The Return of the Kraut

So Ray has come back to the city...

On Saturday morning I waited in Kelowna's departure lounge, watching as flights to Vancouver and Seattle were cancelled due to fog. Waiting, waiting - then, finally the plane boards, does a short taxi, then leaps into the air smoothly, making my younger days' fear seem stupid.

But I also remember having more room to sit and the attendants not being so damn surly and cheap with the coffee.

Four and a half hours later we land in frigid, snowy Toronto. Thinking that not much has changed I realize that I'm walking through a totally new Terminal 1, all shiny, new and modern...Snazzy.

A cockup at the car rental desk and I'm cruising in an upgraded Monte Carlo at speeds of 20km/hour. Apparently Torontonians are having their annual bout of amnesia, in which they forget all knowledge of how to drive safely in the snow. People are whining about how slippery everything is and how stupid every OTHER driver is...

I'm thinking driving north to visit my brother is a BAD idea. I give it a few more miles. Once I get out of Brampton, the roads are miraculously clear of snow AND traffic. I gun the engine up to a slightly risky 80km and hope for the best. Apart from the occasional whiteout from blowing snow I have no problem until I catch up with other drivers who seem to have no concept of the uses of momentum in pushing through snowy patches.

Honestly...I believe that the inventions of traction control and anti-lock brakes have made Canadians worse drivers because they no longer have to think about wheel slippage or pumping the brakes so they don't lock up.

3 hours later and I get to my brother's place on Georgian Bay safely and have a short family reunion. On Sunday when I awake I'm treated to one of those beautiful sunny snow days that only seem to exist in southern Ontario. B.C.'s beautiful, but...different. 120km/hour flying down highway 10 and I'm on my way to drop the rental car, check in to the hotel and then off to dinner, drinks and political conquests with Mr. Taylor and the Flea.

Much drinkage and world domination talk will ensue. And much Kylie-talk.

But that's a story for another time (and I have pictures...)