Offsite Walks!

A reminder there is an offsite walk on Centre Island this Thursday the 27th. Be at the docks in time to get tickets and board the 6:00 pm ferry to Hanlan’s Point. We will walk to Ward’s Island for the return ferry scheduled for 7:45.

After-walk refreshments will be at Irene near Sugar Beach behind the Corus building.

Car pooling is recommended so get in touch with others so we can save a bit on parking, or for the adventurous (or those with time on your hands), there is the TTC.

We’ve had a few suggestions for future walks. The first Rattray Marsh Conservation Area in Mississauga. The trails are short but could could suit many.

For further consideration, this hike may be of interest to some of the Shore Things who have flirted with the idea of hiking the Bruce Trail. Seems like there is a branch in our own backyard.

You have to be a member to sign up – membership is $50, which is tax
deductible. Ruth has signed up and will endeavor to take notes of the route, in case we want to do it at some later date, maybe for Fall colours?

Birthdays Missed

Mille excuses to Marie for her missed birthday last week. My digital calendar is undergoing review. Bon anniversaire!

Also happy birthday to Laura who was also missed in last week’s post but will likely catch best wishes as this post will likely hit your inboxes on the actual day, Friday.

Weekly Walks

Saturday looks perrrfect! Let’s all gather at the usual for the usual. Maybe a bit extra distance since it’s so nice? Time to visit the lighthouse?

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Creature Feature

Technically seen at the end of our walk back home… sorta counts I guess. This black swallowtail caterpillar infiltrated our garden stowing away in the parsley from Loblaw’s last Saturday. Very beneficial I’m told unless you are garnish.

Weekly Walks

Friday morning at 9 at Lou-Ann’s seems the place to be. I think this message should have reached all via WhatsApp, but reposting here just in case. Let her know if you want to attend and haven’t done so yet.

Saturday morning looks good too minus the pool. 8 am at Loblaw’s is the place to be.

Camping Update

All interested parties have weighed in. Should be a good one at Arrowhead. Look for photos here in August and the annual calendar this Fall.

Creature Feature Again

Birthdays!

Happy birthday wishes to Leverne who celebrates her marker day this coming Monday. All the best, Leverne!

Weekly Walks

Saturday morning looks just ideal as the gruellingly high temps and humidity will be behind us. Route tbd so please voice preferences if you have them. Usual time and place.

As mentioned in a previous post, there is interest in an evening let’s-catch-the-sunset on Centre Island during the week.

It looks like that will happen on Thursday July 27. The plan is to catch the 6:00 pm ferry to Hanlan’s Point, then walk to Ward’s Island for the return ferry scheduled for 7:45.

After-walk refreshments will be at Irene near Sugar Beach behind the Corus building.

Canadian Heart

Our Saturday walk falls on our countries national holiday. What could be better than a few kilometres to celebrate?

Ruth passes on this message from Lee Scott that could be a good fit:

Lee Scott is hosting a free walk on the Leslie Street spit followed by a tailgate party (coffee and treats), starting at 7:30 ending at 9:00. She says anyone from the Shore Things is welcome.

If anyone is interested, they should e-mail Lee so she knows how much coffee to bring! scott@wowpowerwalking.com

You might also want to listen to this great tune from a friend of mine in celebration after the walk and coffee. Canada yee-hoo!

Birthday Wishes

In my haste to get the blog out, I initially missed mentioning Arlene’s birthday this coming Monday. Fortunately caught that in time. Let’s all wish her the best in advance when we see her Saturday.

Creature Feature

A Wednesday morning walk in Taylor Creek Park led to an encounter of the amphibian kind. It’s common to hear them croaking their little hearts out in the ponds, much more unusual to see one on the path. This one is apparently a Green frog Lithobates clamitans.

Shared Use

I recently reached out to the local councillor for information about the use of the Martin Goodman Trail, particularly in the Beach area to clear up any confusion when it comes to other users, i.e., bikes, skateboards, roller blades, scooters, e-bikes.

On rare occasions, we have had other non-walking users unpleasantly berate us for using the trail even though the signage seems to show it as a multi-use.

Some of these people have suggested we stay on the Boardwalk, but although pleasant for strolling, it can be a bit more hazardous for rapid walking as the boards are not perfectly even and some of us have tripped on it.

