MetropolitanToronto Reference Library

Pretty amazing building - the largest library in Canada. And right across the street from mia casa.

This is the backside view, in case you don't recognize it. The front is even more impressive, but I'm too lazy to walk around the corner. And too cold.

Just a chili pepper's throw from the King Palace Restaurant. So a warm book and some spicy chicken are within easy walking distance.

Formerly the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library, now just the Toronto Reference Library, since the Toronto Public Library System sucked it into its craw.

Over one million linear feet of manuscript materials. And with the movie opening last week, one of the largest collections of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Author of Sherlock Holmes.

My Thoughts Exactly

...wait a minute. That's upside down. Or backwards.

No it isn't.

Hmmm...yes, it is.

Well, let's see...

Much better.

And to you and yours, too!

So Can I Come In Or What?

Deadly poison?

I thought all poison was deadly. Why not say Extremely Very Deadly Poison?

Regardless, I was swimming right next door to it.

It's probably not good when guys walk by wearing, I guess, deadly poison resistant moon suits while I'm standing in my little thong Speedo.

Because those thick, plastic gloves hurt when they smack your butt.

Just kidding....just kidding....they didn't hurt.

How Many Air Canada Employees Does It Take To......Do Nothing?

Eleven, by my count.

And they're surprised that they are losing money and in bankruptcy. Go figure.

And this wasn't just for a few minutes. This was for our entire pre-boarding time.

[The guy with the coffee on the left is an employee, by the way. How do I know. He did nothing, just like the other ten.]

Now here a customer has arrived. [And he's not the guy with the coffee either. That guy is now forth from the right, chatting up the brunette.]

Look at them jump into action!

I love Air Canada!

Good Cure For Alcoholism

Long day of travelling? A little thirsty?

Feel like a little bottle of bubbly?

Let's just check the handy price list.....

Feel like paying $28?

Maybe a nice $10 sip of red wine is more to your liking?

Or if you're really on a budget - move down to a $6 shot of vodka.

It's Grey Goose, ya cheap ba%$%%^d!

Maybe I'll just have a tasty $8 bottle of water.......

Classy Joint

Boy, I sure can pick 'em, eh?

My favourite is the "Trough".

Last one I used was in Maple Leaf Gardens.

Awwww.......

...poor little fella.

But it still tasted good.

I mean......I guess so. How would I know? I don't know...... What are you getting at?

What's Wrong With This Picture?

No taxis!



Oh, I can hear the cluck, clucking now. Inappropriate!!

That's what I thought.

Went in to my new favourite restaurant for some spicy Chicken Tikka and saw several platters of steaming food on one of the side tables.

I asked the proprietor what's with all the platters.

He said, we're catering a party and we're waiting for a cab to deliver it.

I said, hey you've always got lots of cabs outside. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I grimaced.

He turned and looked at me and said, very loudly, "We're cab central! Trouble getting a cab was the last thing on my mind". Shook his head.

His partner came in, closing his cell phone, also shaking his head. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing available."

We looked at each other at the irony of the situation and laughed. Me a little more nervously than the other two guys.

So no harm, no foul.

Whew......

Okay, Enough Already....

......with the fixation on vampires and the movie Twilight and all the vampire TV shows and books.

This girl's backpack is a bat, with wings that flap with each step.

It's actually velly scarrrrry the first time you see it. After that, I knew it wasn't real. And didn't run away any more.

I tried to get a better shot, but I turned around...and she was gone!

And I Thought You Just Rubbed It On Your Hands...

These are the posters at our work.

Who knew you needed a whole page to tell you what to do.

But I guess it's important to "rub all hand and fingers surface."

And don't forget to "rub hand and fingers front and the thumb".

What the who?

Sounds like my two year old nephew wrote this.

Now I'm all for Health Canada trying to save some money, but is this the place to do it? "Hey, Bob, just have your kid write it."

On the other hand, do you really need a full page on how to squeegee on some lotion?

Regardless, did anybody, anybody at all read this, even once, before it got sent all around the freakin' country by Health Canada?

Very Clever

These folks have beach going all figured out.

Where better to sit than right under the fishing pier?

You've got the protective concrete pilings in front of you. Handy garbage cans right behind you.

And what really ruins a day at the beach? Having people jump on you or dive on you.

Well not here. Not unless they want a hefty fine.

I'm surprized their two guest chairs are empty.

