Toronto Hippo Tours: I Went On A Bus - In The Water.......

Some time ago I noticed these odd shaped colourfulenjoyed the gargoyle story about Old Toronto City
bus-type vehicles in the streets of Toronto, and IHall, where a famous architect took revenge on
was wondering what they were. I caught a secondToronto city counsellors who criticized him for his
glimpse and I saw "Toronto Hippo Tours", and Icost overruns by depicting their likenesses as ugly
realized that these buses carry sightseeinggargoyles. We then headed up University Avenue
passengers not just on the streets of Toronto, butpast Queens Park (the provincial government
also in the waters of Lake Ontario. Considering thatbuildings) and on to the University of Toronto
this form of intermodal transportation is definitelycampus.From there we snaked our way down
unconventional, it just recently came to me that Ithrough the Garment District, admiring all of Toronto's
should do an interview with this company and go onloft conversions and condo developments past the
one of the vehicles myself.They are definitely funnyCNE grounds (the Canadian National Exhibition
looking vehicles with a rounded snout, bright paintinggrounds) to a ramp near Ontario Place, where we
saying "Ride the Hippo", and an entry at the rearwere getting ready for THE BIG SPLASH - the
where you board walking up a set of retractableHippo's entry into the water.It sure was a weird
metal stairs.Today I met with Drew O'Gilvie who isfeeling, being on a bus whose windshield is all of a
the Director of Sales and Marketing for Torontosudden fully submerged by water. But the vehicle
Hippo Tours. Drew used to be a Director of Sales forstraightened itself out pretty quickly and we started
Delta Hotels and obviously has a lot ofchugging slowly into the waters surrounding Ontario
tourism-related marketing experience.1. Please tell usPlace. "Happy the Hippo's" top speed is about 5
who came up with the idea of creating a companyknots, and the vehicle has a single engine that propels
with a bus that floats? How long has the companythe bus' transmission on land as well as the propeller
been in business?Geoffrey Lind founded Torontoin the water. At 20 tons it's a pretty heavy vehicle
Hippo Tours 5 years ago since he wanted to bringand a special ramp had to be built to give it access
the "duck concept", the famous amphibian vehicleto Lake Ontario.We took a little spin over off the
tours in Boston, to Toronto. Last year the companywest end of the Exhibition Grounds where we had a
had 25,000 passengers and we expect to far surpassgood look at Toronto's only wind turbine (we are
that number this year. Rather than calling ourselves afinally making baby-steps towards greener energy
sightseeing company, we consider ourselves anproduction....) where we turned around and headed
"urban safari", a true urban adventure.2. How manyback towards Ontario place.While Dan was driving
Hippos are there? What makes them special?Weduring the water portion of the trip, Catherine, the
currently have 2 vehicles in operation with a 3rd oneother captain, and I stood at the back of the vessel
that was just recently completed and is just waitingand had a great conversation. Catherine is a former
for final licenses, a complicated process that involvesinsurance sales expert and after being laid off she
federal and provincial authorities and safety checks.went into a completely new career - first as a Hippo
The vehicles are Canadian-designed and built, basedtour guide, and she has also become a fully certified
on a school-bus platform. Contrary to other places,and licensed Hippo captain. Catherine also knows lots
they are not recycled WWII or Korean warabout fixing the vehicle and doesn't mind getting her
amphibian vehicles. They are carefully safety-checkedfingers greasy when she performs maintenance
and greased every morning. We affectionately callduties on the bus on a daily basis. In her off -months
our 3 amphibian vehicles Harry, Happy and Henrietta,from November to April Catherine does some cool
our newest addition.3. Please tell us about your routethings, such as volunteering her services to an animal
and your schedule. Are the tours narrated?The Hippoconservation area to protect sloths in Costa Rica, or
tours are 1.5 hours long and spend about 1 hour ontravelling extensively to Cuba. As a matter of fact,
land covering the major Toronto sites, allCatherine is a pretty cool and interesting individual
professionally narrated by a tour guide who is alsoherself and I will be doing a follow-up intereview with
licensed in first-aid. We run tours from the beginningher in the near future.Back on land we passed by
of May to the end of October every hour from 11Harbourfront and headed back up towards the
am to 6 pm.4. Please tell us about the prices. Is itfamous Royal York hotel. Shortly after we made a
possible to book the vehicles for a privatequick turn left and headed back to the Hippo Tours
outing?Prices are very reasonable at C$35.00 perparking spot at 151 Front Street, just a tiny bit east
adult, or C$30.00 for seniors or students, andof the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre (formerly
C$23.00 for children 12 years and under. The vehiclescalled the Skydome), Toronto's multi-purpose stadium
can also be chartered and are frequently rented forwith the retractable roof.Catherine and I had a
special occasions both by business organizations andchance to catch up for about 10 minutes after the
private individuals for birthday parties. At C$500.00tour was over, and we briefly talked about doing a
per outing, which holds 40 passengers, this can be anlanguage study trip to Cuba, something that
extremely affordable special event.5. Please commentCatherine was interested in. I shared some
on the special training that your captains and tourinformation with her since I have had the opportunity
guides receive.Our guides are certified in St. John'sto study Spanish at the University of Havana earlier
Ambulance and CPR, and are all restricted engineers.this year.It seems to me that Catherine is a bit of an
They undergo strict testing with governmentadventurer and I am really looking forward to
authorities as marine captains and they have tocatching up with her to find out more about her new,
obtain licenses to become school-bus drivers forunconventional lifestyle that went from corporate
operating the vessel on land.After interviewing Drew,sales to being a road/lake captain for 6 months of
I had a chance to actually sample the Hippothe year, and doing some other cool stuff in the
experience myself and I got on board, plunkingmonths between..Thanks again to Drew and the
myself down right behind the Captain, who in thiswhole crew at Toronto Hippo Tours for spending
case was a sporty-looking lady by the name oftheir time with me and for giving me the opportunity
Catherine. We had another tour guide whoto explore Toronto on a bus - on land and on the
competently and entertainingly mentioned the majorwater.......Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website
sights along the way and cracked some dry jokes incalled Travel and Transitions( Travel and Transitions
between. Another guide by the name of Dan alsodeals with unconventional travel and is chock full of
accompanied us. He is just finishing up his roadadvice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews
licensing and has already completed the marinewith travellers and travel experts, insights and
portion of the licensing process.The vehicle passesreflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many
through the streets of Toronto at a very leisurelyother features. You will also find stories about life and
pace. Our route included major sites such as thethe transitions that we face as we go through our
Royal York Hotel, Union Station, Yonge Street withown personal life-long journeys.Submit your own
the Bay, the Eaton Centre and Dundas Square. Wetravel stories in our first travel story contest( and
then headed over on Elm Street and down on Bayhave a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise
Street past Old and New City Hall. I particularlyon the Amazon River.