The eye of the storm......... just a REALLY REALLY big eye!

Well, I'm back home and slightly more calm. So, the story breaks down like this-

Back in Winnipeg i went to speak with the Immigration Office (lots of fun and games locating the office, but there will be lots to complain about in this post so i don't want to peak too soon!). While speaking with them i was told that extending a visitor permit was no problem at all. I could just go online and do it all there. The girl also mentioned that it could take a few months before they got back to me with a "yes" or "no" response, but that the reply would be posted to an address that i had to provide (I don't think too many tourists have a postal address, otherwise they wouldn't be tourists..... they'd be residents!!). So i left happy in the knowledge that the trip was safe- all i had to do was try and contact someone and ask if i could have the letter sent to them. I also decided to leave it for a few weeks to ensure that i could stay in the country whether they said yes or no. This could work as they take so long to process an application, by the time they reply i would have been back in the UK nursing a killer hangover from the celebration drinking session for finishing the trek. The whole time they're processing i would have been legally in the country on what's called "implied visitor status". So with one month to go i went online and found that nothing could be done online other than to download the forms that i have to then post 30 days before my current permit expiry........ problem! By this time i was walking round Lake Superior and the vast majority of internet access was lacking in the printer department. I tried to call immigration to explain my situation and hopefully work something out, but before i got to talk to a human, the vastly expensive phone call chewed through my $20 phone card and laughed at me. So i kept going in the hope that the next place i came to would have a printer, and when i eventually found one it was attatched to the worlds oldest computer that couldn't download the forms for the website..... what are the odds? With no way of contacting immigration via email, and not being able to afford the phone call i was left with no choice but to take a bus from Wawa (the official end of the walk) down to Sault Sainte Marie where i hoped to talk to a human at the border to the US. I got into town with only a few days to spare on my permit, but hopefull that it could in fact still be sorted online as the woman had told me back in Winnipeg. I'm not what you'd call a "techy" so i was confident that i'd just been an idiot and missed something, and would be told that everything would be fine. Unfortunatly, this was not the case. I went into the office at the border where i was told there wasn't an immigration officer around for the next 4 hours........ remember, this is at a border- you know, that place that ONLY deals with immigration type situations.... how the F**K do you justify not having an immigration officer at a border crossing??? But anyway, i left with my friend who'd come out to walk with me from Wawa to Sault Sainte Marie........ yea, i know. We went to the duty free to see if we could sneakily buy a cheap bottle of something and then left when told we needed a license plate and passport stamp- worth a try though! Walking out of the duty free we were nearly tackled to the ground by some angry officers who thought we'd just walked across the border bridge. We were marched inside where i explained what had happened and pointed out the officer i had just spoken to. They checked our ID then told Sonja (Zee German) that she was ok to go, but told me i had to wait in the office until an immigration officer arrived. She was, to her credit, an hour early, but i think this had pulled her away from a very important date with a cake which made her act like Mega-bitch from hell! She was obviously unhappy about having to do her job so i was as polite as possible to try and defuse her temper, but this just made her angrier for some reason....... God made a MAJOR mistake by giving women periods! The end result of this meeting was another meeting with another officer that i had to make within 2 days, but even then she told me that this other officer would be able to extend my trip if she thought i was telling the truth. However, she also put an arrest warrent in the system that would come into effect on the 4th if i didn't leave or get things sorted. So i made the appointment as soon as i could and went in to speak with a much friendlier woman who told me that i could still send off the forms even though it wasn't 30 days in advance. All i had to do was keep the reciept of postage and payment and this would give me "implied visitor status". Another option was to cross the border and come back, but for this to work i needed $2000 and proof of that amount, along with letters from Canadian chairites saying that what i was doing was on the level. This was a problem as i didn't have time to get any of this, and without it she said there was a 95% chance they wouldn't let me into the US along with another 95% chance they wouldn't let me back into Canada- this information ruled out a border crossing as an option! So i went to the internet cafe that day to download the forms and print them off where i found an additional problem- one of the forms i had to send couldn't be downloaded. It had to be ordered and sent by post to an address and would take 2 weeks to do this. i'm puzzled as to why you're not able to just download it with everything else, as well as being puzzled as to why it had to be sent from Alberta? wouldn't it be easier if all immigration offices had the abilty to print one off and give it to you in person.... just as another option? So i tried to call back but they all went home at 3pm- strikes me as bloody lazy! This left me with 1 day left in the country legally before an arrest warrent was issued..... and this was a problem. Couldn't cross the border, couldn't talk to anyone to ask for any more assistance, didn't have time to get forms mailed, and if i was going to leave i had to book a bus to Toronto which would put me in the airport the day i had to leave so i also didn't have the option of waiting a few more hours to make a choice- i got on the last available bus after spending the day checking emails in the hope that someone had pulled through and enabled me to stay- but they all said the same thing- "we can't do anything with another country's immigration policy", which is fair enough really. The flight was booked by my mum as i didn't have a credit card to book online, and when i got to the airport i had a few hours before i could check in. After check in i went through security with no problem and went straight to my gate as i didnt' have any money to spend in the bar. I was sat there until my flight was almost ready to board, then i realised....... "HANG THE F**K ON!!!! THERE WAS NO BLOODY PASSPORT CONTROL!!!!!" After EVERYTHING there was ZERO check on my entry stamp, and no exit stamp! Now this is tragic as it means the only reason i was stopped in my tracks was because i was honest and tried to do everything by the letter of the law. Had i just kept my head down i'm certain that no arrest warrent would be issued and therefor i would have been able to finish and leave from Toronto without a check on my passport, thus finishing the walk with no problems. It's also a shame because i really did have some great times on the trip. I had more than my fair share of tough days too, but Canadians are awsome (most of them anyway), and the scenery is breathtaking throughout the country. But because of all this my lasting memory of Canada is that it's run by total idiots and as a result, i'm never going back. In the airport though, I had to laugh as i was flying out with Air India who obviously don't trust Canadian customs as they run their own security check before letting you on the flight- the whole 9 yards too, actual searching of hand luggage rather than scanning it along with an extra metal detector search on every passenger and member of crew. They've realised that customs can't be trusted!!

