Trinity Bellwoods Park: I miss you

I was out walking yesterday and then I thought of you. Hi, I miss you, then I remembered this sign found in Trinity Bellwoods Park tennis courts so I am not sure if someone threw a tennis ball and missed or they truly miss you. Someone had used heavy string to spell out their feelings in large block letters.

Beat the Heat: Islands in the sun

Thousands of people stream from the mainland of Toronto, across the vast expanse of water know as the inner harbour and frolic in the green parks, sandy beaches and cool waters of Lake Ontario on the Toronto Islands. You can get there by plane, water taxi, pleasure boats, tour boats and by the mighty ships known as the Toronto Ferries. 

I like the ferries because they are so old and full of character with red life jackets hanging from the ceilings. This year the cost for the ferry trip for an adult is only $6.50 and you can bring your bikes at no extra cost. Actually the cost is for the trip across, you can come back for free!

Family picnics and the Centreville Amusement Park probably bring the most people seeking recreation. Centreville is on the largest island called Centre Island - I think it is somewhere in the middle. Ward's Island on the east is the next largest with Hanlan's Point on the west side, which is also the home of the Island Airport. There are a few more islands and you can move between the islands by the many bridges. You can see a great map of the islands here.

It's quieter on the Hanlan's Point side away from the families going to the amusement park (I always remember the log flume ride) and being home to the clothing optional (I mean naked) beach keeps a lot of people away on general principle. 

Right outside the beach area is a snack shack that serves alcohol so if the beach gets too warm you can chill out with some cold brews. You just have to remember to put your clothes back on when you come off the beach. The homes and cottages are on the Ward's Island side and some unusual housing designs make it a nice way to spend some time checking out the sights and little cottages.

With no private cars allowed the best way to see the islands is to roller blade or take your bike across - you can even rent a bike on the  islands. They have some groovy family bikes that resemble old style cars and that can seat two and four people.

Names carved into the pier on the south side of the islands.

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse

Detroit and Belle Isle Fountain

I passed through Detroit (see last years post on Detroit) on the way to the Thunder over Michigan Airshow and we drove onto Belle Isle which is a great treasure along Detroit's waterfront. The main part of the Belle Isle fountain (the James Scott Memorial Fountain) has been fixed since my last visit and only two parts remain without water. The pond itself is full of algae and no ducks float on it's almost solid surface.

Back in Detroit the razor wire, graffiti, empty lots and abandoned buildings still remain. I didn't see any urban farms and maybe they still remain as proposals. It is said that Detroit is the 2nd poorest City in America which is really sad considering that the American economy still seems to be reeling from the previous world wide meltdown which has not really ended. I hope that Detroit comes back and that some people can take advantage of the low home prices and bring families and business back to Motor City. Until then the abandoned buildings and damaged structures provide a scary and artistic memory of past bounty.

Welcome, Enjoy Detroit mural.

See more pictures of the Belle Isle Park, fountain and more Detroit pictures after the jump.

abandoned factory and broken windows

Mohawk: Detroit's favorite Vodka.

Whitcomb Conservatory: greenhouse and botanical garden

It's stinking hot - time for Parks Canada Celebration

That's what someone just told me - it's stinking hot out, hot, hot, hot. And I think grab your bathing suit and head down to the sparkling, crisp waters of Lake Ontario. Parks Canada is having their Centennial Celebration on Centre Island today (July 16, 2011) from noon to 8:30pm. For most people heading to the Islands means riding the Toronto Ferries. PS the new Island Ferry ticket booths have been rebuilt, see the photo at top.

You can enjoy concerts starting at 4pm with The Skydiggers, Serena Ryder and Sarah  Harmer.

Also planned are a number of activities including meeting historic characters, take souvenir snapshots, see mascot Parka the Beaver, visit a wetland discovery centre, sit still for face painting or hand tattoos and have a picnic or get some food from vendors. There is plenty of stuff to do on Centre Island - you can also go to Centreville Amusement Park after the celebration and have some more fun.

MEC Toronto Paddlefest 2011

The annual Mountain Equipment Co-op MEC Toronto Paddlefest returned to Sunnyside Park for their June 11-12, 2011 celebration of small watercraft. Canoes, kayaks, surf boards in brilliant colour filled the beach in preparation of all the paddling that will happen.

Hopefully no one will fall in because the water is probably a little cool still. More pictures after the jump.

There was also a photoshoot going on in the pavilion - at first I thought it might have been a lovely vampire picking out her next victim. 

Toronto Ferry and the Islands

A magical place exists across Toronto's harbour on the Islands that grew up from the sand of the Scarborough Bluffs. The collections of Islands are full of excitement with the Centre Island Centreville Amusement Park, the yachts and other big boats in the marinas and the many beaches (including that clothing optional nude beach known as Hanlan's Point Beach). The Islands are so much fun to roller blade, bike or walk that you forget the fun of riding the ferries that run between the various islands and the City of Toronto Ferry Terminal at Harbourfront's Queens Quay ("half the fun is getting there!). The view of the city's skyline is fabulous.

The ferry service runs from the mainland to Centre Island (in the middle), Hanlan's Point (west) and Ward Island (east) and the adult ticket only costs $6.50 (return included for free!). The ferries run 7 days a week, generally from 30 minutes to an hours between each trip (times are different on the weekends and weekdays). The islands are connected so you can start on one side and travel through to the other side - you can even rent bikes on the islands.

See more pictures after the jump.

Beaches of Toronto

Sunday is just what summer should be - sunny and warm. The blue skies were out to bless everyone with a little kiss of sky and some exposed skin. Early morning sun fought off the fog and later in the morning rising temperatures started to warm up the sand and brought out the sun worshipers to beaches along Lake Ontario. There were also tons of boaters out, including teams of Dragon Boats practicing for a big race. Sunnyside Park has beach volleyball courts set up and there is a large patio which is just perfect for viewing the action.

This sculpture looks exactly like what you find at the bottom of a drain

Parking lots along Lakeshore are easily accessible and if you bring your bike you can travel from site to site to find the perfect combination of sand and beach. See more beaches after the jump.

The inner harbour near Ontario Place

HTO Park

Cherry Beach and their weird beach trees

Beach on Centre Island and wharf below

Entrance to Hanlan's Point clothing optional beach - there was a large turnout at the beach