TRIP TO TORONTO!

View of Rogers Centre before a game

The view outside our bedroom window

If I'm not careful I will have three blog posts in July!  Things are looking up.

Alan and I enjoyed a trip to Toronto this past week to take in four Blue Jay games.  We've gone on three bus trips to games in Minneapolis twice and Kansas City once.  There weren't any Stage Coach trips to Toronto so we decided to do it on our own.  I had never been to that city except to change planes going to Norway but that doesn't really count.  

I didn't want to have to change planes to get there from Regina so we chose a direct flight at 5:30 am on July 20th.  That would get us to Toronto before 7 their time, or so we thought.  We stayed at Laurel and Greg's at their farm north-east of Milestone on Thursday night and were up shortly after three and on the way by 3:30 am.  There wasn't much traffic on the roads at that time so we made good time to the airport, got our luggage tags on, dropped off our two suitcases and went through security, no problem.

We found our gate and sat down to wait.  At boarding time we made our way to row 11.  It's an emergency exit and has more leg room which Alan likes.  There was no one seated in the window seat so I moved over from the middle one and soon we were on our way. Alan had a book along and I had books on my iPad so we settled down to do some reading.  There wasn't much to see out the window except clouds.

About three quarters of an hour into our flight there was an announcement from the cabin that we would be making an emergency landing in Winnipeg.  So much for our direct flight!!  It was serious business though as one of the engines had a fuel leak, not good news.  We were told we would be landing in twenty minutes and given instructions on preparing for landing - heads down on our lap with hands clasped under our legs.  Since I was sitting by an exit door the attendant made sure I understood how to open the window exit and I was told to slide down the wing to the left.  We waited for the command to "Brace. Brace. Brace" and all heads went down.  The landing was smooth, even with one engine shut down, and we were not given the order to "Exit. Exit" 

We all clapped after the safe landing but they still took precautions.  Fire trucks were waiting for us but thankfully not needed.  The plane was towed off the tarmac and closer to the terminal.  Then we were met by several busses and driven to the terminal.  There were 150 people on board so that took a while.  

There was a lot of uncertainty about what was to happen next.  I assumed there would be another plane to take us the rest of the way to Toronto but that was not the case.  Airport staff had quite a task to find alternate flights for all these passengers.  Of course many were making connections in Toronto that they wouldn't make now.  One family was on the way to South Africa and had two more days of travel after this.  Another young lady was going to visit a friend in Ohio and her luggage was booked through New York to Ohio so that had to be changed. Blue Jay fans were going to miss that evenings game. Those were just a few of the stories. We were fortunate that we had no plans for our first day in Toronto, just to get settled in our hotel, King 1 West, and perhaps do some sightseeing.

We were given $15 food certificates for breakfast so used them at Tim Hortons and settled down to do more reading!  I browsed in the shops and bought a Winnipeg tee shirt as my souvenir of our unplanned trip to that city.  The afternoon came and went and we were informed that we were booked on a flight at 6:30 pm. A flight was coming in from Toronto and would turn around and take us back. We were glad that we wouldn't be spending the night in Winnipeg!

We had supper at The Prairie Bistro, then made our way to the gate and were once more in the air on the way to Toronto.  We landed after a normal flight, collected our luggage and made our way to find a taxi to take us to King 1 West hotel.  The driver we went with said he had a flat rate of $60 so we went with that and arrived safely at the hotel for a good night's sleep after 11 pm.

We enjoyed a $25 buffet breakfast (no breakfast included in downtown Toronto hotels!) and it kept us going for most of the day.  Another taxi driver took us to the condo we were sharing with owner Lynn Yu, just a few blocks away, but we weren't up to a walk with suitcases to pull behind us.  The driver attempted to make a u turn in the middle of the street but gave it up and went around the block instead to deliver us to the main door of ICE condo.  I'm not sure how it got its name but I think there were actually two dots over the I so it maybe has another meaning.

Lynn was away visiting in China but we made our way up the elevator to the 28th floor (of 65!) and a partner let us in apt. 04.  We had a cosy room with our own bathroom and could share the living-room and kitchen areas with people in two other private rooms.  We didn't see much of them and they were quiet when at home.  We had a set of keys for the apt, one for our room and one for a pass to get us into the building.  The living-room looked out on Lake Erie and we could watch boats on the lake.  A nearby island had an airport so we could also see planes coming and going.  Skyscrapers surrounded us!

The Saturday game was at 1 o'clock and it was just three blocks away, which was great as we could walk back and forth.  There was a lunch and breakfast place just a block from the Condo so we usually had our lunch each day at EV VIVA's.  Across the street was a huge grocery store in a basement called Longos, where we stocked up on things for breakfasts and snacks like freshly made pizza. 

I had a salmon sandwich and salad, Alan had fish and chips.

We didn't spend a nickel for food or drinks inside Rogers Place! There was a water fountain beside the women's restroom not far from our seats so that was my "watering hole".  On our last day there we stopped for hotdogs before the evening game, but bought them from a vendor outside Rogers Place.  It was $5.00 for a good sized beef hotdog compared to double or more than that inside the ball park.  I saw bottles of water for $4.50 from one vendor.  Fans are not allowed to bring food, water or other drinks into Rogers Centre and your bags are checked before you go in.

