Sanctuaries

With restaurants now closed for indoor dining, finding a place to gather over coffee and morning nibbles post-walk has become challenging. On milder days, the option to sit outdoors at the picnic tables near Loblaws on Saturday, or hovering near a Tim’s during the week is tolerable, albeit not ideally comfy.

However, another option is possible: there are a few cafés about town that feature heated patios. One pod was recommended the Birchcliff last week, and despite the cold, outdoor tables were comfy enough for there not to be an urgency to leave. The Birchcliff (Kingston Road and Avalon Blvd) has both infrared and propane heaters in its roofed and canvas-walled patio, and serves excellent coffee and baked goods as well.

So here is your assignment this week, Shore Things: please sign in and share with the group any other sites that have the same amenities. We could even plan walks to fit. There is some conjecture that the Riverdale Perk (on Logan) also has a heated outdoor space. Perhaps our walk this week could route by, so we can confirm.

Weekly Walks

This Saturday looks very cold. Some of us are defaulting to the PATH for a more sheltered walk. Car pooling will be from Earl Haig at 8:00, or you can rendezvous with that group at the Sheraton lower level.

If you prefer to be hardy, dress warmly including face covering (Vaseline or body glide on exposed skin works too). Definitely too cold for the picnic tables though, but should the Riverdale Perk (see above) have a heated patio, well, those brave souls willing to walk north from Loblaws might be tempted to make a pit stop on the return. Please sign in…either way.

There may be a walk either Tuesday or Thursday that could include a pause at the Birchcliff. TBC.

Pandemic FYI

Sharing this little chart on cloth vs surgical vs N95 mask effectiveness courtesy of an article in the Wall Street Journal. Very good summary at a glance.

Shoppers seems to have recently received KN95 masks, although they were selling quickly. Hopefully they will maintain a good supply.