The intention of this voyage was two-fold: celebrate Liam’s 50th and get out of the UK after exactly 2 years of pandemic.

Both goals clearly achieved and that reaquantance with travel, hotel rooms, exploration and outer-life reassessment (getting some objectivity about what you’re doing with your life).

Mont Tremblant brought it home best, sitting in the treetops and around the firepit made me realise that I love the countryside and open space. The two bike rides through the magnificent autumn trees on the P’tit Train followed by a soak in the hot tub.

Toronto shocked me, it is like New York with its skyscrapers and mirrored glass. Traffic noise and mixture of old and new architecture. It has grown on me and feels like a beautiful city in the making. 

Andy Warhol looks a scream
Hang him on my wall
Andy Warhol, Silver Screen
Can’t tell them apart at all
Andy walking, Andy tired
Andy take a little snooze
Tie him up when he’s fast asleep
Send him on a pleasant cruise

David Bowie – Hunky Dory

Montreal felt a little like an old friend that you have grown tired of, but needed to visit out of duty. The all pervading smell of marijuana in a very gay city.

Ottawa was a breathe of fresh air, the capital without a capital C. The art gallery and group of 7 artists exhibition.

Quebec City like a great French madam, lots of attitude, stunning architecture but really held back by its sense of Nationalism and slavish French language enforcement. 

Huntsville and Algonquin unfortunately slightly marred by my bout of tonsillitis, but that said I’m glad we went and the little I did see was very beautiful in its autumn colour.

The other jewel in the crown is the Chemin du Roy, the discovery of some pretty old French towns on the old road to Quebec. Forgotten townscape ancient churches, Le magasin general stores and the views of the river.

The mixture of weather: rain in Toronto, hot sun on the terrace in Tremblant,  the first cold day in Quebec City.

And so to:

The Reluctant Tourist Awards Ceremony

Restaurant Category: The variety of food: poutine, oysters, lobster mac, wedge, grouper and ribeye. And the winner is Pink Sky Toronto.

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The best wine: Niagara and Ottawa Riesling.

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The best beer: Black Lab Sitting and Muskoka Detour.

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The best home cooked food: Beyond Burger and sausage round the firepit in Tremblant. 

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The best gay bar: Bar Aigle Noir and Taboo in Montreal.

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The best Accommodation: Close run between The Four Seasons Montreal and Sköv in Mont Tremblant,  the winner is: Sköv, Mont Tremblant

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The best adventure nominations are: Cycling the Laurentians,  Sitting in Huntsville Hospital for a day, Warhol, Chemin du Roy and the CN Tower, Toronto. And the winner is: Cycling the Laurentians 

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The best dumb saying of the trip nominations:
“I need as many creamers as you can give me.”

“I have a very small bladder and will need to make a lot of bathroom visits.”

“My name is Dave.”

”My brother Luigi has a barber shop and pizza restaurant in Woking.”
And the winner is Dave!

I’d like to thank Hind the owner of Sköv, Nurse Ratchet in Huntsville,  Dave the pole dancer and Noor the concierge at the Fairmont and Arsenal supporter.

Mark, Toronto, ON, Canada, 23 October 2021