Many of the group walks I have taken during the pandemic have been around Toronto’s scenic Tommy Thompson Park wildlife and bird sanctuary.
Since my friend Tristan recently joined the St James Town Sailing Club to learn to sail Albacore boats, he can make use of a canoe from their location near Cherry Beach. Yesterday, Tristan and I did an initial foray around the protected waters in that part of the waterfront:
There are a lot of intriguing options for a longer trip: circling the small islands in the Toronto Islands which cannot be reached on foot; circumnavigating the whole islands set, as well as Tommy Thompson Park; and following the waterfront west as far as Humber Bay and a bit up the river to a boat club there, or east toward the RC Harris water treatment plant or the Scarborough Bluffs.
Years ago when I was still living on Markham Street and had time for semi-regular visits to the island, I considered getting an inflatable canoe since I lacked the means to store and transport a conventional one. Being able to borrow a canoe that is already on the lakefront is hugely better, and could be the basis for many peaceful paddles.
