I was back in 🍁 Canada 🇨🇦 last week with Susie and our son Jake for a very short visit, but minus a bicycle. The brutal snowstorm of a couple of days ago, that hit many of the places I cycled through in 2023 from Maine to North Carolina, thankfully missed Toronto entirely. We did get a blast of proper arctic temperatures though, down to -15°, to go with the snow that is still lying everywhere.

With the imminent publication of my new book, Second Breakfast In America on my mind (any day now, just a few wrinkles to sort out…) it felt great to look out on the ice of frozen Lake Ontario, with the USA just a few miles away on the other side.

Susie watching the ducks bumping into chunks of ice and making the strange sound that is exactly like the little tune played before Toronto subway announcements

What a crazy time it is in this part of the world at the moment. Many conversations during the trip revolved around the ridiculous proposal to add Canada to the list of US States, and how grateful most people we talked to were to have the ex-Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney at the helm at this critical moment.

I’m beginning to see that the story of my book unfolds during what is almost another era, pre-mayhem and madness, where the worst problems I faced were the insane heat, the storms, the unbelievable amount of debris on the roads, the lack of places to pitch my little tent for the night, and where to find that essential daily second breakfast, rather than worrying about having my visa refused or my phone investigated or being rejected as an undesirable before even beginning the amazing journey south. I’m not sure I’d even attempt the same adventure right now. So what better time to read about doing it instead?!

Some things remain unchanged though. I hope that fans of the mysterious ‘Empty Adirondack Chair Syndrome’ that has cropped up so often over the years here on Incidents of Travel will find the wintertime version of this strange North American phenomenon very comforting.

And a throwback from even longer ago: we happened to cross the same stretch of Waterfront Trail I cycled in 2017 out of Toronto. Back then it poured with rain all day. This time it was sunny and dry, but so cold that my smile froze. And I forgot my bike.

And second breakfasts seemed unaffected by any political shenanigans, as far as Jake and I could tell.

And finally, if you’re finding yourself getting a bit peckish looking at these skillet omelettes and Eggs Benedict, be warned – Second Breakfast In America will be a very risky book to read when hungry. I’m pretty sure I put on weight just writing it.

Before I sign off, here’s a quick shoutout for our Jake who’s running the Manchester Marathon in April in support of MUD, or Manchester Urban Diggers, a wonderful community garden project. He had to continue his gruelling training schedule despite the deep snow and freezing winds of the Toronto winter. Anyone who might feel like supporting him and this great cause, please click here.

See you all again very soon! Bx