Toronto Recognaissance Day 1

I arrived in Toronto Monday morning. How do I know I’ve crossed the rockies?

Just check out the line up at Tim Hortons at 7am at the airport…I thought it was a security check line…

Aiport Security? Nope...just the lign up for old Tim Hortons

Speaking of which…allen keys and wrenches…even if they are a small 1/2inch…count as tools that are prohibited from your carry-on baggage. I found this out the unpleasant way when I tried to get through security at the Vancouver International Airport and was escorted back to the check-in desk.

Allen key and 1/2 inch wrench will keep you from getting through airport security

Blurry-eyed and tired from the red-eye, which by the way is highly not recommended, we headed for the TTC public bus. My pockets were short $1.50 so we went to the ATM to take out some money. Out came four 50 dollar bills. The bus only takes exact change, so we went to the Tim Horton’s line up to buy a breakfast bagel and juice…only to find out they don’t take $50’s…the insanity!!!!! Gwendal, my intrepid travelling partner went to the currency exchange booth, where they curtly said…”you didn’t buy this money from us, so we can’t break it for you”…he proceeded to the “I”nformation booth where the attendant was appalled and went over to the Currency Exchange booth to give them a piece of his mind….his mind never transcended the bureaucracy because in the end he felt such embarrassment that he pulled out change from his own pocket lamenting the fact that he would later have to face breaking that $50 when he wanted his cup of coffee a little later that day.

The moral of that story is…..make sure you have $2.75 in your pocket before you get to the airport. The ride into the city was pleasant. It was not difficult at all to navigate the transfers from bus to subway and from subway to bus. We learned that you only pay once on a 1-way route, so long as you are riding the same transportation system.

We got to Gwendal’s sister’s place around 9am…and slept until 1pm. We managed to drag our jet-lagged bottoms downtown on the subway and were greeted by the lovely Curbside crew.

Toby, Robin & Jesse who hooked us up with rental bikes on the house - Thanks Eric!

Robin and Toby from Curbside (look out for Toby in the CMWC competition!)

We will be riding these Batavus Personal’s all week long…It’s a good thing that Toronto is flat because these bikes cruise in these conditions! I love that there is a back tire locking mechanism that works. It’s a little tricky at first, but the rope lock that allows you to lock up your helmet to your bike is a nice touch. And most of all…I can leave my lights that I brought along with me at the house, because the Batavus Personal is equipped with internal dynamo hub lights in the front and in the back!!!

Me getting fitted on the Batavus Personal

The day got even better when we stopped by the Community Bicycle Network. I was late, so I missed Herb and Smokey…but I did manage to catch the beginning of the Wenches with Wrenches class full of women that had decided it was time for them to learn how to fix their bikes themselves.

Action Outside the Community Bicycle Network (CBN)

Learning about proper seat alignment at the CBN Wenches with Wrenches Class

The night ended at the Hacienda, a quaint little Mexican restaurant (if you could call that Mexican food I’m not too sure) where we met up with our good friend Lesley. The patio was very refreshing…as it was covered we were still able to be outside as the June thunder and lightning storms made noise and soaked the town throughout the day. The beer was great…the food was…well…I can say it was filling…but definitely not Mexican and the service? Well, I thought I was reliving my morning. Be sure to show up with less than 6 people, as there is a mandatory 20% gratuity for groups of 6 or more...lets just say, I always thought tips were for good service…not for really unwelcome service…

We rode back to the “Junction” neighbourhood navigating the flat streets of Toronto…

Did I mention Toronto is flat?

I’ll be blogging my Toronto adventures while we’re here screening our newly released documentary film “Long Road North” at Innis Town Hall at 7pm tonight! June 10th and taking
in the Cycle Messenger World Championships…..

We’re rooting for you Hodari!!!! (Hodari Depalm from Checker Courier of New York will be racing his Bilenky Cargo Bike in the Cargo Races that take place on Toronto Island
at 12noon on Saturday)