On Saturday after the game we made our way to Union Station to take the train to Oakville.  Alan's son Derek and family were visiting Jackie's parents and we were invited to come for a BBQ.  Derek would pick us up at the Oakville station, about half an hour away.  A young fellow helped Alan get our tickets printed from the machine but then, which track do we get on for Oakville.  It wasn't posted until shortly before the train was to arrive.  Again Alan asked a younger fellow what the procedure was.  "Just stick with us. We are going to Oakville too".  I think it was divine guidance!  We followed them on to the train and sat across the aisle.  Here's a picture of the helpful family.  We didn't exchange names but we were so thankful for their ready help. 

Derek was at the Oakville station to meet us and soon we were at the lovely home of Sheila and Neville Bryant.  We also visited with Jackie's brother Rick.  JJ and Ben were having lots of fun in the backyard pool.  Neville did pork chops and a South African sausage on the BBQ while Jackie took care of all the "fixings."  Yumm!

Derek took us back to catch the next train to Toronto.  It was just a short walk from Union Station to the condo and all went well.  Derek and family along with Grandma and Grandpa Bryant and Uncle Rick came to the Blue Jays game on Sunday so Alan got to visit with Derek at the "7th inning stretch".  Here's a picture of  the "Blue Jay boys".

We saw two games against the Baltimore Orioles which the Jays won.  They then lost the next two against the Minnesota Twins.

It was exciting to be part of the crowd of fans doing the "waves", "Let's Go Blue Jays, Lets Play Ball" and other chants as well as the 7th inning stretch and all singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".

On Tuesday morning we had a tour of Rogers Centre which we both enjoyed.  We were able to visit the press room, get out on the playing field, sit in the dugout and learn many interesting facts about the structure and the building of it.  The roof was open for the first game we saw but that was it due to possible rain.  It takes 20 minutes to open or close it.  The seats can be rearranged to change the stadium from a baseball field to football, although that doesn't happen much now as the football team has its own stadium.

In the above picture we are standing on the "warning track" but Alan doesn't think it's much of a warning for players running to catch a ball close to the wall. Only the colour of the turf is different and players are not looking down when they are keeping their eyes on the ball.

Here's Alan outside the Rogers Centre on the day of our tour.  We had thought of having a tour of the CN tower later that day but the lineups were just too long for Alan to stand and wait for an hour and a half that the wait was at that time.  Standing for a period of time is harder for him than walking. For all the walking we did his hips didn't bother him at all.  We always took breaks so we didn't walk too long at a stretch and could walk back to the condo if we needed a rest.

Here's Alan looking out from the press box, a great view of the game.  There are also hotel rooms in the upper level that start at $300 a night when there are no games on!  There are also many suites that can be rented, mainly by companies.  A former player,     Roy Halladay, rented one for every  home game and brought in sick children from around the area.  A Jays foundation continues to do that now.

We said good-bye to Toronto and the Blue Jays and flew out at 9:00 am on Wednesday morning. When we were wondering how far we had to go to find gate 35, a lady driving one of the courtesy vehicles offered us a ride and we didn't turn that down.  Here's Alan on the back and I sat in the middle.  It sure beat walking!

 This time we went first class!  Alan had his fancy walking stick with him when we brought our boarding passes to gate 35.  Right away he was told that anyone with mobility issues couldn't sit in row 11, the one by the escape window.  (Nothing was said on our flight from Regina!)  So they had to find two other seats for us.  There were two right at the back of the plane but the attendant thought we might prefer first class instead.  We didn't argue with that!  There weren't two seats together so he sat right at the front on the right aisle and I was two seats behind him.  They brought us warm wet wash cloths and a limited menu to choose from.  I had orange juice and a ham and Swiss croissant with apple slices, dried cranberries, almonds and nuts.  (None of the 3 choices appealed to Alan so he had a steak at Montana's when we got to Regina!)

I got out my iPad and was busy reading when an announcement came on wondering if there were any medical personnel on board.  Two ladies made their way to the front where the lady sitting between Alan and I had collapsed and was lying

on the floor. ( Alan said he could have caught her if he hadn't had his seat belt on!)  She had been waiting in line for the bathroom and the steward was right there so he eased her down.  She wasn't out very long.  She was able to go off without using a wheelchair and was able to come back to her seat for the rest of the flight.  As soon as we landed we were told to stay in our seats until EMS could come aboard and check her out.  We were glad it wasn't more serious.

EMS checking out the lady in front of me

So the trip back to Regina was somewhat eventful as well.  We were so thankful that both flights ended well and it taught us not to take a direct flight or any flight for granted.  We were in the hands of good pilots and crew and all of us were in the Master Pilot's hands, our loving God.  He was in control and we could leave the flight plans with Him.

Our next trip is set for Tuesday when we plan  to drive to Kenosee Lake to help granddaughter Jamie Johnson celebrate her eleventh birthday.  A year ago we helped Elly Clara Johnson celebrate her first birthday there.  This year she celebrated her second in her home at Førde, Norway.  This week Kristy is off on an adventure - a trip to Sri Lanka!!  We'll be anxious to see pictures and hear all about it.  Our love and prayers are with you for a wonderful trip of a lifetime.

Thanks for sticking with me this far!  Everything worked out so well for us during our time in Toronto.  It will likely be our last trip there and now we'll go back to taking bus trips and appreciate all the planning, driving and arranging for tickets, motels,

meals and all that goes into those trips. We might even

do some checking into a trip through the Panama Canal come January!  Bye for now.