Pool Party Reminder

Details of the party have been emailed via Google Groups to everyone who we have on file to contact. If you haven’t received anything, please try the following:

• Check your email spam folder in case it ended there
• If you are on WhatsApp, the details are posted there as well
• Text/email me directly and I will forward and add you to our contact list.

On that thought, if your email has changed in the last year or so, let us know and we will update our records.

Weekly Walks

Saturday’s forecast shows a chance of rain early in the morning but dissipating around the time we begin to walk (the 3 apps I reference differ slightly so caveat emptor). Sunday is definitely better. We have been fooled before, as witnessed by the walk last Monday pictured above. It turned out muggy but no one got soaked. It may be a “watch and decide on the day” kinda thing.

Maybe a northbound route for a change?

Birthdays

Let’s send out greetings and best wishes to Norma this coming Monday for her celebration 🎉!

Safety First

A recent incident is a good reinforcement to always have your health card (or at least a copy of the number) with you when walking. A cell phone is also highly important. If you don’t have one or can’t carry it with you, pair up with someone who does. You never know when you might need medical attention.

Annual Pool Party

A quick reminder that our annual splashy get together is this month on Saturday the 26th. A separate email with details will be sent out soon.

Weekly Walks

Saturday looks perfect, warm and sunny. A little added distance again? Let everyone know if this appeals and whether this could entail a slightly earlier start (7:30?) so we all meet up around the same time after.

Island Escapade

Eleven of us made it out to Toronto Islands last night for a (hot) walk, albeit tempered by being closer to the lake. It was a multi-modal trip: car-train-bus-subway-ferry, and of course walking. Only missing was airplane and perhaps dirigeable.

The evening ended at a patio on the lakefront for a late dinner and refreshments. I’ll let the photos do the talking now.

Creature Feature

Birthdays

Happy birthday this week to Sharon on Friday! Yay!

Weekly Walks

Two out of three weather apps are calling for 70% chance of (light?) rain Saturday morning. They have been known to be wrong so we will likely have to decide on the spur of the moment. Keep the communications flowing and your raincoats handy.

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!