This was such a typical ‘spring’ week here, at least when it comes to the weather anyway. On Tuesday of this week it was 33.3 degrees and on Friday it was 3 degrees and snowed!
At the end of Week 62 (last week) I was back in another of Toronto’s ravine systems again - this one north of home. I went back to it again today and did another section, and will likely go back a few more times, each time trying to do a new part.
I’m glad the kids have all this lovely space for sidewalk chalk but given that temperatures are around 30 degrees it would be nice to see the splash pad open instead!!
Along the boardwalk and down the stairs...
To Burke Brook at the bottom.
I loved this trail - especially the rustic elements!
I know I said the tree in the cemetery was calling for a swing - but I found one today even better!
This might not be the best part of the trail for someone who suffers from seasonal pollen allergies!
Burke Brook is part of the West Don River watershed.
One of my neighbours, who is an artist, made this a year ago and has resurrected it again now...I think because pandemic fatigue has set in so badly!
I love this stone fence that is alongside one of the paths I walk.
‘Believe in Your Power to Change’
No comparisons to a Lake Huron sunset - but occasionally the evening sky gets interesting in Toronto too. (Next time I’ll try not to be so lazy and actually go out to the street to see if I can get a photo without all the hydro wires.)
As part of my goal to explore new places, especially walking trails, in Toronto, today I headed to the very eastern most edge of the city, and back down to Lake Ontario. The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail stretches over 3600 kms (from west of Sault Sté. Marie to the Québec border) and is a signed route of interconnecting roads and off-road trails joining over 150 communities and First Nations along the Canadian shores of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Where I went today is a section where the trail is off-road, for non-motorized vehicles only, along the shore of Lake Ontario. A sunny, not sweltering hot day - perfect to be outside!
This is the mouth of the Highland Creek, another major tributary to Lake Ontario.
This picnic table isn’t the most popular one...I wonder why?
I’m at the eastern end of the Scarborough Bluffs - looking west to the area I was at last week.
I know it’s hard to see - thank goodness - but if you look closely you will see all those white dots in these two photos are snowflakes...at the end of May!! No accumulation on the ground in the city, but you didn’t have to go far north to places where it did!
The sign should also say ‘no snacking rabbits!’
I’m pretty sure I might have photographed this ivy before but I just love how it’s all over the house and then growing out over, and hanging down from, the hydro wires too!
I ended this week back in the same ravine system that I was in at the beginning of the week. I started roughly where I left off - near where Burke Brook meets the West Don River. These two waterways meet in Sunnybrook Park. Sunnybrook was once a 175 acre farm property with horse stables which was turned over to the City of Toronto in 1928.
Not too busy during a stay-at-home order...
And lots of room in the parking lot too!
In one part of the park there are many, MANY bird houses - and it was such fun to watch the various birds.
Blue jay
A female cardinal
A downy woodpecker
A female rose breasted grosbeak
Of course with all that seed on the ground other creatures, in addition to birds, are also attracted...like this little chipmunk.
And these squirrels.
Baby pine cones
After reading my book in the park for awhile I then enjoyed some of the many trails alongside the West Don River.
