May the 4th Be With You

Couldn’t resist.

Our Saturday walk falls on THAT day, so let’s have all our (sky)walkers out in force. L@8, and hopefully the rain forecast will hold off just enough. TBC.

Creature Feature

It’s that time of year again.

The midge swarms are out so the Spit may be off limits for a while. Here’s and informative article on what these pesky but harmless non-biting critters are all about.

Anywhere along the lake may be annoying for a bit so this could be a good way to use up some of those leftover COVID masks if you still have any.

Offsite Humber Arboretum Walk

Just a reminder that the May 11 walk starting at the Humber Arboretum in Etobicoke and along the West Humber Trail is so far still on.

More details in next week’s post and through WhatsApp and email as we get closer.

Please consider offering carpooling if you can or reach out to a walking companion to coordinate if you need a ride.

The plan so far is to rendezvous at 8 and head out. Brunch could be at EggSmart at 6795 Airport Road and Northwest Drive, but please feel free to suggest alternatives. This location is less than 15 minutes drive from the walk and close to the highway for our return.

Birthdays

This Sunday is Lynne’s birthday, and the following Thursday is Cynthia’s. Wishing both the best! Woohoo! 🎉🎂

Weekly Walks

I wish it were better news for this Saturday’s walk but so far the forecast calls for rain. Sunday morning may bring better conditions so let’s play it by ear. Either way, it’s L@8.

Splashy News from Lou-Ann

I know this is really early, but weekends are filling up, so she and Paul thought best to give everyone as much notice as possible for the annual Pool Party.  Mark your calendars.

Saturday July 27; Rain date: Sunday July 28.

Birthdays

It’s yours truly’s turn this Wednesday. OMG!

West Humber Trail and Arboretum Walk

Plans did not pan out for a test walk this past week, but we are confident the trail will be lovely and we have a brunch place pegged, so the actual Saturday off-site will be May 11. Details to follow for start time, location and car pooling as we get closer to the date.

New York Times Does Toronto

Ruth sends this link to a NYT article about the great things to do in TO. Some we know, others may be a surprise. If you’re not subscribed to the Times, it may take a few clicks to get there, but you should be able to get in past the pay wall for one article.

Creature Feature

Creature Feature

Things have been quiet on the wildlife front over the last while, but last Saturday more than made up for it on the Spit. Check out this amazing predator.

Birthdays

Celebrating this coming week are Jim on Sunday and Nishe on Monday. Happy happy to both!

Weekly Walks

Saturday bodes better than today on the precipitation front, but will be cool and blustery in the morning so a good windbreaker layer is recommended. As Sunday seems like more rain returns, this may be the only option this weekend. L@8

Offsite Test Walk

There is a tentative plan to head up to Humber College to check out the West Humber Trail mentioned last week. For anyone interested, meet on EH for carpooling, Thursday April 18 (new date!) at 8:30. Please check WhatsApp for updates before coming over. Brunch to follow.

Soggy Enough?

After a good soaking, let us gather and celebrate dryer weather, and more returnees; welcome back Barbara and Ruth! L@8 with happy feet!

Westward Ho!

Planning towards our first offsite walk of 2024 is under way. A leading candidate is the Humber Arboretum and West Humber River Valley Discovery Walk.

According to the brochure, this Discovery Walk leads you on a 10 km loop through the West Humber River valley on a mixture of paved, hard-packed and grass trails. There is a shortcut loop option. You can start at the Humber Arboretum (adjacent to Humber College) or at the Humberwood Centre. This walk takes you through ornamental gardens, to an environmentally significant woodland and along the West Humber River, an area once travelled by First Nation peoples.

Parking is close by at Humber College. The date and details will follow on a later post but at this point perhaps on the 11th as a Mother’s Day warmup. Brunch to follow at a location tbd. A group of us will try to do a weekday walk there to scout out before things are settled.

Happy Birthday

Best wishes to Sheila who, despite not being out with us for quite a while, we did encounter by chance weekday walk. We hope we can see her again and say Happy Birthday in person real soon.

Weekly Walks

Although it will be on the cooler and overcast side on Saturday, it will have followed some very nice days and the trend into next week seems to point to a marked improvement in the weather.

