have the money to do something like this, the prices start from under £3000 for 4 people sharing but there are big suppliments depending on rooms and number of people. There's a nice Grade 2 Balcony Suite 3 berth with a £25,900 supplement ;-)