As for the trip, obviously those who donated did so in the knowledge that i would finish the trek. So i'm thinking of finishing in the UK- north to south should work out to be the distance i was unable to cover in Canada. This, unfortunatly can't happen for some time as the extra cost of flying on short notice along with accomodation costs while i ws dealing with customs put me into the red BIG TIME! so i shall be working that off and then plans can start to form with regards to the UK leg- i'm gutted that it couldn't be done in one hit, but this seems to be the only option. I hope you understand.

Thanks for reading..... it's been emotional!

Email me at sammyt12000@hotmail.com with any questions.

BA***RDS!

well, i'm not sure whether to laugh, cry, lash out at random people who smile at me, or to spend the next few days at the bottom of a bottle...... or a combination of all of them, but the trip is over. Since the last post it's been a constant battle with various people who work for the Canadian government (mainly immigration) to try and get my visitor permit extended. However, i lost. The hardest fight in the trip ended up having nothing to do with the hard work of carrying a small country in a backpack. It also had nothing to do with getting people interested in something they couldn't pronounce, nevermind spell! It ended up being a battle to try and get information from people who seemed to be more interested in searching youtube for funny clips than actually doing their jobs. At the moment i'm still WAY too mad to write anything constructive, and there is no chance of clean language so i'm going to go- any questions feel free to email. But, having said that, if you email me with suggestions of how i could have made this work i will kill you....... and i really mean that- i will hunt you down and split your head open with a spoon and eat anything i find inside! Can you tell i'm not happy with the whole situation or am i hiding it well?

