Oh Canada, You Rule

"You're gonna die going that way! I don't understand why anyone would do that," she professed dramatically.

Well, we hadn't. True, Route 20 out of Niagara Falls was a bit sketchy at times but nowhere near as bad as other roads traveled. The hotel lobby girl, Pam, sucked. I was pissed off that she had put the thought of getting killed into my brain as a possibility.  

Drivers need more credit for alluding us. Besides, if one of us ever did get hit, in the words of a man we met, "...you'll absolutely own them for everything their worth. Don't let anybody tell you different." And more or less, without being an idiot, that's how I ride because that's how people drive. I am financial ruination flying around in the street... Yeah. Something like that...

A few days before our 4th of July or our signing of the Declaration of Independence is Canada Day on July 1. July 1, 1867: the day that Canada seceded from the British but under peaceful conditions. Or in the words of our host, John, tonight, "We filled out a lot more paperwork." Britain still controlled Canada until 1931 until the Statute of Westminster was signed, granting Canada nearly complete independence. I told John how sad I felt because I know absolutely nothing about the history of Canada. 

The entire ride to Hamilton was this

and this

and it was utterly fantastic. Aside from the dangerous and gravel-shouldered Route 20, the day was perfect. We crossed miles and miles of farms with the sun beaming and the cars few and far between. Josh and I could traverse side by side with no fear of vehicular homicide and talk about life.

We did quite a bit of off-roading too. Since we're off the maps now, we had to carve out our own path... by asking GoogleMaps. We printed out a recommended route from the website and shit... it was damn good. It led us down two different bike paths. 

The city of Hamilton sits in an old crater. The Great Lakes used to consist of two huge pools of water. Half of Hamilton sits below a giant ridge that's at least one thousand feet up. I learned that that was where the old shoreline of "Lake Ontario" used to be. When the glaciers of the old lakes went away, they left giant craters that now rest above the current position of Lake Ontario. 

Josh and I had no idea how we had gotten so high up. Suddenly, we were looking down upon the city of Hamilton. Toronto lay in the distance with a skyline full of scrapers and buildings. Deep in the crater lived our hosts John and Amanda.

John is everything I look for in friends and people; soft-spoken, creative, and living in a world of soul... if that makes any sense. John has a slightly balding dome-top with a bit of stubble on his face and an open yet shy disposition. John's forty years old and has played guitar since he was a child. He lives in music more than the actual world, which I respect infinitely. I've met people that choose this path, and it's not easy. It's a road of truth. I dunno if I'm explaining it well but all you need to know is that John is a genuine and sincere soul.

We had pizza, talked about experiences, and life. Also, much appreciated, was his sharing of Canada's history, which as stated, I knew nothing about. He didn't talk down on me for not knowing or act condescending, he was very respectful and polite as I'm seeing most Canadians are like. He grew up in Hamilton, moved to Toronto, and then moved back to Hamilton a few months ago. In many ways, Hamilton is the Pittsburgh of Canada but, as John put it, 15 years behind the real Pittsburgh in terms of its economy. 

Early morning tomorrow.

Also, I've only been able to write in Canada because I've had Wi-Fi where I've slept. That may not be the case in the near future so there may be a day or two of silence in here. 

Gracias.