Cheryl's Travels: Pandemic response

This was it - the week when Toronto finally started to reopen after the longest lockdown in North America!! Non-essential retail stores are allowed to re-open at 15% capacity, restaurants can open for outdoor dining with restrictions on numbers and tables must be spaced, and finally I can get together with friends for ‘legal’ backyard visits. I still can’t get my haircut and indoor social gatherings not allowed either but thankfully it’s summer. Now to continue to work on vaccinations.

A pink poppy!

The goslings are getting bigger! It’s a bit hard to see from these photos but the colours on their head are changing and they’re getting the distinctive black and white markings.

A very hot, hazy and humid day - definitely an ‘air mattress’ day on Lake Ontario!

And a purple poppy - my lucky week!!

The chapel at the Toronto Necropolis, together with adjoining entry pavilion and superintendent’s office and residence, constitute one of the finest examples of gothic revival architecture in Canada. The unique composition of buildings was built in 1872.

Necropolis Cemetery was opened in 1850 to replace ‘Strangers’ Burying Ground’ or Potter’s Field. It’s much smaller than Mount Pleasant Cemetery but it has a very similar feel and beauty.

George Brown, founder of the Canadian newspaper The Globe, he also exerted a very great influence on the early development of Canada. He was the architect of the reform party which later became the Liberal Party. In 1851 he was elected to the parliament of the province of Canada and some years later, as leader of the Liberal party, he entered into a coalition with John A. MacDonald of the Conservatives to proceed with the confederation of the Canadian provinces.

Back into a new section of our ravine system, this time part of the Lower Don River and surrounding ravine and parklands. Although it can be a bit noisy at times with the nearby highway and major streets, the trail makes for a peaceful and scenic escape. Following close to the Don River, the trail goes over bridges, under overpasses, and near old railway lines…along with beautiful views and serene sounds of the river. Quite a lovely way to get out of the city, without leaving the city.

Us Torontonians will soak up the sun anywhere! Can you spot the sunbather?

This is another part of an unused railway line that, in many places, spans the ravine I frequently walk. There is a big push in the city to make this railway line into a parkland trail, similar to the Highline in NYC. It would be spectacular if that ever came to fruition!

The impressive Prince Edward Viaduct crosses the Don River Valley and the Rosedale Ravine. Built between 1915 and 1918 the bridge was a very controversial project for Toronto due to its high cost. Because the area at the east end of the bridge was sparsely populated at the time, the viaduct was dubbed “the Bridge to Nowhere”. On the recommendation of the engineering firm, a subway deck was incorporated into the viaduct, a foresight that saved significant time and costs to the construction of Toronto’s subway 50 years later.

This public art display is known as “Monsters for Beauty, Permanence and Individuality”. In total there are 14 cast concrete sculptures that are a recreation of gargoyles that adorn buildings in downtown Toronto.

Humber Bay Park consists of two landspits at the west end of Toronto. The park was opened in 1984 and contains several habitat restoration projects such as the establishment of wildflower meadows, the creation of a warm-water fish habitat, and wetland areas.