Well, i asked for good weather and that's what i got.... the only slight problem is that it arrived at the same time as a stomach bug so not as great as i'd hoped, but i'm not complaining- sun is sun and i'll take it when i can get it! As a result of the stomach bug though i'm falling behind which is a bit annoying but it can't last too much longer. I now have to meet Zee German in Wawa instead of Sault Sainte Marie which will actually work out better for everyone i think...... well, i hope anyway! As for the journey into Schrieber- WOW! this is some of the most amazing scenery i've ever had the chance to walk through. Granted, the last day or 2 into town i was looking at the ground and feeling very sorry for myself for the most part, but other than that i'm in paradise! I'm also told that there is a slight problem with how i've set up my fundraising website for the Canadian Cancer Society- i'm trying to fix it now but it's not letting me in, but i'm working on it and will have it up and running as soon as i can. But a BIG BIG thankyou to those of you who've donated so far- the last couple of days have been great what with radio and newspaper articles etc etc along with Richard the cyclist who's been telling my story to those ahead of me, and as a result 2 very nice young women pulled over and gave me lots of love bites........ i would explain, but i think your imagination will do this story more justice! But things are definatly starting to look up on a more constant basis now and as a result, i'm smiling even when i'm cream crackered! (that's "tired" for all the Canadians reading this). The next week to 10 days will be a nice speed too as i now can't make my intended destination so by the time i get to Sault Sainte Marie i should be bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to run for at least 1000 miles (please PLEASE PLEASE DON'T hold me to that!). Anyways, must dash as i still have a lot of things to get done today- take it easy!

some good news at last!

Well, where to start?
The weather still hasn't improved all that much. All the way from Ignace to Thunder Bay (where i am now) was pretty much rain, rain, a little more rain, and then some REALLY HEAVY rain, followed by just a drop more rain to make sure i was completely drenched.

On a much brighter note though, Thunder Bay has provided me with a new family- sorry mum, but you're fired! ......wait, that would mean that i wouldn't have a grandmother who's very ill and therefor wouldn't need to be putting myself through this torture, so maybe i'll keep my old family to justify this trip...... yea, let's go with that. On my way into town i was offered a ride by a woman by the name of Maureen. I explained why i was unable to accept the lift and thought nothing much of it as i carried on towards the end of a very long week. A few hours later she found me again and kindly donated some money and conversation towards the cause. During the conversation a potential place to stay emerged as she said she would check with her friend Lise to see whether it would be ok for me to crash there while i was in the area. When she found me for the third time she brought the much needed good news that Lise had kindly agreed and gave me directions to her place. That night we all went out to dinner where i was introduced to Heather, a friend of theirs, who was keen to hear about what i was doing.
Since then, this comunity of friends have been working round the clock to get me radio interviews, newspaper articles, and get me connected with the Canadian Cancer Society who have provided me with a sponsorship site that's in Canadian dollars!! YAY!!!!! I've also got a link with a local Cancer centre here in Thunder Bay if anyone reading this would like another option, so- If you want to donate to the Thunder Bay centre (whos area extends east to White River) then please go to www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca and specify that it's "in celebration of Sam Thomas' walk", that way i can keep track of the total.
Or, if you would like to give to the Canadian Cancer Society then please go to www.cancer.ca and donate to the event "not just a hike".

I'm heading off now to go round lake superior where, at some point, i'll be picking up some new tent poles!! WOOHOO!!! here's hoping the weather picks up as that's the only bad thing going right now!

