Prose Pro Quid USA

Random North American?

Are you American or Canadian?  Has some slightly weird English guy given you one of these stickers?  Read on, then click here...

Logo one of several kindly provided by Noémi.   I picked this one because it doesn't make quite as much fun of my hair.

US English version

Hey y'all!  It would be gnarly to the max if you could post a comment here!  This dude Ken Ferguson is, like, totally buggin', cos each time one of ya'll does that, he gotta pay £10 (about $20) to charity!  Scoot on down to the  Comments link and click like all get out.  Tubular!  Later dudes and dudettes...

UK English version

For information only - Ken doesn't have to fork out for Her Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects.  Or you lot.

Terribly sorry to trouble you, but would you mind adding a comment here?  This Ken Ferguson chappie, don't you know, bit addled if you ask me, perhaps a bit too long in the sunshine, might benefit from one of those charming cap affairs you seem to wear over there.  Long story short, he's offered ten of his finest spondulicks each time you do.   A trifle inconvenient, I'll grant you, but if you could bear with me, worthy cause and all that, then I'd be dashed grateful.  Just move your jolly old mouse over the Comments link, and click like billyo.  Thanks awfully.

Charities

I'm supporting two charities: SightSavers, and Brake. If you're an American or Canadian leaving a comment, you don't need to donate - just click here to leave a comment.

If you fancy donating, click on SightSavers, or Brake, but please also mail me so that I can keep track.  I've been matching your donations upto a total of £1000; so far including that, I've raised £3120.

A beautiful sidewalk

We made it to Toronto a couple of days ago (that's us arriving), but have been too busy being idle to find a web cafe till now.

Since then we've fallen out of love with the beautiful highway, and in love with the beautiful sidewalk - lolling in cafes, sneering at Libeskind buildings, all the urban things we do so well.

Thanks to all of you who sponsored me, and to all the random Americans (and the odd Canadian) who posted comments. 

And thanks also to the various bikeshops who helped patch up my creaking bike along the way (in contrast to Ewa's, which had one puncture).   Soon I'll be dismantling it (a job it's frankly doing quite well on its own) ready for the return journey to the UK.

New York/Ontario Photos

Are here.

Paradise Found

...in Milton (the next small town on our leisurely route to Toronto), which presents temptation in the form of a very nice Italian restaurant.

We selected it after cruising up and down Main Street on our bikes-to truly blend in, we should really have converted our panniers to booming bass speakers.

Waterdown - cod British

Right down to the fish and chip shop (see what I did there?). Then there's the pub, the steak house, and the tea room (which we may try tomorrow morning).
Download note_mt_20070720_235953990.txt

Gooda Bean

Our last meal in America, after waving John off, was breakfast at Bada Bean, a groovy cafe in Niagara Falls, most of which is decidedly run-down and non-groovy. Best coffee all trip.

Then over the bridge to Canada, where we can wallow in familiarity: black cabs, Eccles Cakes, and the Queen on the money (looking decidedly younger than she's done for decades). One dollar coins have a picture of a loon (I mean no disrespect to Her Majesty-it's the bird) and are called loonies, and two dollar coins are delightfully called twonies.

Last night we stayed at a bed and breakfast called The Cottage On The Lake - a lovely place, and we were excited this morning to see Toronto across the lake. Though we sobered up when we remembed we're going around rather than across.
Download note_mt_20070720_162116743.txt

Mr. Potter's Dinner

Way back in Orford, we met Philip Potter of Greenwich Massachusetts, who had served in the UK during the Second World War, and remained an Anglophile ever since. We enjoyed his company over breakfast, and as we left, in one of those heart-warming gestures that you only read about on people's blogs but don't expect to encounter in real life, he gave us $100 to have dinner on him.

We did some agonising about whether we should give this to charity, but decided that we should do as he asked. In a few decades we'll find some bedraggled American cyclists and return the favour.

Tonight is the last night we have before we head off to Canada, short days, and luxury vegetarian bed and breakfasts, and John heads off towards Ohio. 200 mile days, and rain-sodden haystacks.

So tonight dinner is on Mr. Potter. Thankyou, that's very kind.
Download note_mt_20070718_225729875.txt

New York Photos

Are here.

Just rub your bike lamp, and this appears

We cycled for a long part of the way along the Erie Canal.  In Pittsford, nestled by the canal, we found the Aladdin Restaurant. 

After day after day of food marinaded in high fructose corn syrup then deep fried, to find a place doing veggie pasta, falafel, lentil soup, salads...ah, bliss. 

Some of them are souped up, allegedly

We stumbled across the 36th Annual Osceola Turtle Races, which is a big deal round these parts. 

If you're a child, then it's way cool.  Like Pooh Sticks, only on dry land, and with turtles.  Oh, and in a circle.  And there's no bridge.  Possibly not that much like Pooh Sticks, after all.

If you're an adult, then it's way cool.  The kids get out of your hair, and you can drink till the pumps run dry.  And once you've had your fill of gasolene, you start on the beer.

We couldn't hang around for the actual race, so we stuck one of the Random American stickers onto one of them.  We haven't heard anything, so I don't think it placed.

Fulton praise

Cafes in general seem to open early here, but Kathy's Cafe in Fulton opens at the ungodly hour of 4:30am. This only makes any kind of sense if it serves breakfast to other cafe owners on their way to open their own places.

Out back (let's pause to admire that use of local idiom) we chatted to an old guy:

'How come she ain't got no saddlebags?'
'Because he's a gentleman,' Ewa replied.
'Guess he ain't from New York State.'

Tomorrow we should reach Niagara, which from what we hear has a supply of flowing cool water which might, just might, be large enough to soothe our aching behinds. And I can bring y'all upto speed on the turtle race.