6 - Canada At Last

Finally, I am in the only country in the world which I have longed to visit. However, those of you who saw my status updates will know the journey was not without mishap.

The rental car
We had reserved a car which we could pick up from Dusseldorf airport, just down the road, and drop off at Frankfurt before taking our flight. Upon arrival at Dusseldorf, Fred was informed that there were no cars available with our chosen rental company. After a firm word from Fred and a desperate dash-around to other rental companies by the Budget rep, we were allocated a car through Europa. It was only once Fred arrived at the designated car that he found out the make. So, he arrived home, the day before our flight with a Twingo! A Twingo to transport all our kit, our canoe, Tala and ourselves on a two-and-a-half hour journey to Frankfurt. As you can see, we managed it much to Tala’s dismay!

To the airport
The next morning, the 31 March 2010, we were up at 5am unable to sleep any longer. We were both feeling unusually calm about the imminent trip but slightly despondent at leaving behind our home of four years.

The traffic was fine and we arrived a good three hours in advance of our flight. At the airport I noticed a few dogs and their accompanying crates which put me at ease about Tala flying. She has been on a plane before but it was a much shorter journey to Finland.
In the airport there was some initial confusion and spurious instructions about checking in, due to having Tala and our canoe but eventually we handed it all over. Tala was reluctant to go in the crate but until that point, true to character, had taken it all in her stride. She looked somewhat worried but remained quiet and we dragged ourselves away.

The flight
When we got to the gate absolute mayhem prevailed. There was a noisy crowd consisting of about fifty to sixty people all huddled around the Lufthansa desk. Simultaneously, tannoy announcements were broadcasting asking for volunteers to get the next day’s flight and take a reimbursement of €600. This calmed our nerves no end, as you can imagine! We managed to squeeze our way through the rabble and were told that the flight had been over-booked. Once we mentioned Tala, the desk operator allocated us seats immediately. Unfortunately they weren’t together but we were assured that the person allocated the seat next to me was travelling alone so would most probably swap!
Let me tell you a little about flying and me…I hate it! Well…that’s not exactly true. Once I have booked a flight, which is seldom (the last was in 2007, the aforementioned Finland trip), I worry about it constantly and consistently until it is finally over. It’s not the flying that bothers me. It’s the possibility of crashing. I once heard, don’t ask me where, that if a plane is going to crash it will more than likely happen on take-off or landing. The landing I am quite happy with because it means I am soon to be returned to terra firma. But the take-off…that’s another matter entirely! I also heard that if a plane is going to crash on take-off, then it will more than likely happen within the first six minutes of leaving the ground. Why are there statistics like this?
So, I’m already sweaty-palmed, feeling faint from not having eaten, terrified beyond imagination and, to top it all off, I have some poor unsuspecting stranger to share it all with. As it turned out, the gentleman in the seat next to me was flying with his wife whom had been given a business class seat and was willing to give it to me so they could sit together. Of course, I declined (love before status and all that) because I wanted to sit with Fred but the air steward kindly shuffled things around and was able to sit with him in an aisle row.
As soon as the plane began to move I closed my eyes and grabbed the arm rests. This is completely normal for me. I kept them closed until I had counted to 360, which is approximately 6 minutes, from when the wheels left the ground. Then I slowly released my white-knuckled hands, opened my eyes and thereafter functioned fairly normally.

I have never been out of Europe before, due to having had dogs and not being willing to leave them with anyone, so the longest flight I have ever taken is around 4 hours. I must admit, the plane to Toronto, being much bigger than planes in which I have flown, was so much smoother. As usual, a whole lot of worry and angst over nothing – however, my pre-flight and take-off routine have become a bit of an OCD which I superstitiously implement lest things go wrong because I haven’t!
Anyway, just over eight hours, two films (An Education – quite good and Old Dogs – hilarious) and a lot of eating and drinking later, we arrived in Toronto.

Baggage collection
After almost an hour of waiting to pass through customs, which was like the Post Office queuing system gone mad – about 8 lines deep – we immediately picked up Tala, who was relieved to be released from her incarceration, and grabbed our canoe. Then we waited…and waited…and waited until we heard our names being called with instructions to head to the Baggage Tracing desk. Not a good sign!

Oh I’m sorry Miss Richardson but your baggage seems to have been checked in at Frankfurt [tell me something I don’t know!] but hasn’t arrived here yet.

YOU WHAT??

It will come on tomorrow’s flight at the same time.

Then we were given forms to fill out, overnight essential bags (quite nifty) and sent on our way