Well, I'm in Dryden after the worst week of the trip so far for distance and weather. I was meant to be here a couple of days ago but the temperature dropped from 30ish on my last day off to about 6 for the week, then jumped back up to 25 yesterday giving me just enough time to dry my kit before it rained again today. I don't mind the weather, or the constant hunger and thirst i seem to suffer from. I don't even mind that my feet are oozing a freaky yellow substance allong with blood from wounds that don't have time to heal. But i am starting to get pissed off by the fact that the fundraising total has only shifted by a couple of hundred since i left the UK. I think i'm going to introduce a new rule- anyone using the phraise "oh i wish i could have done that when i was your age" will be nipple crippled until the produce a $50 note a specify which charity they want it to go to. If this comes into effect i will hit my target by next week easily!
I am honestly starting to think this trip is a waist of time though. Whenever i talk to people about what i'm doing i get the feeling that they just ask the questions they ask because it sounds like the right thing to say, and not because they actually care. Also, as soon as i mention the words "i'm walking across Canada" the focus instantly shifts from the why onto the what. These people will never understand exactly what a trip like this requires and haven't a hope in hell of understanding the motivation behind it, no matter what i say. Words don't really explain fully what it was like on those days in BC when i woke up to find my boots had frozen in -21 degrees, and having to scrape off a half inch layer of ice from the outside of my tent by hand before i could pack away. Or those days on the prairies when it was +30 and i only had a half litre of water left to last the 15 miles to the next water source. Or even, the days like the last 5 i've had in the pissing rain in the middle of nowhere walking on bleeding feet. But like i said, I don't mind about any of that as i put myself in this possition. But i put myslef here for a reason, and that reason is currently in Scotland under constant watch to make sure she doesn't have another fall that could prove fatal, or choke on her food because she's losing the ability to swallow..... and you know what- they wont understand that either.
My motivation for this post, however, is neither to offend readers nor to make my circumstances seem unique. It is mearly a cry for donations, nothing more. This whole trip depends on the generosity of complete strangers- something to which i never paid much attention until recently. So please, go to www.justgiving.com/samthomas2 and give whatever you can, and then force others to do the same!!

Well, i know i haven't written anything in a while but i'm now in Ontario!!! Manitoba was great though, i've now got my visa sorted! I haven't yet got a new pair of boots but as i limped into Kenora yesterday on bleeding feet i think it might be time to splash out a bit. I'm a little behind now but i think that might have something to do with the whole limping thing, that and being given the run-around by immigration in Winnipeg. When i eventually found the office they were really very helpful, but all the numbers i called, and government officials i asked before hand didn't have a clue. never mind, the important thing is that i got it done...... and then drank some beer to relax. I also had to deal with my bank blocking my card AGAIN!!! but of course i was told "it is for your safety Mr Thomas"...... really? because i can't buy food and last time i checked that was pretty F***ING important!!!

Ontario is sweeeeeeeeet! i'm in Kenora which is a bit posh and i do feel a tad out of place, but i think i'm getting now what i missed out on by being in the rockies in winter- the scenery is awsome and i saw my first bear!!! 5 yards from my tent first thing in the morning...... and i'm now down to just 2 pairs of underwear. He was cool though..... quite cute but i wasn't going to play with him!!

Anyways, i need to shoot off and buy some boots, some water purifier, some food, and some gas or the next few days will prove quite tricky!

Turrah!

3 down and 5 to go!

Welcome to Manitoba!!!!! It's been a pretty rough week with the heat but i've finally crossed into Manitoba! These past few days have been long and hard, plus i got the news that my mate Andy has broken several bones and now can't come out to join me at the start of next month. I'm pretty gutted as it would have been good to have had a drinking buddy for a few days but i've found a German replacement who's coming out at the end of August so it's not all bad news.

Saskatchewan started to become a lot more fun these past 100 miles or so, so i'm kind of sad to leave...... but on the other hand, once i've cleared Manitoba i'm pretty much home free. Winnipeg marks the half way point on this trip and is also where i can sort out the only problems i have left so i'm really looking forward to crossing into Ontario without any issues playing on my mind....... and with a fresh pair of boots and a visa that will last as long as i need it to- fingers crossed!! I'm planning on a day off when i get into the next little town so i may have to splash out on a couple of beers to celebrate being almost half way (any excuse!).