DON VALLEY/EARL BALES

28 Seniors kept the clubs edict of hiking all year round no matter what the weather by meeting at York Mills for a snow trek lead by Rosemary Wood

Looking for Paul Monk, bloody hell there he is over there!

  

Putting on those pesky Icers

Video of The Don River West Branch

Video trudging through the Don Valley Golf Course, no clubs, just sticks! 

Stopping to fix them there icers

 Peek a Boo, I see you

Walk around the reservoir 

Saying Hi to Frosty as we enter Earl Bales Park

Ah! the peace and tranquility of the woods

Pausing to view the skiers 

This one certainly observed the sign

Up the bloody hill to lunch at the Community Centre

Warm up and satiated and ready to go

Leaving the Community Centre

Happy together

Up the hill of the Hinder Property

Dragon our feet through York Cemetery

Something to mark your grave!

The few remaining hardy types put on their happy alcoholic faces at the Frog & Firkin. A surprise visit from the recuperating Kevin Doyle was an extra joy. My kind of guy, when you are looking to get back hiking, start at the end and not the beginning!

I mapped close to 9 km, others quite a bit more!

Thank you to the South American hatted leader, Rosemary for what will possibly be the highlight of this years winter hikes. She was so diligent checking out the trail several times with Doris, the Iron Lady, before today. Good to see Liliane and thanks for counting once again. Rare to see Ann Atkins bringing up the rear by volunteering to Sweep! She is so talented.

BOOKMARKS

It was a cool but sunny day for Mary Ayers to lead 59 Seniors on one of her unique urban hikes. This one included visiting 4 Bookmarks in the downtown area. The group met outside of Broadview Station

Mary gave a descriptive explanation of the day's activities

We proceeded north on Broadview Ave to the Chester Hills Lookout which afforded great views of the city skyline, the Don Valley and the Prince Edward Viaduct 

Twas here that I read the first Bookmark a passage from "In the skin of lion" by Michael Ondaatje. It was better to read it here as the official Bookmark was on the Viaduct and traffic noise would be an issue

At the Viaduct we did pause at the actual Bookmark site

We then made our crossing the Viaduct

After my reading I needed a rest

Our next reading took place at the Harold Town Park. Before arriving there we walked through the picturesque Manulife Gardens (photos lost?). Sigrun read a passage from "If I die before I wake" by Jean Little

After lunch in the Food Court of Cumberland Terrace we made our way up to Casa Loma

Climbing the steps up to the Castle

Susan Richardson read the poem "The Cat and the Wizard" by Dennis Lee

Leaving Casa Loma we descended back down the steps to Walmer Road

On the way south to College and Spadina we passed a monument to another Canadian writer

At the intersection of College and Spadina Mary Moore read the final passage of the day, "Knowing I live in a dark age" by Milton Acom

After the hike ended those with a thirst raced to the Ein-Stien Bier Halle"

Ann appeals for leaders for the March/April schedule

We thank Mary for a most interesting day, for bringing a spot of culture to the members and choosing an enjoyable watering hole. Thanks to Liliane for the count and to Cathy for sweeping. The distance covered was about 12 km