Do yo know TCT ??

If you are a Canadian, you might know what TCT is.























The answer is Trans Canadian Tail. 


There are 2 kinds of trail, the one is a road where used to be rail

roads and was arranged for walking, running and cycling. Another

one is such as hiking roads in the park. Trans Canadian Trail

foundation is planning to rebuilt and connect these trail roads

across the Canada.  The reason why TCT foundation is

constructing the trail roads because ････

Canada will be 150 year old in 2017.

80 percent of the trail roads have already been connected.  All of

the trails are suppose to be arranged by July 1st 2017.


Guess what ?

The total distance will be 24,000 km !

When I knew about the TCT, I had a strong interest for it.

I assumed that TCT was a trend in Canada because Canadian

love doing exercise. I wanted to catch up it. (just my imagination)

Therefore I've decided to walk the part of TCT from Toronto to Niagara Falls.

After that I started to plan the trip. The reason why I wanted to walk because I had too much

time before the school starts and wanted to do something CRAZY as I stay in Canada.

I want to share my experience what I felt, who I met, where I went to etc.

＜My route＞


As you can see the map.

Toronto ➡ Hamilton ➡ Dunnville

➡ Port Colborn ➡ Niagarafalls

※ I hitch hiked from Caledonia to

    Dunville

・total about 240 km
・about 50 km per day






 On Aug 4th, I left my house in the morning and went to near Port Credit Go station.

Actually I had already walked from Union station to Port Credit Go station because the distance

between Union station to Hamilton downtown were over 70 km and I didn't think I could walk the

distance.

When I arrived Burington, it has started raining

heavily and I had to take shelter from the

heavy rain.Fortunately I could find a bus stop

with the roof and I rushed into there. The rain

was getting heavier like typhoon, I was nervous

because it was already 6 pm and suppose to

check in the guest house by 9 pm.

Suddenly, a young man rushed into the bus

stop and we made a conversation. The man

gave me a can of b○○r, I gave him chips, so

we had a small party at the bus stop. He was

also heading for Hamilton and

waiting for his mother. He suggested me to go

together, but I wanted to walk by myself even though I was tired. Later I regretted to decline his

suggestion....

Anyhow I arrived in front of Hamilton, the trail road was closed off because of construction.

"OMG !! I have to back 10 km and walk 10 more km. I should have accept his offer..."

I didn't give up, I asked passengers that I wanted to go to Hamilton and took this way.

They came through me. " Just climb up that fence and pass it, then across the rail road, you can

see the bridge"  I thought "Curiosity kills the cats" at the moment but I just had a choice.

I passed the fence and between power shovels, ran through in front of the work site office.

Finally I got to the guest house at 10 pm.




 
   The second day, it was sunny and very 

humid. I waked up with terrible muscular 

pain and started walking to Dunnville.

Actually it was the first time I have walked 

on the real trail road since I start traveling. 

As you can see the picture, the trail which is 

just straight (about 10 km) and long made me tired because I couldn’t see the end of the 

trail and nobody walked there, just some cyclists passed me. The only thing I could do was 

to talk to the cyclists. I ate lunch with the one of them. He was middle forty and very kind. 

After I told him about my trip, he gave me his lunch. It motivated me to walk again. But I 

was extremely tired when I arrived in Caledonia. I’ve decided to stay night and find a place 

where I can stay. Unfortunately, there were no hotels and buses around there, some hotels 

were supposed to be on the google map… The nearest motel was in Dunville. 

Sorry, I gave up walking and started hitchhiking. Miraculously I caught a car within 30 

minutes and got to the motel. The driver was a Canadian and also first generation. I 

learned a lot of history during driving. Two strangers came through me on the second day.

  The third day, my condition was better than the day before.I walked along the Lake Erie 

from Dunnville to Port Colborne.　I think it was the calmest place I’ve passed through during 

trip. People who live in this area, must be rich, own private beach, boat and deck. 

I expected that I could walk on the beach but I just could see a part of beach.

I can’t believe that a lot of people own 

the beach in Japan. 

It didn't happened nothing special on third 

day. I just kept walking and arrived at a 

motel that I had booked afternoon. 


When I told the receptionist about my  trip, he was very surprised. "I've never met a 

person like you." he said. He also checked some restaurants and call there for me to make 

sure what time it closes. I felt kindness from people who I met first time. Before I came to 

Toronto, I used to live in Vancouver for 6 months. Everyone said people who live in East 

Canada are not as kind as West Canada. It was just prejudice.

   Last day, I didn’t feel tired in the morning.


My mind and body, have been tired 

and met only strangers for 3 days, might 

have gone crazy.

As a result, I got to Fort Erie, the border 

between Canada and U.S, earlier than I 

expected. But reality was not that forgiving 

me.  

After lunch while I was going up along 

the Niagara river from Port Erie 

to Niagara Falls, I felt heavy on my feet.

The fatigue, has piled up for 3 days , came 

over me at once. It got my legs stiff. I've 

never felt that 10 meters were very long in 

my life... and  such a weak body as well. 

Surprisingly human bodies are tougher than we think. Actually I could walk about 25 

km since then. I noticed the important thing is how the mind affects the body.　

What a  delicate animal !

Finally, I got to Niagara Falls from Toronto on foot. I was satisfied with feeling that I've 

achieved something hard.

  In fact when I arrived at Niagara Falls, it didn't matter to see the falls. During the trip I 

enjoyed not only beautiful scenery but also meeting people. Moreover I felt warmth and 

friendliness from the people even we met first time.

However he beginning of trip was my misunderstanding and the travel costs was more 

expensive than usual, the experience is going to be a good memory in my life.

Thank you for reading a long blog. 

If you are interested in TCT, pleas visit the web site  tctrail.ca/  

If I had much money and time, I would walk across the Canada.