Royal Agricultural Fair / Hockey Legends

Although Gravenhurst's only two hours from Toronto we've rarely been there in the ten months we've been in Canada. Not really sure why we haven't been to Ontario's Capital and canada's largest city. There are some reasons. The traffic and general congestion meant that I wasn't going to drive there while Julie was back in Australia and since her return we've been very busy seeing lots and lots of other places.

However a couple of months ago we saw the opportunity to get tickets to the Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Game at the Air Canada Centre. With affordable Maple Leaf tickets almost impossible to get this was an opportunity to see a good, fun game of hockey in a good arena. And besides, who would really want to see the Leafs play - LET'S GO OILERS, LETS GO!!!!!

Early start with a tasty (chef Julie) omelet for breakfast. Quickly finished packing. Into the CuRVy, a stop for McDonald's coffee and muffin to keep caffein levels at the optimum level and the hunger pangs away. Although we could use drive through we generally stop because it normally quicker and it's nicer to talk to a human than a box on a wall. I often wonder why people sit in their car in a long line up at Maccas or Timmy's but in the end it's their choice...... And people in Canada do love their coffee. I was interested in the cargo on the truck parked near us!! Not long until Santa comes - I better be good.

Enough of contemplation, get on with the story!!!!

First address into Mrs Garmin was 165 Wellington W, Barrie, ON L4N 1L7. Now who or what was at that address in Barrie you may ask? None other than my favourite clothing emporium.........Value Village!!! http://www.valuevillage.com/Shopping.aspx . I never cease to be amazed how easy and cheap it is for me to be reasonably well dressed. Although I must admit there are things that I find a little more important than clothes.


Attractive alternate apparel safely stowed, back into the CuRVy, update Mrs Garmin's address and off to 200 Princes' Boulevard Toronto. This is the home of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair http://royalfair.org/MediaTradeCompetitors . Similar in some ways to The Easter Show in Sydney, the Melbourne Spring Show or even the Eurobodalla Show except that it's all indoors. Looked at lots of lovely big cows and big pumpkins, some nice honey and bought some interesting smallgoods including kangaroo salami.

And... there was a bar where we could eat our bison burger and a roast buffalo roll! And to make better it was run by a friend's son. And Canadians do make great beer !!!!!!!!!!!  

Agricultural fix sated it was back into the CuRVy and 33 Gerard St into Mrs Garmin and onto the evening's accommodation - the Delta Chelsea. Nice enough place but not quite what was promised on Hotels.com. Oh well as ever it's a learning experience. We did kick a goal with the Korean dinner just around the corner on Younge Street which was a super satisifying  way to finish another superb day.

Nightime noise made the night less than restful but after a night a 460 Sarah St anywhere would be noisy so perhaps my concerns were a little trivial. One thing that was excellent at the Delta Chelsea was the pool and gymnasium. Unfortunately the first few laps of the pool showed me that swimming needs to be back on the agenda when I return to Narooma and a 20 minute walk on the treadmill reminded me that I need to concentrate on my gait a little more. Oh well even Thorpey is struggling to get back into form.....

Breakfast wasn't included in the hotel deal but with the amount we'd cooked and eaten on the hibachi the previous evening we were unlikely to starve. A cup of coffee before we checked out and a short walk to a Udon Noodle restaurant for brunch before heading to the Air Canada Centre for the Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Game.

Now the game was hardly a serious affair with the Referee and Linesmen not only adjucating the game but doing the commentary. And if you are keen students of the game you may notice that there are a just a few too many people on the ice and some of them are quite small. Yes, a Tim Hortons Timbits team came onto the ice at one stage. Fun was the name of the game but was a chance to see some of the greatest players (male and female) of all time showing their amazing talents!  A game played in great spirits http://www.hhoflegendsclassic.com/

Home via Timmy's for soup and chili and a well deserved early night. Life is Good.