I just got home from what was supposed to be a relaxing week cruising up and down the waterways north of Toronto with my parents and their two visiting friends from Scotland. The reality wasn’t quite as laid back as the brochure, but it was an experience I won’t forget anytime soon… and right here in my backyard in Canada, no less!

I am one of those people who figures that travelling in my home country (and the US as well) can wait until I’m older. It’s in my backyard, I can do it anytime, it’s not that culturally exciting blah blah blah. The usual excuses. But when my parents arranged to rent a houseboat with a couple of visiting friends from Scotland and it was looking like I would be home for the trip, I weasled my way on board and was pretty excited to see what this Canada place has to offer.

We started our trip near a town called Bobcageon a couple hours north-ish of Toronto and planned to work our way down the Trent-Severn Waterway through a series of locks to Peterborough where there is a contraption I didn’t even know existed: a giant lift lock. We are not a boating kind of family so our knowledge of this stuff is pretty limited. I didn’t even know this place existed and it’s less than a four hour drive away.

The general cruising around on the houseboat is pretty relaxing when you’re not either attempting to get gas, trying not to crash into fancy boats, drifting and getting stuck on rocks, being towed by a man in a motorboat off of his private property, mildly damaging a prop, waiting for a new prop to be delivered, crashing full-speed into rocks, waiting to be rescued from a swamp, completely trashing a different prop, getting fisihing lines stuck in trees, or having to approach locks to traverse the waterway… 11 times. Houseboats are huge hunks of boat and I don’t think many of the people who rent these things know what they’re doing, my dad and his friend included. I was relegated to being the rope-girl and at first that was stressful enough. Other than all that stuff, the trip was relaxing, especially once on dry land with a rye and ginger in hand.

I still don’t think I’m ready to give up international travels in pursuit of more local trips, not yet at least. But my interest in Canada has risen a bit, especially the stuff that appeals to the outdoorsy side of me. The part we visited is beautiful and it’s not even that far out into the wilderness. It’s amazing to think of the vastness of even Ontario alone and how much it has to offer, especially to camper and canoer types. One thing I can say about Canada is that the rumours are true, we are a friendly bunch. The staff at these locks must deal with unruly houseboat drivers all the time but they still manage to be super patient, inceredibly helpful, and just generally smiley which goes a long way towards soothing those tattered nerves after a day on the water.

Despite our minor run-ins with lock walls and rocks it was a great trip, mostly because I got to spend a lot of time with my parents. I’m starting to appreciate my time at home a lot more than I used to. Maybe it’s the whole getting older thing, who knows. My parents are funny and getting them together with their Scottish friends led to some pretty entertaining evenings, especially when the booze kicked in and the reminiscing began. I’ve been home for nearly two weeks and, as always, it feels like a lot longer. The difference this time is that I’m not itching to get away. Not yet, at least.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Ive been back at home for a week now after a great couple of weeks in New York and a really fun couple of days in Boston. It’s been great hanging out with my parents and catching up with my brother and the few friends I still have here in town. I plan to head to Toronto for a couple of nights soon and hopefully down to Windsor to stay with another friend from highschool. But first things first… tomorrow I’m off to cottage country up north for a bit of houseboating around the lakes.

Growing up my family weren’t big campers or outdoorsy people and the one time we stayed in a cottage my mum pretty much packed everything possible, including the kitchen sink. This time around I don’t think we will be too overloaded with modern conveniences but we definitely won’t be roughing it, either. My parents have a couple of friends over from Scotland too so it should be pretty fun hanging with the oldies and their friends, doing a bit of fishing, drawing a bit, reading, writing, editing some photos and hopefully finally doing my taxes too. I love boats and the outdoors and I’m pumped to get to spend some time with my parents so I’m looking forward to it.

It does however mean that for the next week I won’t be getting much online stuff done. I will be missing in action until next Monday but I am hoping to have enough researchy type things saved to be able to do a lot of article writing while I’m offline. Since I have been home my parent’s router has been busted and the weather has been beautiful which has meant I haven’t been able to do nearly as much as I had wanted. I’m not sure how life on the boat will be but if things are as laid back and relaxed as I hope they are, I should be able to come home with a good amount of work to upload. That’s the idea, at least.

I came home this time without having any plans set in stone for when I will leave and where I will go. That’s probably the first time it’s ever happened; usually I know my next move months in advance of landing in Canada. It feels good though… I love the flexibility and the unknown. It means that I have been doing a lot of thinking about my next move and I still haven’t decided.

One thing is certain, I will not be spending the winter here, I can’t handle it anymore. I have a flight back to Managua for mid October and the front-runner plan is heading to New York a week before the flight to finish up on some work and meet up with a few more friends, fly to Managua, and travel back up through Mexico maybe working on farms as I go. Home for Xmas and then off to Africa via the UK in January. I will have to get over my winter phobia but if I keep my time in the Northern Hemisphere short, I think I will be ok. Of course all of this depends on what is happening in the world and if my favourite disaster response organisation are operating anywhere. They have a way of changing my plans over night.

I’ve got a couple of blog posts lined up for this week but other than that I will probably be out of touch until next week. I plan on being in St. Catharines in the Niagara Region for just under two months so if you are in the neighbourhood and want to meet up, let me know!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Usually when I come back to Canada after a year or two of being away I feel like life in my hometown has stood still. Most people seem to be working at the same places, going to the same bars and living the same routine over and over year after year.

Well this time around something has changed. I’m getting older and people are having babies. Babies! So now I feel like the one who’s stuck in a routine while everyone’s lives at home are changing like crazy. Everywhere I look people are married, have houses, babies, plasma TVs and careers in the making while I’m homeless with only a backpack full of crap to my name.Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want babies or TVs or babies on TV or any of that stuff but it has got me thinking about the circle of friends I’ve made travelling. There’s something to be said for surrounding yourself with like minded individuals who never utter those words ‘so, when do you think you’ll settle down?’ I think I heard that question 74 times. Not that I’m counting.

So I’m off once again to avoid reality for a little longer! I could be gone another couple of years this time around (sorry mum!) and I’m sure when I get back I’ll be even more out of the loop in St. Catharines than I am already but that’s a price I’m willing to pay.

Bring it on!!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!