I Don't Know.......

....I'll need some more details on the Free Trial.....

Oh, oh........

....what do I do now?

Mike? Tod? Guys, are you going anywhere? Going to the store?





Errr......hmmm....... Okay, here is a shot from Hallowe'en.

In Naples, Florida. Where the average age is 61.

Or is it 161? [Sorry, girls.]

Mike & Tod - Day 33 - Epilogue

So I guess one more day for the adventure really.

The long, long, long flight home;
Key West - Miami
Miami - Atlanta
Atlanta - Detroit
Detroit - Ottawa
Ottawa - Oxford Mills (...okay, that was a car ride)

And to top it off, you knew it would happen; luggage lost and bikes lost.

Ouff!

I'm sure the day felt like one long airport after another.

I guess it was.

But, I guess there's a silver, or at least amber, lining to everything if you look hard enough.

Now although this was a taken a while ago, I'm sure this is exactly how Mike's butt feels today.

Epilogue 2;
So Tod returned home, never to be allowed out again.

And although Mike briefly went back to the Maintstreet Restaurant, he eventually went on to become a very successful flat tire repairman.

Mike & Tod - Day 32 - Th-th-that's All Folks!

Made it!!

90 miles from Cuba. Are they thinking of extending the tour?

Pretty impressive.

Gutted out the last leg of the journey today.

As the sun comes up, Tod is setting the compass bearings (I think that's an app on the iPhone, isn't it?) for the final push.

I'm guessing there's not a lot of navigating to be done from here on, though....

One road.
One way.

And even though today's the end, after 32 of those days, I'm sure this road looks long and winding to them at 6:30am.

Still need to have their wits about them - which I'm guessing will be a real challenge at this stage for the dynamic duo..

Getting cheered along the way by their fans.

Just like the Tour De France, I'm guessing.

Not much farther now.....

Time for a little lunch. Spicy shrimp fry. Mmmmmmm.......

Getting closer.....20 miles.

Yer butt. How's that working out for ya?

Mile 0.

Made it to the promised land.

Not sure if that's Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.

And I'm sure at this stage, neither are they....

But now they are!

Cheeseburgers, and they're in Paradise!

Whoa!

The beer's getting frosty and the photos are getting fuzzy.

Excellent!

Wow! What an accomplishment.

Conrats, guys!

Now...how ya gettin' home?

Mike & Tod - Day 31 - The Long And Winding Road

Beautiful sunrise over Key Largo.

Looks like a good start to the (second last?) day.

Tod ready to launch out onto Florida's Overseas Highway.

But first, let's fix a flat.

Gee, we haven't seen one of these in a while. But this time it was Tod that drew the short straw.

So, made it all the way to Marathon.

Not much to see on this map.

Except maybe the end of the trail. And none too soon!!

And here is Mike, looking like a cover of a Jimmy Buffett album.

By Mike's title; "Lost in the Keys".

Here Pablo, of the Florida Highway Patrol, gives the boys some much needed advice.

But how the heck can you get lost on this road? Go back and look at the map!

Whaddya know - he showed them a bike trail.

And for a bit, they had a new traveling companion.

But, with the day's cycling done, time for a little R&R. And beer.

Or rum.

Or whatever the heck that is......

Here's a shot of Sore and Sorer.

But tomorrow is the last day.

So how bad can things be?.......

Mike & Tod - Day 30 - "Keys" To the Highway

Well, looks like the guys ditched the fleabag joint last night and found something a lot better.

Here, Francisco is serving them breakfast at the Indian Creek Hotel. And giving them some great tips for their trip through the keys.

Now these look like two happier campers....

Thanks, Francisco!

So they made it to the keys, to Key Largo.

Very exotic sounding. I'm guessing Humphrey Bogart was part of the welcoming committee.

But if he wasn't, Chris and Ray, two of Miami's finest, certainly cheered them on as they left that city.

A far cry from the reception last year by the boys in blue in Palm Beach, eh?

Here Tod laughs in the face of the fierce winds gusting across Biscayne Bay.

But they almost got blowed into the Bay.

Didn't they learn anything from Ida?

And now they're where the weather really does suit their clothes, a fellow can work up quite a sweat trying to make headway.

And it wouldn't be Florida if you didn't have to keep your eyes pealed for crocs....

Mike, on your left there!

So they're into the Keys.

Just a couple more days now.

Go guys, go!