Day 4 – San Francisco to Ottawa

Today is all about travel. It was a very early start of 5am so we could get our taxi and head for the airport.  It had rained overnight but was only drizzling when we got into the taxi.  We were soon at the airport.  The flight left on time and we are now two and a half hours away from our first stop in Toronto where we will change aircraft.  There is not much to see out the windows as there lots of clouds obscuring the view.

So it is time for a bit of reflection about San Francisco.  Our accommodation was great.  It was good value and close to a bus route and town.  The area is apparently very safe as it is expensive, and I can see that with rental rates at around $1750 per week according to a real estate agents window.  This is because employees from Google and Twitter live in these areas.  We found that for the most part people were courteous and helpful.  As is my experience elsewhere they are generally not that interested in you and where you come from.  The food was good and where we ate the plates were not that full.  I was surprised to see many people walking and exercising.  I did not see much gross obesity and in fact people generally looked reasonably slender.  We did go into a supermarket where there were lots very sugary cereals but we did manage to find some reasonable stuff to eat.  The public transport system is very impressive and cheap.  There does seem to be some effort at getting people onto it rather than using cars.  The cars are of course as large as ever although there are a few hybrids and diesels around. I liked the place and there is so much to do and we did not have nearly enough time.  I would, for instance, have liked to go to some jazz that I had been recommended.









 Later.........

The flight took us over the great lakes.  The most westerly, Lake Superior I think, was still frozen over the next two or three still had ice on them but there was less the fruther east we went.  Lake Ontario was ice-free.  

We arrived in Toronto to fine weather.  It took us a while to get through Immigration.  I thought we were doing fine until I looked at my watch and said to Bev that I thoiught  we needed to move.  Our bags finally appeared and then we headed out exit from immigration to find our connecting flight to Ottawa which we eventually did but entailed get to a choke point at which time I asked an airline representative if we were ok for the Ottawa flight.  He said it would be tight and directed us through another door.  I spoke to another representative who then rang the gate about bags and who said yes they would take the flights.  We were told to rush for the gate which we did where we encountered a substantial queue.  Finally we got through security just as they were calling our names.  We almost ran and then found orselves almost running for the gate.  

Our welcome to the Burtons

We were definitely the last on the plane after which they shut the doors. It was a little too tight for comfort even for me.  We reached Ottawa with no more delays and then waited for an age for our luggage to arrive.  The photo shows the welcome received on arrival at Graham and Hedy's home.