HIGH PARK

Barry & I joined Tom Fiore's Toronto Trail Festival Hikes around High Park. Starting at the Grenadier Restaurant we proceeded to wander through mostly wooded trails within the park. At one point we did Yoga Exercises with an Instructor which I actually enjoyed. Today was also a Ukrainian Festival and we passed by the parade on our hike. We finished up back at the restaurant curtailing the hike due to heavy rain. Mary Moore, Barry and I headed to the Mackenzie Pub for a pint and a bite. The walk was only 6km long!

HUMBER ARBORETUM

Today's Senior Hike of 32 participants commenced at Ester Lorrie Park along the West Humber Trail. The 11 km walk took us to the Humber Arboretum. Monica Feran, our hike leader, guided us through some enjoyable trails and gardens within the Arboretum. We finished up at the Humber College Student Pub! I thought it was ironic. The pub offered a myriad of beers and spirits but only two choices of food to eat!

ETOBICOKE CREEK

Today's Senior Hike started at the LCBO at the Burnhamthorpe Plaza. Instead of Helen dropping me off I decided to walk the 5 km from home to the plaza. Mary Ayers led 27 members on a new path along the Etobicoke Creek up to the Airport and back. Claire Burgeron led 12 members on a shorter route around the Centennial Park area. After a beer at the pub in the plaza I walked to St. James Church on Burnhamthorpe Td to meet Helen at the Food Bank. I covered a total distance of 20 km. The actual hike was about 12 km. Hopefully the extra exercise offsets the three beers I drank today?

WATERFRONT TRAIL

Ann Atkins led 55 members west along the Waterfront trail starting from High Park and finishing at 35th Street. We had our refreshments at Sloppy Joe's on Lakeshore. Only 28 members completed the 14 km walk.

SIBBALD'S POINT

It sure was a hot one feeling like the 40's with the humidity. Despite the heat our bus hike to Sibbald's Point Provincial Park was enjoyed by 18 regulars and 6 turtles. We departed York Mills at 9:30 am. Alighting from the bus we walked from the beach to St. Georges Church and then back for lunch on the beach. After lunch we hiked through the woods along the Maidenhair Fern Trail finishing at the park shop for ice cream. It was a comparatively short walk today of just over 8 km. Some members went for a swim or a paddle before the bus departed at 2:45 pm. I did not stop for a beer at York Mills wanting to be home by 6 pm.

PRE-HIKE WATERFRONT TRAIL

I met Ann Atkins and Evelyn Tasker for a pre-hike along the Waterfront Trail. We walked south through High Park to Lakeshore picking up the trail westbound and ended our 17 km hike at 42nd Street. On this street was the apartment building that Ann lived in when she first came to Canada. It was a scorcher of a day and the beer Ann treated me to at Sloppy Joe's went down a treat.

PARKS & RAVINES

I really enjoyed today's Senior Circular Hike. Despite the heat Kevin Doyle led 57 of us through several parks, Sherwood, Blythewood Ravine, Alexander Muir and Sunnybrook for lunch. On the way to returning to the start at Eglinton & Mt. Pleasant members were challenged to climb out of the ravine onto Bayview Avenue before walking through Mt. Hope Cemetery. It broke my heart not to have a pint after the hike due to my diet day on the "Every Other Day Diet".