This coming Wednesday is special, not only for sharing our ❤️ for those special people in our lives but also as it’s Dawn’s own special day. Happy Birthday/Valentine’s day!
Weekly Walks
Saturday looks like a mild-for-February but unfortunately rainy day, although the forecasters claim “light rain”. Make it a walker’s choice? Still, it seems to be at lot less rain that what we’ve seen here in the Uk today (as of posting). Is there really no bad weather, just bad clothing? You decide.
A wee ramble in Dundalk, IELovely fields, skirting cow pies. St. Brigid, big deal in Ireland.
Barbara celebrates this coming Tuesday (and some of us will be with her “away” to pass on good wishes in person. Lou-Ann kicks up her heels in turn on Friday, February 9, so please wish her (and B) all the best on WhatsApp and/or in person Saturday.
Weekly Walks
There is a chance you might actually have sun this Saturday. If you’ve forgotten, it looks like this ☀️.
No change from the usual departure time and place. Last we checked, the “discount” was still only at 30%. I guess they’re still waiting for a fresh batch of stickers.
As a public service, here’s what they should look like.
Building Bridges
As hoped for, last Saturday provided an opportunity to see the newly re-opened routes in the Portlands, namely the three new bridges: two “reds” on a diverted Cherry Street near Lakeshore, and an “orange” spanning what will be the new Don River bed on Commissioners Street.
You can easily see where the future river bed, and the parkland and trails being created along it.
Winter Stations
The website for this year’s Winter Stations informs that the sites will be available for viewing as of February 19, themed Resonance. Please take photos and send me so I can include in a follow up blog post.
You have undoubtedly noticed the warming trend, but it’s too early to declare winter done. But the promise is in the air…
Given the rain forecast and factual from the time of this writing to Saturday, and just above freezing temps day and night, footing should be secure. Spit perhaps?
Let’s also keep our fingers crossed for the return of 50% off specials asap at the grocery store that shall remain No Nameless. So, 8 am at that place across the parking lot from Starbucks?
Raising Arizona
The PATH sometimes takes us much further than expected. Here we are tunnelling through to Scottsdale AZ.
No agave were harmed in the taking of this photo.
Remote Control
Starting next week’s blog will be (hopefully) uploaded from across the Atlantic for the whole month of February. Please keep me informed of the local goings-on, and I will try from my end to post some interesting walk experiences from the other side of the pond. As long as my data plan works, I will reachable.
One of the side benefits of meeting at Loblaw’s every Saturday has been the opportunity to pick up clearance food items. Well, in a grinch’s post holiday move, according to news reports, the food retailer will no longer offer 50% discount on expiring food products. Instead, the discount will be 30%. This is a clever financial move by Galen Weston, as it not only increases the profit from items that are imminent for the trash, but may possibly allow for these items to be written off at a higher value (accountants, please weigh in). Aspiring moguls take note.
Going Postal In A Good Way
So if the news above has you fuming, perhaps another way to go “postal” is to join the pod walking the PATH on Saturdays. For reasons of safer footing and comfort, this has been the choice for some of us when conditions make outdoor walks extra challenging. Of course, being outside is best, but bitter experience and broken bones tend to make one cautious.
One of the landmarks on the walk is Scotiabank Arena, housed in the former Postal Delivery Building, opened in 1941 and designed by Charles B. Dolphin. It’s worth noting the bas-reliefs and the bespoke typography that were luckily preserved when the building shifted from sorting letters to body checks.
If you are interested in trying out the PATH, note that it’s about 8k in total for the full run. We typically rendezvous at 8 at an agreed-upon location and carpool to share parking cost under City Hall ($9). As this walk is weather dependent, please check the blog and WhatsApp for last minute announcements.
Gig Alert
If you can make it out, my band is at the Dakota Tavern on Tuesday January 23. Our set is at 8 pm according to the poster. It’s PWYC so cheap if you want it to be. The Dakota hosts these Fourplay Tuesdays each week to showcase musical performers in a tight, 4-act evening, with each given 30 minutes. Doors at 7:30, music starts at 8.
Weekly Walks
So far, Saturday looks cold but doesn’t appear to be slated for precipitation. If nothing further descends on the roads between the time of this post being written and the walk, it would be doable outdoors as long as you have some type of secure footing (Yaktrax, IceBugs, or the like). Please check in often for comments as things could change.
Toes Froze?
For those with courage to get out there on cold days but still get cold feet (literally), these handy (footsy?) gadgets might just be a good fit. These neoprene (the same stuff they use to make wet suits) toe warmers are said to keep your tootsies toasty and dry. We haven’t tried them to confirm, but if YOU have, or know someone who has, let the group know what you think!