The reply I received from the city follows:

“The Martin Goodman Trail is designated as a multi-use path, with the exception of a small segment on Queens Quay W between Stadium Rd and Bathurst St that is designated as a two-way cycle track. There is a sidewalk directly beside it for pedestrian use.”

Seems clear.

Weekly Walks

Saturday promises very tolerable weather, cloudy and not too hot, so perfect for getting in some distance, for those who care about such things. Is it time to begin thinking of earlier starts for walkers striving for the extra kms? Speak up in the comments. 8:00 at Loblaw’s for the default, earlier tbc for extra distance should there be a will.

Weekly Walks

Saturday looks splendid for a walk so we are hoping to see a great turnout.

Creature Feature!

A side benefit of walking is getting closer to nature. The Leslie Street Spit is a prime location for spotting wildlife. Hares, cormorants, and a variety of birds are frequently spotted. Reptiles less frequently, and just this past week, Lou-Ann snapped a pic of this gal (?) possibly nesting possibly in preparation for laying eggs.

Birthdays

Happy birthday and schönen Geburstag to Rainer this coming Monday!

Pool Party

The date has been set so save it! Our annual poole party is scheduled for Saturday August 26th (Rain date: Sunday August 27th). Details will follow as we get closer to the day. Thanks Paul and Lou-Ann!

Offsite is Outta Sight

Our Scarborough walk was lovely as was the brunch that followed. Our next Saturday brunch will be anchored closer to our usual stomping grounds – location and date tbd.

There is also some interest in an evening let’s-catch-the-sunset on Centre Island during the week. Again, no date and time set at this point but def in the next month. Suggested after-walk refreshmenst could be at Irene near Sugar Beach behind the Corus building. Stay tuned.

Weekly Walks

The forest fire smoke may be a concern for some-many-all (?) so please carefully check the weather forecast. Temperature and precipitation are not a concern this Saturday, but the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) might help you decide whether or not you want to be outside (masked or not), or stick to the filtered indoors. Environment Canada has an app that can be easily set to send you a notification at whatever AQHI threshold you select. The first link above takes you to an article that explains what each level means, the second to the app site (also available free through your phone’s App Store).

Hopefully Thursday’s rain will dampen down the particulates. Pease sign as per usual. We are at Loblaw’s at 8.

Birthday Add-Ons

Missed a few birthdays when posting this earlier…so here they are.

Happy happy to Trish on Sunday, and Susan right after on Monday. The beautiful weather is definite a gift to both. Enjoy!

Offsite Walk

Just a final reminder that group A is meeting at Colonel Danforth Park at 8 for a Scarborough-based walk this Saturday. Allow about 40 minutes to drive and let others know if you want to carpool. The parking lot is open and the eastern portion of the trail along the lake is no longer blocked by construction.

Anyone wishing to walk a shorter distance could start at 8:30 instead so we can all rendezvous for brunch. Please sign in to indicate your preference.

Brunch is afterward at Eggsmart, 4410 Kingston Rd, on the northwest corner of Lawrence E. and Kingston Road.

Group B is at Loblaw’s at 8. Those who prefer to stay closer to home base please sign in to let others know you will be there.

Inspiration

Thanks to Susan for this link to a great article in the Star about an amazing 95-year-old looking to set a new 5k world record in her age group. Well worth the read!

Go Girl

Courage to Barbara who is off to the other side of the Atlantic this Wednesday for a race that includes, dare I say it, HILLS!? All the best!

Stuff Seen on Walks

Thanks to Lou-Ann for these!

Offsite Walk Reminder

Next Saturday June (yes June) 3, those interested are walking from Scarborough’s Colonel Danforth Park south to Lake Ontario and partway on the waterfront trail, followed by brunch. This is a repeat of an event we did a while back. Details on location and directions will be sent by Google Groups email and posted on WhatsApp.

Please confirm either you are attending offsite (plan A) or Loblaw’s (plan B) so we make sure everyone is included.

Weekly Walks

The weather is getting better all the time. This Saturday shows sunny and a moderate in the a.m., so perhaps not yet shorts weather, but warming nicely later in the day. Loblaw’s at 8 and coffee on the terrace (aka picnic tables by the garden centre) for after.