Little Jamaica

Evidently, Toronto has the largest Jamaican population outside of The home country and London. Blair and Tom had shared a wonderful week with us at Banana Shout in 2013 and a visit to Blairs 'yard' had been in the plans since.

So having exited the train in not such a great mood, within one minute, this is how we looked.

The previous 12 hours disappeared within a minute of meet up.

My hat had this amazing button, that when pushed, allowed a fully retractable CN Tower to pop out the top!

Having never set foot in the country before, we were really interested in the differences that we may encounter between the lands across the border. Toronto is a community of 4 million plus people, multi racial beyond belief and a vibe that has to be experienced. During our amazing five day stay here, we have experienced eating Afghani food, Jamaican music, Italian coffee bars, Greek breakfast and Chinese culture and shopping. League of Nations under one flag, respect! 

Our host, the amazing and wonderful Rueben Kincaid has a yard in the city, that is an oasis in a sea of 

high rise and glass. This is Poppy the wonderdog, who guards said property.

And this is a section of the oasis.

We have seen so much of this wonderful city and met with friends from the area whom we know again from Jamaica. Negril lives large in our hearts and the good people that we meet. Big up to Dawn, Katho and Jackie for making the effort.

During our stay, Blair took us to the Orbit Room for the Reggae evening with the wonderful Sattalites.

They have been the leading lights in Canadian reggae for 30 years and with the vibe in the club, the people that were there and the music, a likkle bit of Negril West End was created. The subs helped too.

Already on this trip and we've only been here a couple of weeks, we have built friendships that will last for the rest of our lives. Tom and Blair will be well met in other places, where the campfire sessions will continue long into whatever evenings we share. Thank you so much guys for your hospitality.

Some pics of our time here.

You can choose your fish fresh in the Chinese supermarket.

C N Tower

Jake about to enter the wonderful Orbit Room

Banana Shout rewind,

It is also a time of real sadness for us. Another friend from Negril sadly passed last night. We hoped to meet with Betty and Stan during our time here, but life is cruel sometimes and this didn't come to pass. Rest in Peace sweet Betty. You will always be remembered.

Trains Strains and Automobiles

We got up early after the night before, feeling somewhat fragile. Could've done with a beer for breakfast, but 'not the done thing' so it was down in the lift to reception and check out. We booked a taxi with reception to take us to the Amtrak train station a five minute drive away. '10 minutes' says the girl at the desk. That's great, we'll wait outside the hotel. Ten minutes pass and a taxi pulls up in front of us. Great timing, the day has started OK, don't need hassle with the remnants of last night hanging about. Cases and bags in the boot of the taxi, we're just about to get in and another cab screeches to halt in front. 'Are you the hotel folks going to the train station' says the new taxi driver, we are, I say, he then gets involved in a real street side slanging match with the other driver. Evidently, the cab in which our cases are locked into, is a hustler, one of these spot a fare cars that steals genuine drivers fares. So, long story short, the air turned blue, lots of racial harranging thrown about and neither guy will budge. In steps the lady of the hour. 'Look you' she says to the guy who has our cases in his car, 'we've a train to catch in less than an hour, if you don't unlock this boot and give us our bags, I'll throw you over the bonnet and get them myself'!!!!!!!

Needless to say, he listened to this mad blonde Viking warrior in front of him, immediately opened the back of the car and told us to get our damn cases out. Job done, into proper cab and away to station for relaxing ride to Niagara and then Toronto.

Not...........................

An eight hour ride through the countryside turned into a 12 hour ride from hell, with animals on the line, detours round two mile long freight trains, bridges that have broken and worst of all, the mind numbing experience of the immigration set up at the US-Canadian border. We had to leave the train with our bags, go through passport and bag checks inside the station, then exit the station onto the street and go back through the waiting rooms to get onto the train. It took bloody hours!!! Then the train stopped on the track for two hours and then went backwards for half hour! It was 22.30 by the time we got off the train, over twelve hours!

We had arrived and met Blair and Tom.

Albany and the Tri States

This was to be our first 'official' musical stopover. In planning the trip, we want to see and hear as much live music as we can and wonderfully, we have a friend in these here parts who fronts a band, organises gigs and is a generally great guy. But I digress a little. Albany is where the first of the driving road trips comes to an end. We arrived at the hire car return desk just after midday and were taxi'd to our hotel in the city.