Road and sidewalk conditions should be ideal. So what better antidote to Easter chocolate overdose than a good morning walk this Saturday? Shall it be Spit, Boardwalk or Cherry Beach/Portlands (the new river bed is now fully flooded)?

8@L

Spring Has Sprung…Back?

Well, Mother Nature keeps reminding us she’s the boss, and on this first week of Spring, we’ve had a chilly reminder of why we look forward to warmer weather.

The outlook for next week is improving, but for this Saturday, it won’t be time to put away warm over and under garments quite yet.

So dress up and come on down to the big L at 8. Northern route perhaps for some diversity? Non-binding.

Coffee at the big T after. For sure.

Shameless Personal 🎵

Thanks to everyone who came out and/or tried to get in to see me play on St. Patrick’s Day ☘️. If you missed it and want another shot, and a larger venue, I’m with the same group this Saturday at the Gull & Firkin on Queen East at 8 pm.

Weekly Walks

Special offsite weekday walks are still on the radar, just waiting for warmer conditions and the return of a few more STs currently abroad. More news to follow as decisions are made.

In the meantime, if you’d like to walk during the week, please inquire in the comments here and/or on our WhatsApp group chat. One pod meets regularly Tuesday and Thursday mornings (mostly) from a rotation of East end starting points.

Spring Is In the Air?

As winter escapees begin to trickle back, they may be greeted with a cool reception. Saturday’s forecast is wet, and Sunday’s is snowy for the overnight. Given near-to-or-at freezing temperature on Sunday morning, this weekend may be a washout unless we rainwear up, go indoors or local conditions by the lake end up more favourable for Sunday. The good news is things are looking up down the line. Could capris and shorts be back soon?🌭

Camping 2024

It looks like we have our camping contingent sorted for this year. We hope to book this coming week for Presqu’ile Provincial Park. If anyone else would still like to be included, please contact me or Lou-Ann very soon as we would probably need to add a site if that’s the case. 🏕️🌭🔥🪵

Marching Into March

Here we are roaring into the third month of 2024 already. Good road surfaces, milder temps and returning snowbirds may lead to longer walks? Maybe…

Offsite walks are likely as well, but we will ease into these on weekdays. We will do our best to post these here, and of course on WhatsApp. stay tuned.

Weekly Walks

It’s back to L at 8 for discounted meals and a distance of your choosing. The conditions are promising, not superb, but comfy. See you all there are this roaming blogger and spouse will be back!

Winter Stations

Like what you see above? Here’s some info from Lee Scott, which may be of interest to anyone who didn’t make it to this past Saturday’s walk (or even to those who did make it) and up (literally) for an early walk. Thanks to Ruth for the link.

WINTER STATIONS WALK!!! I suggest a group walk* (11k) Sunday, Feb 25 to check out the whimsy! Because there is ALWAYS MAGIC at sunrise, I propose that we meet at at 6:55am at the washroom building immediately south of the east parking lot off Northern Dancer Blvd/ Lake Shore Blvd E. to be at the beach for sunrise at 7:02am. (Note: These washrooms will not be open 😥) We can check out all the beach installations and then continue through the Kew Gardens, enjoy a few hills north of Queen as we make our way to Ivan Forrest Gardens, continue walking a few more hills to make our way south to Balmy Beach Club, then follow the boardwalk/trail west to see the installations at Woodbine Beach. The earlier we get out there, the less likelihood for crowds! 

One of the best coffee roasters in the city, Omnia Coffee, is on Queen less than a kilometre from the parking lot at Woodbine Beach. I’ll definitely be heading over there after the walk if anyone would like to join me and others! https://www.omniacoffeeroasters.com/pages/contact-us

*there is no charge to attend group walks. This is not a class..there are no intervals…although in this instance the hills on the route might have a similar exertion/exhilaration effect! Friends and family welcome. Also, you are welcome to start with us and choose your own distance.

Need A Challenge?

Barb sent this link to a short video of a couple hiking 3000 km. through New Zealand. Inspiring I’d say!

Weekly Walks

Saturday morning looks sunny but definitely cold so hats and mittens de rigueur. However, the long range looks good either way high next week reaching the low teens during tte week. These are the temperatures we’re seeing over here in Ireland and the UK right now, so we can vouch for how nice that feels. We meet at the same as ever. Please let us know whether “The Empire” has brought back the 50% discount.