Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Victoria Day Weekend Hike

Canadian immersion 101. Victoria Day. What's that? A day to celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday and a three day weekend in Canada to unofficially mark the beginning of Summer. Eric and I decided to explore Tommy Thompson Park, a.k.a. the Leslie Street Spit, located in the city of Toronto.
The Leslie Street Spit.
It's an iconic Canadian moment, smack dab in the biggest city in Canada. Eric and I are fairly used to seeing the lowest portion of trees protected from beavers with a wrapping of metal mesh. This was, I believe my first beaver lodge. I admit to not expecting to see one within city limits. Silly me, eh? 
There is the tiniest, pathetic utilitarian type light house at the end of the peninsula. I am sure it does the job. But it is clearly unloved. A sad sight for someone who lived in New England like myself, and has witnessed firsthand the adoration and worship of the lighthouses in that region.
The Spit is on the right in this picture. Eric and I hiked to the lighthouse and back. We haven't yet been to the Toronto Islands which can be seen on the lower left in this image.  

3 comments:

James Redekop said...

What time were you there? If it was between 10:30 and 11:30 am, you may have been walking along the Spit at the same time L-Girl, Redsock, my SO & I were at the off-leash park on Cherry Beach. In your aerial photo, it's the area facing the Spit just to the east of the channel to the inner harbour.

Adam said...

I think we arrived at the Spit at about 12:30 or so. Cherry Beach, eh? I would never think to look in that location for a beach. Silly me. I believe one of our friends has his trailer parked somewhere over that way. I'll have to check it out.

How many times do you think we all have walked by each other at some location such as the Spit and not realized it? One can only wonder...LOL

Anonymous said...

I had no idea there was such a beautiful place close to Toronto!

How come I have never been there, mystery. Same goes to Toronto Island I guess, took me three visits to TO because I actually took the boat there.