Stage 1: Toronto to Hamilton, ON Canada

Distance Travelled: 66km
Interviews with a great (Kenyan) friend named Martin: One
Room-&-Board-for-Friendship Exchange: Check!
Wonderful Times: Aplenty!

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Sam arrived in Toronto early Sunday morning and after braving downtown Toronto with a flat-tire, my friends made it to my parents' house where I picked them up and brought them to their first road-trip campsite: my house in Hamilton, Ontario! As you can imagine, they made a wonderful impression on my Hamilton-friends and shined as the wonderful world-ambassadors they are while hanging out with friends, housemates and neighbours.

Wasting no time, the girls held their first interview of their adventure: Libby met Martin at the 2006 AIDS Conference in Toronto, and arranged to spend some time together in Hamilton being friends and sharing thoughts on health, AIDS, and life in Kenya, Martin's homeland. Martin travelled to Toronto for the conference and shared his thoughts and friendship while Sam ran the camera. For a Canadian-boy thrown into the mix it was an amazing experience to be sitting in my living room with such thoughtful, interesting, and international people!

After a day of packing and fine-tuning travel plans, the girls set their alarm for early this morning and were on the road by shortly after 7:00am, heading for Niagara Falls. I miss them already!

Good luck, Ladies! You're an inspiration!

Andrew

(Why Andrew?! The girls are on the road, so I have the honour of making this post on their behalf. I swear I didn't beg for the password!)


Photos!
...in chronological order:

Nerd Alert! (Andrew, Sam, and Libby in Hamilton.)


Martin shares his thoughts while Sam warms up her helmet.



Libby and Wingman moments before they set out.


Sam and Lib: High-five, Sunshine!


Departure in 10, 9, 8, 7...


...and they're off! Bon voyage, mes amies! :)