Walks: Saturday October 16 to Thursday October 21

It's a double "oops" post this week. 

First, although this edition will be in time for the upcoming weekly walks, it may be going out too late for the email blast. I will try to have it reach everyone through other means.

Second, belated Happy Birthday! wishes to Val who was missed last week due to Thanksgiving confusion. Add this blogger to the list of turkeys I guess. Sorry Val!

Farewell Lynne

This is Lynne's last week in Canada, as she prepares to move back home to the UK. We hope you have a chance to join us this Saturday to bid her adieu and bon voyage! Or you can speak English.

When the Going Gets Tough

We sometimes find ourselves in need of "relief" during walks, especially when they are longer. Fortunately a new initiative helps you locate public washroom facilities.  Created in 2021, GottaGoTO! is a washroom advocacy mapping initiative created by Derek Pokora in collaboration with Toronto Public Space Committee and TOToiletCodes. The stated goal on the website is: 

To make Toronto’s public washrooms more accessible to everyone, from those who are unhoused, to taxi or ride-share drivers and essential delivery workers, to those with visible or invisible disabilities who may not leave home because they won’t know where to go when doodie calls.

The site features an interactive map to help you find a nearby open facility. 

Weekly Walks

Saturday looks rainy again. One weather site predicts cloudy with occasional rain showers. High around 15C. Winds WNW at 15 to 30 km/h. Chance of rain 70%. Sunday is similar. We may just have to haul out the rain gear, and grin and bear it. Or perhaps, like last week, the clouds may dance around us. 

Weekday walks continue on in the usual pods. Some groups are exploring other areas to walk, notably along the Scarborough Hydro right-of-way, aka The Meadoway from Victoria Park to Kennedy and back for 7 km. Paths are asphalted, very few bikes, parking is easy in the nearby plaza on the northeast corner of Vic Park and Eglinton, and there is a nearby Timmie's just southwest at O'Connor.

A further section on the east side of the Go tracks is worthy of exploring. This 3.5 km section of The Meadoway, from Brimley Road to Scarborough Golf Club Road is known as the Scarborough Centre Butterfly Trail. The entire area is posted with reminders that it is a No-Mow zone. Hence, no men and their dogs were seen.

A bridge not too far.