Perk A Bit Less Perky

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!

Weekly Walks

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. 

It’s New Calendar Time

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!

Sunday Walks for 2024

From Ruth comes this news.

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.

Birthday Wishes

Hello Eva and happy birthday on Wednesday!

East Don Trail

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!

Hair of the Dog

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.

The PATH is very extensive. We walked 8 km last Sunday and it’s very quiet on weekends.

Happy Birthday

Barb S’s birthday is this Saturday so a live serenade is planned if the weather cooperates. Be there!(?)

Race Anyone?

The Robbie Burns early bird pricing ends on December 3. If interested follow this link.

Weekly Walks

Saturday’s forecast has leaned towards rain. If that remains the case, perhaps Sunday?

Alternate Sites

Some of us are looking into casing out the East Don Trail, starting near Arlene’s on Wynford Heights. There is a Tim’s at the trailhead. More tba.

December Already

Wow! Here we are entering the last month of 2023! A top festivity is coming up soon along with related gatherings so it may be more challenging to get out but do let’s try for overall health, companionship and mitigation of the many extra calories we are about to consume.

Birthdays

It’s Kathleen’s birthday this Saturday, yay! All the best!

Weekly Walks

Time to break out the long johns! Colder days are coming but this Saturday will have some sun and no precipitation. Loblaw’s at 8:00 and don’t be late!

The Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Philips Square is on for the next month and a bit, albeit strangely devoid of horses (look it up!). Some of us are hoping to hoof down for a weekday evening walk to be dazzled. Details will be announced shortly so please check in the comments and on WhatsApp for more news.

Birthdays

Happy BDs to Libby and Ruth this coming week (Sunday and Thursday respectively)! Let’s send them our best wishes.

Potluck Final Update

It’s this Saturday! Helen will have sent out an email to everyone with the details. If you haven’t received it, please check your spam folder in case your email app filtered it out. If still nothing, get in touch and we’ll try another way. Here is a summary of the event minus some specifics that I don’t want to have on a public website.

Hi, again, Shore Things,

Our get-together on Saturday is almost here! Please join us, and spread the word to Shore Things you might not have seen in a while. It’s a time to reconnect.

Those who ordered calendars will be able to pick them up there, too. 

Here are some reminders and/or details:

Party:

Trish could use helpers to come a bit earlier for set up OR stay to tidy up afterwards.

Finger food, SVP. And BYO beverages. Please also bring your own glasses and tableware, to be garbage-free.

Location:

Party Room at Trish’ (address in the email and WhatsApp)

We usually find street parking one street west of the condo. Sometimes, access to the party room is easiest on foot via the rear entrance – through the archway off Eglinton.

Emergency contact/Trish: see email/WhatsApp (mobile)

Please RSVP to Trish and copy Helen – thanks to everyone who already confirmed

Time: 6 pm till whenever

Bring ideas for next year – walks, trips, whatever you think would be fun to do together.

Calendars: If you ordered one, please bring $20 in cash, please and thanks – to save bank fees. (We had a bit of a discount this year, because we had some leftover bulk-purchase funds. Expect the $25 cost to return next year.)

See you on Saturday!

Weekly Walks

Saturday looks cool but dry, so let’s all gather at the Loblaw’s for a pre-party 8-10 km perhaps for the ambitious, or whatever suits you!

If you can’t walk, then try flying down IN Rio…