Ma babees back in townnnnnnn

Julie's 10 weeks in Australia had come to an end and my biggest solo driving test was called for as I was off to meet her at Lester B Pearson International Airport. Now Google Maps says it is a 162km drive and it should take around 2 hours.

The flight was due to arrive at 21.09 (9.09 pm). Hank had offered to drive down with me and although I appreciated the offer I said in true Aussie "she'll be right mate" and then proceeded to worry, plan, fret, plan and worry. When I told him I planned to leave a 9 am he said "you are giving yourself plenty of time"!!!

Entering the address into Mrs Garmin me and the CuRVy headed off through a torrential downpour on what would be an interesting drive. I didn't get lost on Highway 11 and the traffic was reasonable as I headed onto Highway 400 so I was feeling pretty good. And the 400 was relatively easy until...........

I got to the junction with the 401 and took the wrong turn and headed towards Montreal. Oh well Mrs Garmin RECALCULATED and i was back on track until I took the second wrong turn and Mrs Garmin RECALCULATED  again. I got my first view of the Hotel I had booked for the night at this stage as  I whizzed by heading towards Detroit.

The passage of time since the event has erased the exact words I used at this point in time but after another RECALCULATION when I was heading towards Niagara Falls, Mrs Garmin, me and the CuRVy arrived at the Hotel after only 4 hours. That's why I left so early!!! 

Oh well we were there and and the airport shuttle bus was booked. Now it was wait for the 8.30 trip to Lester B Pearson!!! I kept myself busy by doing an assignment on my travel writing course for a while before I did a bit of channel surfing on the TV and started watching the Blue Jays. I need increase my knowledge in so many ways... we'll be at a Jays game soon.

Waltzing down to the lobby a little before the appointed time was a little miffed when the, by now, different concierge informed me that the shuttle would be a little late. Those who know me well would be aware that I become a little fractious when things like this happen and my temper was not improved as the time for the shuttle arriving was pushed back.

Visions of Julie arriving with no me in sight were assuaged when on arrival at the airport the Arrivals Board informed me that the flight was delayed/ retard. Although I suspected this was due to Hurricane Irene I was mistaken and Julie was delayed for a couple of unrelated reasons including waiting for an hour for the luggage to appear.

Finally at midnight we were reunited.

The next morning we made the trip back to Gravenhurst where we discovered the Smiths had left a lovely bunch of flowers as a nice welcome home present! As John Denver wrote "hey it's good to be back home again".