Although I couldn't sleep on the coach for the excitement, my trip down to Gatwick was still a calm one. Arriving at just gone 4am I had a few hours waiting around before breezing through check-in and being handed a good frisking in which I successfully held back the urge to shout "bomb!" to just see what might happen...
...Whilst that urge I could control the same could not be said for my hunger and quickly found my way to the nearest restaurant to have what would be my last meal in the UK - chicken and bacon club sandwich, chips and a pint. And yea, despite it not even being 9am it went down like a dream and felt pretty good to start this most momentous of days in such glory.
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| Air Transat TS723 |
It took me right up until the walk down to Gate 13 before I think I truly realised that this was it...On the plane I was sat next to Carmel, an English woman who now living in Toronto would for the next 8hrs become my new best friend. Throughout the flight she gave me much useful advice including how to get to where I'd be staying in Toronto along with a token to use on the bus and subway. Most gratefully Carmel gave me her contact number in Toronto and told me I can call her at anytime should I need any help!! To say I was fortunate to meet her would be a significant understatement and if you're reading this Carmel, thank you, you made this first flight that much more special!
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| Carmel and Myself on the flight to Toronto |
Up in the air I was glued to the window and at an altitude of 11,500m I couldn't quite believe how quickly we flew across the south of England and as it faded in to the background there was from this point no looking back.
The excitement on my face as we taxied down the runway must have been electric and felt like a little kid on Christmas morning.
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| My first real life sighting of sight of Canada |
So 8hrs and 5,810km from London we began to make our descent in to Toronto and were welcomed by what was apparently strong turbulence. I myself didn't really make anything of it but when the whole plane burst into applause when we landed I guessed it must have been noteworthy.
And that was that. I had arrived in Toronto, Canada and was for the first time ever outside of Britain. All that was left now was to see if they'd let in through customs and for those of you who have spoken with me over the last 6 months you can probably guess how I felt queuing up at customs.
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