I'm finally getting around to writing about my trip. Hand on heart, it was the best thing I've ever done in my life so far. It's making me feel so nostalgic, and while I have so many good things to look forward to, I am so excited to book myself on another trek.
Washington Square Park
On the Saturday I decided I'd head into the city. Admittedly, it was a bit of a hassle, but I did it never the less. It was 33 degrees and I was wearing jeans. Wrong choice, Brogan, wrong choice. I was absolutely boiling and for some reason I decided I'd walk from Penn Station on 34th street downtown to Washington Square Park. It's only about a 30 minute walk, but when you're wearing the wrong clothes, uncomfortable shoes and the sun is blazing down on you, it feels a lot longer. The shoes I had on gave me a blister (which was then made worse by the compeed I used and ended up ripping the skin off my ankle - so. much. pain.) I ended up spending four hours sitting chilling in Washington Square Park and got chatting to a NYU professor who was a published writer and who had sang with Nina Simone. After heading back to the hotel, I had a chilled out evening and early night in preparation for my very early start on the Sunday. Eeek.
My alarm was set for 5.45am on the Sunday. I showered, re packed my case and did a final check of the room to ensure I wasn't forgetting anything. The trek (and official day one) was due to start at 7.30am and I went down to the lobby for around 7am. There was already quite a few people waiting, I didn't realise that there was a Southern Sun trip leaving the same day. My group met our tour leader, Kaley, who was awesome and enthusiastic. We got all the 'boring' things out the way, like all the paperwork and immigration cards for Canada and then headed out, loaded the van and set about leaving.
We set off for Finger Lakes (upstate New York) which was about a four and a half hour drive from the hotel. A few of us needed sleeping bags and snacks for the van, so we decided we would stop at Walmart on the way. It was my first time at Walmart and I absolutely loved it. I spent $33 on the best sleeping bag ever, got so many snacks and sweets and was sorted for the rest of the day.
We stopped to make dinner (or lunch, to all your non Northerners) and then we hopped back in the van and stopped at Taughannock Falls State Park. It was supposed to be this amazing waterfall, but as luck would have it, it wasn't actually flowing. We got back in the van and drove through the college town of Ithaca and ended up at the Thirsty Owl winery in Finger Lakes. I'm not really a wine drinker, but who could refuse wine tasting five glasses for $3? Apparently, not me. I picked random wines with the help of Lucy and Megan but I had no idea what was considered 'good' wine. Also apparently I have no wine etiquette because I didn't realise you weren't supposed to drink the wine and ended up glugging all five glasses. Oops.
Taughannock Falls State Park
After that, we hopped back in the van and made our way to the campground. Having never camped before in my life, it was hilarious trying to figure out how to put our tent up. Thank heavens for Megan, a seasoned Trek traveller who actually knew what she was doing. We had planned to go to Ithaca for ice cream, but everyone was exhausted and we ended up just chilling at the campground. Lucy and I went for a swim, while the others made tea. We chilled, made a campfire and smores and it was incredible.
Sned Acres Campground
Day two brought Monday morning and a fairly early start (a running theme throughout the trip.) This was a day that everyone was looking forward to because we were heading to Niagara Falls and then onto our campground in Toronto. OHHHH CANADA. We had breakfast, packed the trailer up and got on the road. I think the drive to Niagara was around three hours, maybe slightly longer. We stopped for gas almost immediately and unloaded our waterproofs from the trailer as the heavens had opened. We were all worried that the weather would impact our view at Niagara and that the Maid of the Mist tour we were scheduled to do would still run. One of the highlights of this drive was when Kaley drove through the wrong toll tunnel, pulled over at the side of the road, hopped out of the van and ran back in the pouring rain to pay the toll.
