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.
Is it spring for real this time?
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)?
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.
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. 🏕️🌭🔥🪵
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!
Cooley Mountains and Carlingford Lough in the background. Happy walkers on the Greenway up front.
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.
Being followed during one of my walks by this strange British Post Box. It kept going on about “exterminate”!
From what we seen from way over here in wet Devon, it seems that the mild conditions that equaled and even surpassed those in the UK are over, replaced by the cold and snow standard for this time of year. Please be careful on the roads as transitions are always the riskiest time for slips and falls.
Winter Stations
A reminder that according to their website, this year’s Winter Stations are officially ready for viewing as of February 19. Please post pics or send me so I can include in next week’s blog post.
Weekly Walks
Saturday will be cold so bundle up. Same time same place, and a hot coffee to follow.
As it’s Family Day weekend, please let others know if you want to schedule a walk on Monday morning.
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!
