Home again

 

Back to Saint John to pick up the coach. It was wonderful to be back in the Argosy. Although it was stuck in a snow bank!
Thankfully Tony had gone to great lengths to plow around it in my extended absence. But I was grateful for the winch to get it out!

A few quick preparations and a day lost to yet another ice storm and we were finally on our way south.







An easy border crossing was a relief and on to Neil's yet again. A few trips to the pub and a good night's sleep set me up for the toad ahead, the I95,....

In the morning we loaded up the new water tanks for the Argosy that I'd had shipped to Neil's as well as the two new axles that I'd picked up in New York state my last trip through.

I had thought I'd install the axles here but that was months ago, and it's way too cold now.
Better job for Florida.

Too cold for canvas

As I'd been planning to head south in October, I set off with my full length canvas roof, known as a "tilt" or "hood". In warm weather it's lovely to roll the sides up and enjoy the shade. But driving in frigid temperatures in Montreal, Toronto and the upcoming run down the I95 really isn't well suited for the terrible visibility and draughty roof.
So I opted to install my pickup cab, easy to heat and great visibility. Only I needed to get a tonneau cover made to protect all the gear in the truck bed. To have the tonneau made I had to remove the canvas top, but I still had to finish rebuilding the pickup ca, so for a week or so I drove the truck topless in Montreal! In January!
Took my girls out for a few romps in the snow, good fun!

At long last I got the hundred or so rivets in the cab and got it installed, oh what a pleasure to drive now!

 

 

Toronto

Photo stolen from the web, too cold to take my own!

I took the opportunity to run up to Toronto for a week as see some wonderful old friends. What I didn't count on was some of the nastiest, bitter weather ever seen in TO.
As a result I parked the truck and hibernated inside but for very few outings, one to a splendid pub a block and a half away, had it been two blocks away they could have chiseled us out of the snow bank haven frozen to death.

My old '71 bus on Cherry Beach Toronto.



Me in my old VW bus, living in Toronto circa 1980.

I lived in Toronto for a year 33 years ago in a Volkswagen bus. It was a wonderful time.



I stayed mostly on Cherry Beach, as seen here.
It was a wonderful time, I loved that old bus!






As a Montrealer I was always quick to dismiss Toronto, as all so many Canadians tend to do.
But Toronto has become a really great metropolis.

My friend took me for a great afternoon tour of all my old stomping grounds, much has changed, and much is the same.


I owe it a proper visit in better weather. And of course to see more of my TO friends.

Dad

I've been in Montreal these past months with my Father. He's fought prostate cancer for 20 years, making him a survivor. He outlived his initial diagnosis by 17 years, allowing him to watch his granddaughters grow up and so much more. I've been so grateful to have been able to spend these last few months with him. Dad died just before Christmas, with his loving wife at his side.

My Daughters were able to come up to Montreal for the memorial and their mother came a week earlier, she too was with Dad when he died.


That's Dad and I in London in 1963.
He played that old National guitar all my life. It's mine now and I cherish it.

The memorial was wonderful with so many old friends and family.

Now it's time to go south,...

But first a quick trip to Toronto.

Quick trip home

I drove back to Nova Scotia and had a lovely night in the pub with my daughters for my birthday. It was great to see them.

it's a wonderful thing when a parent can be so proud and confident in their children.
These two are a great joy in my life.





On the way back to Saint John, where my trailer is stored while I'm in Montreal, I caught up with Patrick and Jessica. Friends from Home that are also on a Land Rover road trip. Originally they were going to catch up with me but being delayed I'll join them in the south in the new year. In the meantime however, they need a new engine. Which is annoying as they just swapped in a thought to be good engine the week before.
A few days in Tony's shop and all was well.
They carried on south and I returned to Montreal.

Old haunts

Having a little free time I took the opportunity to tour around some of my old haunts. All the places I've lived and favorite hangouts.

Montreal in a lovely city to know well, so many great places are hidden away and off the beaten track. And these tend to be the sort of places that don't change with the times as much. One landmark from my youth is the old Westmount train station. Sadly abandoned by the railway and even by the city of Westmount which amazes me. It's a lovely building in an amazing location but it's completely overrun.

I was born in London England and grew up in Montreal. That's me in about 1964 with my mum and her mum. God doesn't she look 1963, just back from
London. I lived in this greystone until my mid teens.

Driving by today the house is largely unchanged except for the neighborhood having become outrageously expensive.

The first house I owned was about a block away, but much less noble! One of only a few wooden houses in Westmount it was a great start for our young family. But it eventually became too small as our family grew and Nova Scotia beckoned.

 I took some pictures of the old wooden house but all you can see are the trees that now surround it. Amazing spot!






I was also very glad to have the opportunity to spend some time with old friends. Here's Geordie goofing with Neil and Sandy.

It's all about the food

I think of myself as a bit of a foodie.

I know, I know, it's so bloody trendy to be a foodie these days, but in the last decade, I've really began to enjoy all aspects of food. And
when I'm in Montreal I have so many favorite places.
The best bagels in the country at St. Viaterur Bagel. I only go late at night and get a dozen white seed (sesame seed) with a tub each of cream chese and lox (smoked salmon).
They'll be hot from the wood fired oven and in my opinion, must be eaten within the hour.
That seems extreme to many who would argue that they're perfectly acceptable as long as they're toasted for breakfast the following morning. I've never had any left by morning,...
There are those who would argue that another, nearby bagel shop is superior, bah! No bagel shops that offer raisin bagels on my list thank you,...

I'm staying with my Dad and his wife and there is a lovely little spot just at the corner.
Toucheh, Italian with a hint of Persian.
We enjoyed a lovely meal there the other night and I was so moved by the community felling.
We were treated with a warmth I've rarely experienced.

Although Montreal is a city with thousands of restaurants, many of which are quite illustrious, many of the spots I love are the little, out of the way gems that I only know from having grown up here. And now you know!

A wonderful example of that is Momesso's.
A little hole in the wall with the most wonderful spicy Italian sausage subs, on great, crusty bread.
Oh man it's good! Plus it's one of the only places I know of where you can still get Brio. I don't drink pop but as a kid, Brio was a staple with pizza. As a kid I was crazy about the real, family run pizzerias in Montreal. the big chains don't stand a chance here. Most of the old family pizzerias are gone now, mine was burned down by,.....

Smoked meat, now we're at the heart of the Montreal food scene. absolutely every Montrealer has their favorite spot, and each has powerful arguments for their loyalty. For me there are two types of smoked meat joints. The big old delis, like Dunn's, Snowden deli and Ben's, the latter being my favorite, now long since demolished. And the little joints Schwartz's, Lester's and The Main Deli, my smoked meat of choice.

The last spot I'll tell you about is a true, classic greasy spoon! A simply marvelous experience you mustn't miss, if your doctor will allow you! Cosmo's This is the ultimate breakfast. In summer, enjoy sitting on the sidewalk with everyone who knows, and in winter share the tiny 8 person counter with the real die hards. Be prepared to chat with both the staff and the patrons. You may be the only person not known by name, but not the next time.
There's even a documentary about the place and Tony the patriarch, who sadly passed away in the summer of 2013.