When we made it to Niagara on the American side, the weather was still pretty dull and dreary. The view was just amazing though. Pictures of the falls do not do it justice, they are incredible. We got our tickets for Made of the Mist, got out waterproofs and then waited in line to get on the boat. There was so much mist, especially because it had been raining and was slightly foggy. The boat rocked, we got sprayed and it was just great. After that we made dinner, because certain foods cannot be taken into Canada, then we headed for the border. I'm not being biased here, but the Canadian side is one hundred times better. There was some kind of amusement park going on at the bottom, there's a huge long street that you can walk along that has shops and cafes. The weather had improved a lot, the sun was shining and it was quite warm. We got some pictures and some ice creams and sat on the grass looking at the falls before heading back to meet Kaley.
Via Maid of the Mist
From the American side
From the Canadian side
We got back in the van and headed for Toronto, which was about an hour and a half drive away. We stopped at Walmart to do a food shop before going to our campground. The evening was pretty chill, we set up our tents, made tea and then played cards for a while before settling down for the night.
Day three brought Tuesday and our full day in Toronto. I was so excited. When we were dropped off in the city, the group kind of parted a little. Lucy, Dan and I wanted to do the CN Tower so we headed off to do that. I think we waited for an hour and a half, or maybe longer, but it was worth it. The views of Toronto were beautiful. When we came down from the Tower, we went into the Toronto Bluejays shop in preparation for the game we were going to later that evening. It was so hot and all we wanted to do was chill by the water, so we got the ferry over to Centre Island. It was a beautiful little island, filled with greenery and amusements and a beach. We lay on the beach for a few hours before heading back over to meet the rest of the group for the Bluejays vs Padres game.
From the CN Tower
From the ferry to Centre Island
It was my first baseball game and I was so excited. We grabbed hot dogs and some drinks and took our seats. At first I had no idea what was going on, but as the game went on I started to grasp the rules. The atmosphere was amazing, we laughed, talked, ate, watched the game and had a great time. When the game finally finished, the Bluejays had won. Hurrah! By this point we were all exhausted and got in the van to head back to the campground.
Toronto Bluejays vs San Diego Padres at the Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Day four meant leaving Toronto and heading to Algonquin Provincial Park, which was just under a three hour drive. Our campground was literally in the middle of a forest, which was insane and incredible. We set up camp again in the pouring rain, went to the visitor centre and then decided we'd have a swim. We stopped by A Lake of Two Rivers which had a little beach attached. We were there for quite a while, we swam, laughed, took photos. The water was beautiful and there was a view of trees that made it so, so peaceful. We headed back to camp and made tea, spaghetti bolognese. This was the night that I almost scolded myself draining the pasta, oops. That night Megan and I were convinced there was a bear in our area, because we could hear rustling. We were paranoid we were going to get mauled in the night. I don't think either of us slept too well that night.
A Lake of Two Rivers
Day five brought a very long day. We had a five hour canoe trip planned at Canoe Lake. Megan and I ended up having the instructor in our canoe, because both of us together would have been a hilarious failure. Although we actually managed to not flip our canoe, well done us (looking at you though, Dan.) Half way through we stopped at went onto this little island for a rest, food and rope swinging. We nearly had a heart attack watching Dan be inches from hitting his head. After lots of humming about whether or not I should do it, I finally decided to give it a go. I stood holding the rope for ages before I just decided to jump. I don't remember much, but I remember hearing "DROP NOW" being screamed at me. When I tried to climb back up, the adrenaline had all became too much and both my legs would not stop shaking. We canoed back to the main point, my arms were aching and we were starving. We had some food (and a little nap) and then headed back to the camp site. We decided we were going to a hiking trail, so we set off to that. The views were amazing. So much green, so much blue. I think the trail only ended taking us about an hour, so we decided to go to one of the little beaches and watch the sun set. It was gorgeous, there was a little girl playing in the water singing Aladdin and everything felt right with the world.
Day six brought a pit stop in Ottawa, before heading to Montreal. Stay tuned for days six to nine.
Love,
Brogan
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