Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2026 (Number of Steps according to Apple Health – 521)
Today was a driving day from Québec City to Halifax. Other than stops for fuel and lunch in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, it was uneventful.
The distance traveled from beginning to end was: 4,837 km (3,006 miles).
Summary
- Day 1 - Drive to Montreal, Pick Up Adam and Chris at Airport, Check into AirBnB
- Day 2 - Saint Josephs Oratory Basilica, L’Avenue Restaurant, Upstairs Jazz Club
- Day 3 - Mass at Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, Visit to Old Montreal, Schwartz’s Deli (Smoked Meat), Adam Chris head home, Visit with Tanner Shantz and Katherine Abbass, Drew visited a friend from Theatre School
- Day 4 - Montreal Bus Tour, Dinner with Rochelle Douris at Escondite Vieux Port (Mexican)
- Day 5 - Drive to Ottawa, Herb’s Truck Stop, Brig Pub in the Market, Family/Birthday Party with the Leahy’s
- Day 6 - Drive to Peterborough, Visits with: Dyan Tufts, Bob Richards, Kevin Quartermain, and Owen Stahn
- Day 7 - Drive to Toronto, Easy Restaurant, Drew Setup in Etobicoke, Under Armor, 18th Floor AirBnB, Barbarians (Steak)
- Day 8 - Day with Ryan Zaldin, Fran’s Diner, Amsterdam Brew House, Shameful Tiki Room with Drew and Josh Cruddus
- Days 9 & 10 - Saturday: Golden Diner, Drive to Clear Lake Brewing Company for Lunch, Camp Pinecrest Tour, Visit with Cole Balmer, Drive to Go Home Lake and Boat Ride to Cottage, Supper with Jeremy, Sandy McNair, Ross McKerron. Tony Fry, Brian O’Donnell, Jeff Miller, Jeff Cowan, Murray Huff, and John Donald, Lots of Great Dialogue, Sunday: Breakfast with Cohorts, Presentation by Ross McKerron re Original Owners of the Land Where Pinecrest is Today, Lunch on the Deck, Drive to Toronto, Dinner with Drew at Mezes (Greek).
- Day 11 - Drive to Québec City, e St-Hubert BBQ, AirBnB Inside the Gates of Québec City
- Day 12 - Dodged a Bullet re Parking, Café de Paris, Chateau Frontenac Plaza, Tram to Lower City, Café Maison Smith, Chateau Frontenac View for the Gold Floor, Restaurant Parmesan (Italian)
This Road Trip exceeded every expectation I held over and over. It was wonderful having all three sons in Montreal, Drew is a tremendous travel partner and we always found lots to talk about, I got to see so many people from my past, having a party with the Leahy’s in Ottawa was over the top, the weekend with my 1970s cohort of staff from Camp Pinecrest took me to an emotional space of deep soulful peace, and we ate at remarkable establishments again and again. The best part is I was in near normal health throughout the trip.
So now I head back to normal life in Halifax and about to start a drug called Vinorelbine. I have no delusion about this drug. The odds of it extending my life is about 5% but we’ll know that in November.
As always, thanks for being a support pillar throughout my journey with cancer. It means a lot to have you at my side.
Peace, Love, and Laughter
Phil XOXO
P.S. And thanks to God for being always present in my life and being the support of courage I’ve needed to stay strong.