We are entering a bit of a trough for walking, as a few of us are escaping to milder climes for January and/or February. This means it’s even more helpful to let others know if you’ll be out for walks on Saturdays. Weekday walks are even more tricky so if your “pod” is open to it, consider reaching out to the “orphans” and inviting them to join your walks. Maybe even use the WhatApp message group if you want to restrict that info and keep it off the general web.
Summer Camping
Seems odd to bring that up now right? Well that’s because provincial park campgrounds book up to 6 months ahead and fill up quickly. We already have 10 people interested for Presqu’Ile this August. This means we will try to reserve three sites as soon as registration opens in mid March. There is limited space for more so if you’re interested, get in touch with me or Lou-Ann and we can add you to the WhatsApp group as well for pertinent information. We have extra gear if that is a concern.
Here we are entering the 20th year since the Shore Things name was first coined as a sub-group of Jean’s Marines. It became a walking-exclusive appellation 3 years later concurrently with the start of this blog.
The original STs in training at the Lions Clubhouse, Ashbridges Bay, August 2004. You can play “Where’s Waldo” finding those of us still at it.The payoff! Washington Marine Corps Marathon 2004
Birthdays
And speaking of important milestones, Olwyn and Jan have their birthdays Monday and Wednesday respectively, yoohoo to both!
Weekly Walks
So far a mild winter has kept the roads and sidewalks generally safe. The latest long-term forecasts say that may change later this month so be aware.
That said, with no precipitation predicted between now and Saturday, and sun to help sublimate, chances are fair that our footing will be secure for our first 2024 walk. Winds are not likely to be a factor so how about another Spit Walk? 8:00 at Loblaw’s, you know the drill.
Get ready to put up the latest Shore Things calendar if you have one. Another “interesting” year is nearly behind us. Let us enter 2024 with a resolve to stay healthy and active.
Gathering Caution
A quick reminder that COVID is still out there, so be careful when getting together with friends and family.
Weekly Walks
While Saturday’s forecast looks generous good, it will be preceded with a fair amount of rain so sidewalk and road conditions may be hazardous, or maybe not. We’ll just have to wait, see and decide closer to the day.
Happy New Year to All
Here we are again getting ready for another planetary rotation. Best wishes to all the Shore Things and loved ones for a healthy and prosperous 2024!
Lee Scott will be leading 4 Sunday walks in the new year, starting with Jan 7 at 9 a.m. from Union Station. The Shore Things are welcome to come for all or part of the walks. The walks more or less follow the subway lines, so they are easy to get to, and people can drop out at any subway station. There’s no need to do the entire walk. The following dates are January 14, 28, and a Sunday in February to be confirmed. There is no fee.
Testing Our Resolve
Over and above the Sunday walks, here’s something else to consider for 2024…
If you want to take Dry January to the next level, reset your metabolism from the holiday indulgence by eliminating added sugar, refined foods, white flour, juices and alcohol from January 8 to 28. Sounds like fun already!
Wait! There’s more!
You will also be encouraged to devote forty-five minutes of feel-good activity (get your mind out of the gutter!) every day and time-restricted eating.
All kidding aside, this is a good idea. Helen and I have signed up.
Lee Scott is promoting this and will provide a daily motivational email and advice. Three 30-minute livestream to “meet for motivation” are scheduled at 8pmET Sundays Jan 14, 21, 28. Registration is $25 + HST on the WOW website.
Happy Holidays to All
Finally, this blog is sending best wishes to all the Shore Things and extended family. See you all Saturday pre-Xmas if you can be there at Loblaw’s at 8.
A small group tried this one out on Thursday and we can report that, yup, there are some hills.
But it’s worth it. The trail is a sanctuary of wild deceptively close to the DVP. Helen says she has never seen so many cattails in one spot within city limits. The Don River runs throughout underneath a number of newly added bridges. Even in Fall, it’s pretty. And there is of course the Rainbow Tunnel. Signage explains the various features of the area, including suspended rocks that mark notable high water levels over the last century plus.
Still, big hills aren’t for everyone but there is the option of driving down the entrance of Moccassin Trail Park off the Donway when the gates reopen this spring. It’s on the potential offsite walks list.
Weekly Walks
Loblaw’s is the place, 8:00 is the time. Our penultimate Saturday walk before Christmas and as the weekend leading up to that celebration could be busy, it may be our best chance to see as many of you as possible. Sign in and join us!
Tickets are now on sale for the annual Hair of the Dog run/walk race and lunch. $45 +HST for race and lunch; 11 am start.
Weekly Walks
Although the weather forecast is very good for this Saturday’s walk (well above freezing), it will not always be thus. Consider the PATH if the roads are too treacherous. A few of us make it a go-to on those days when it’s a better option than risking broken limbs—this is a thing as we know from bitter experience.
F# sus2
The PATH is very extensive. We walked 8 km last Sunday and it’s very quiet on weekends.
We are the Shore Things 