The lobby of the hotel was so retro. Just like those 50's and 60's movies.

The previous nights storm had cleared the air and the humidity was almost gone. Bags in room and away to find a watering hole. After an hour of chilling out it was time to call our friend Alex, who had been bouncing around "virtually" for the past month in expectation of our arrival. He is another mate from previous trips to Jamaica, something that also defines our trip and our friends. The excitement grew until he arrived through the door with the biggest smile ever. Troy and Albany are two of the Tri States that inhabit this part of New York State and Albany is the State Capitol. Is is very pretty and the architecture, both old and new, compliment and great wee place to live.

Alex and his boys made us feel real welcome and he even arranged for a pal to call by in his 80's Corvette. After cruising through the local roads in this machine I was well high. A personal highlight I must say as the Corvette has always been a fantasy car of mine. Thanks Alex.

Next day we walked the city and prepared for our first musical evening. All over the city there are random piano's which attract players and crowds alike, to just stop, play, listen and sing. The sun shone and Jake became part of the fun.

Alex fronts a band and was playing with two other bands at the Trick Shot club outside of Albany. To reduce the whole evening to a few words and photographs doesn't do it justice, but it's enough to say that Flakjacket

and Last Daze, 

are two excellent groups and hopefully we will hear more about both in the future. All too soon the gig was over and Alex's son Jacob ran us back to hotel for our last sleep before the train to Toronto. We had a great great time and our departure from there again brought tears and hugs. Thanks again mate for everything.

Heading West

Not all the way West you understand, but as we started on the East coast, we're kinda drifting that way. Leaving Norm and Kerry was sad and was/is the beginning of so many big hello's and goodbyes that will crack the pair of us up over this trip.

Although our next destination is not too far away, we decided to do an overnight in the country to pick up the local flavour. Our first real roadside pull in was the Willows motel in Williamstown.

The place is owned by a colourful local resident called Paul, who originated in upstate Bombay!!!! Having greeted us warmly, he gave us the key to room 8 and hoped we had a nice stay. Arriving at the door, it was noticeable that there was a 'do not disturb' sign on the handle. OK, no probs with that, until we open and walk into a dimly lit room with Father Bear in bed!!! Ooops! Back to smiley Paul and a new room was allocated, the best he said. Glad we didn't get to see the worse. Anyway, the bed was clean and the shower worked, so that's the bottom line for us.

The temperatures have been hot and humid, 90F, so it had to break and sure enough a storm hit, but we managed to get back from the bar we were in without getting soaked. Williamstown in Vermont has history, statues of civil war soldiers abound.

There is so much to see along the roads of New England, if it wasn't for the bloody trees. I'm sure in the Fall, with all the colours and stuff you can see much more, but in July, it's trees, as far as the eye can glimpse (through the trees). The roads are a pleasure to drive and with speed limits of 40 to 50 mph, it makes for a nice steady cruise through the country. So bye Williamstown, next it's Troy, Albany and Flakjacket.

Photo's working

Sorted the photo issue out. You can buy anything here and it's all so simple. So some random pics to fill in the gaps.

The 747 aircon with matching jigsaw curtains.

Our first hire car with sparkley paint and go faster spoiler.

All you could wish for in the mens loo. It's pumped from a barrel into the glass and then back into the barrel. Top notch recycling.

Typical of the motels we stay at.

Alvin............

Looking for Alvin..........

We were greeted with this on arrival at Norms.

Left hand side of beer optics in that wonderful bar. 

Right hand side, 116 drafts on tap!

Stephen King lighthouse in Maine.

New Country New England

Leaving Orkney at last after so much anticipation turned into a wee bit of a test. The flight from Kirkwall, (on a 36 seater remember) went through the 'alternative' storm route. In many years of flipping back and forward to the isles, I can only remember one other time it was as bad. The rain was that heavy, we couldn't see the wing, which we were seated next to!!!! Needless to say Jake was not best pleased and it kinda took the gloss off the initial excitement.

