Modes of Transportation

Getting around in any new place can be a daunting task. It's only made more complicated by ever falling snow and frigid temperatures here in Ottawa. I also am relying solely on public transportation. Looks like a recipe for fun to me!

My primary mode of transportation here on campus is by foot. I've mentioned the network of tunnels that connect every branch of the campus. It makes it easy to get around campus without having to layer up in all the warm weather gear, but they are often stuffy and uninteresting. I decided it was time to use the other network for getting around campus on foot...outdoor sidewalks! Turns out you can get from point A to point B around here much faster than in the tunnels. It also turns out that it's not that bad walking around outside. In fact, it's quite nice, especially now that I've found the right combination of layers.

I've seen joggers and even cyclists moving around outside. A guy on my floor was coming back from an hour-long bike ride at about 9 am this morning. He said he's a competitive cross country skier and cycling is the best way to stay in shape when he can't ski. These insane individuals have almost inspired me to go for a run outside. Another few days of running on a treadmill may just cause something to snap. We'll see.

My second mode of transportation is public transportation. There is a train station on campus and a bus stop. Today I took the train to go grocery shopping. I learned two things. Grocery shopping without a car sucks, and never go to the gym before you take the train for groceries. The walkways are all mushy with brown slush from people walking on them, so in between the store and the train as well as the train and the residence, there is nowhere to set the groceries down and rest. My shoulders and arms are so tired. Now I have some essentials that I hope I can make last a good long while.

I don't have class tomorrow, so I plan on taking the bus downtown and having a look around. I plan on taking some pictures then. In the near future, I also plan on utilizing other forms of transportation such as via toboggan, ice skates and snowshoes. I'll let you know how that goes.