The next stage was the hop to Dublin on another plane with a propeller. What is this? Feel like an extra in the Dam Busters! Not a good trip again. For some reason, the carrier whom I will name Lidl Air, only managed to reach 20,000 feet, which resulted in a cabin air pressure that felt like soup. Just the hour and half of this torture. Badly popping ears, pains in the sinuses not a good welcome to the Emerald Isle!

I will zip through the Dublin airport stop with a couple of comments. The drink prices are crazy! Obviously the powers that be, do not want to sell or encourage alcohol in Ireland. Second and brilliantly best, all the USA arrival pre checks are completed before you get on the plane. Didn't take long and meant that when we arrived at JFK, we picked our bags up and exited the building. Fabulous.

The flight to the US was brilliant, we asked for champagne and was informed they didn't have any. Sad faces from Jake and me and a slight mention we were on our 30 wedding anniversary trip. Sudden smiley faces when the senior cabin attendant informed us that drink was free for us all the way! First Willy Wonka moment of the trip and we're not even there yet.

Didn't see much of New York. Quick overnight at a airport hotel with an a/c straight off the wing of a 747, meant a disturbed first night.

 Picked up the car the next morning, a metallic black Ford, with a spoiler and paint that sparkled in the sunlight. That'll do for the first wee bit.

We have been invited to stay with a couple of friends who we first met in Negril a lot of years ago and saw again last year for a couple of hours in London when they were visiting the UK. Home is in New Hampshire and is in a stunningly beautiful part of the country. Norm and Kerry are wonderful people who understand the Scottish sense of humour so so well. They took us to wonderful places, Portsmouth in New Hampshire and Portland in Maine. Both lovely port towns with history and excellent food and most of all some of the best pubs we could hope to drink in. Second Willy Wonka moment for me, the pub with 116 draft ales. I'll say that again.......116 draft ales. Just speechless.

Our time with them and their friends went so fast, but we didn't stop laughing and have enforced a friendship that will last as long as we do. Thank you both so much for starting our Road Trip in such style and comfort.

We've visited several States already. New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont  and Massachusetts. Each is scenic, full of trees, so many trees and lovely people. Almost everyone is wanting to engage us in conversation and even buy drink.

I have a wee problem in so much as I can't seem to load photo's on this blog at the moment. I will try and crack this as soon as possible.

On we go West and more friends and new places to see.

Trains Planes and Automobiles.

Gearing up for a road trip, so different to that we've already completed, is no easy task. For a start, we don't have a home on wheels to store stuff, a comfy on board bed to sleep in or a fridge for the drink!!!!!

I (we) have planned a USA road trip for 50 years. From the earliest I can remember watching TV, it had always been the US shows that I marvelled over; The Littlest Hobo, Casey Jones, 77 Sunset Strip, Dragnet. So many 'great' programs that took me away from the normality of growing up life, to a place far far away, with fast cars, wide open spaces and buildings higher than anything I'd ever seen.

Fortunately I have a wonderful partner, wife and friend who shares that dream with me, so for almost three months we will be travelling across almost half of the USA, using various modes of transport and staying with people we know, people we don't know, hotels, motels and probably some dives as well. We wanted to do much more, go to the West coast, Vegas for Jake and San Francisco for me. But America is a bloody enormous place, not enough time to do it all, certainly not enough money. So we've settled for a trip that centres on the thing we both love best, the music. It's going to be a journey of discovering new bands, visiting places that are steeped in the history of Southern Rock and Blues and seeing 'Small Town USA' everywhere we can. Americana.

We're not good at tourist stuff; Niagara Falls (enough bloody wet where we live thank you), the Grand Canyon (big hole in the ground). No, our trip will be as we live. Talking to folk, visiting bars (best places to talk to folk) seeing bands (ditto) and experiencing stuff that ordinary people do.

Living out of a suitcase isn't going to be easy, packing for almost three months warps the brain. Not mine, Jakes! But we've taken advice from various blogs and forums and have settled on basic stuff that can be washed and easily maintained.

Evidently the Interweb is much better in the US than in France and Spain, so updating this bog should be easier than our Euro trip. Time will tell.

So here we are, at the beginning again. Life is like that, new beginnings, keeping stuff exciting and interesting. It's what we've planned, we're doing it, it's bloody brilliant!