We tried out a new route that week. Walked from Birchwood Park northward along Clarkson road until we found the Nine Creeks trail. From there we continued along the trail through Lorne Park to Woodeden road and back. We walked about 6.5 K. We all had enough energy left to walk from our starting point to the nearby Pump and Patio. I’m sure we”ll do this walk again.
November 18 - 2021
Thanks to Ron Linklater for arranging the walk, and to Doug Brien for coming out to provide the group portrait. 18 came to walk. We always enjoy this trail, as you can see in the photo below. There was a Hinterland Who’s Who moment when a strangely coloured squirrel was seen along the trail. To learn about squirrels and their many colours go to wikipedia Eastern grey squirrel. It includes a photo of a similar brown morph squirrel in New York city. And for an interesting and entertaining read, go to niche-canada.org and find Nation, Nature, and Nostalgia: Hinterland Who’s Who.
Lunch was at Swiss Chalet.
December 2 - 2021
Our group of 20 walkers enjoyed the Christmas outing this year visiting the Centennial Park greenhouse poinsettia display, the walk along Renforth creek, and lunch at the nearby London Gate Pub.
December 16 - 2021
January 2022
While the walking club is in limbo in January, we still have members walking out on their own. Add a picture if you can (send to HYPERLINK "mailto:Phil.walker@bell.net" phil.walker@bell.net).
Phil Walker - Joshua Valley , Oakville, Jan 2
Marty Wanat - Sherman falls, Ancaster, Jan 6
February 3 2022
Erindale Park
A beautiful winter's day with fresh snow on the trees and trails, and the river frozen over in slow water, and rushing open in the faster. A few ducks were in the river. Shortly after 10 am 5 of us headed out for the walk. It was very calm and quiet along the trails, and almost no wildlife was seen or heard. The whole scene was black and white. But it all changed at the end of the trail. Birdseed had been spread on a bench. Cardinals, bluejays, white breasted nuthatches, dark-eyed juncos, white throated sparrows were busy eating. Squirrels showed up too.
Phil
February 17 2022
Applewood Trail Update
Despite the ominous weather forecast for the walk, 8 of us joined the 6.3 Km walk. There was a brief period of drizzle, and a few puddles along the walkway, but we all finished the walk in good spirits.
Phil
March 3 - 2022
March 17 - 2022
Garnetwood Park
Our group of 15 walked along Etobicoke creek from Burhamthorpe road north to the 401 and back. Some were wearing St. Patrick’s day green. We found some of winter's huge blocks of ice still scattered along side the trail, and at the same time raccoons high in a tree basking in the sunshine. Goodbye winter, hello spring.
At the 401 a walkway has been provided giving access to trails north of the highway.
Regards
Phil
Lakefront Promenade walk
A group of 10 walked along the lakeshore from Lakefront promenade to the mouth of Credit River and back. A shortlived highlight of the trip was a coyote on the harbour dock. Soon after we realized it was a fake decoy.
April 21 - 2022
Park Royal Mississauga/Clearview Oakville
This was a new walk and unfortunately it started out cold, damp, and windy. We began with 7 brave walkers but eventually the number fell and ended with just 2 left. We will give this walk a try again in better weather.
I’d like to see some new areas for us to walk. Each would need a parking area, a wide trail , and a length to allow a walk 1.5 to 2 hours. We haven’t added many neighbourhood walks in the past. If you have a walk you enjoy in your region, please let me know.
April 7 - 2022
Marie Curtis/Samual Smith Parks
Our group of 13 followed the Lake promenade (Wanat trail) eastward past the water filtration site. At that point the group separated into routes: one to Eleventh street, the other to the skating trail. We joined back together on the return. Airline problems were one of the topics discussed along the walk.
May 5 - 2022
Erindale Park/Mississauga
Our group of 13 enjoyed the day's beautiful weather and the early spring flowers that covered the ground.
About three quarters into the walk we eventually came across flooded areas and had to turn back. Some of us found a longer route back.
Time for lunch - at the outdoor patio of the Dundas Pump and Patio, taking part in the Mexican fare since it was Cinco de Mayo.
May 15 - 2022
Rattray Marsh
An enjoyable walk through Jack Darling park and Rattray marsh. The Moores provided some interesting history of the marsh.
Rattray is being upgraded with new improved wooden walks. We had lunch at the nearby Pump and Patio.
June 2 - 2022
A wonderful walk for the 8 of us along the Applewood Trail following Little Etobicoke Creek from Dundas up to Eastgate Pkwy and back. Perfect weather. Some minor construction work along the trail but it was easy to bypass.
June 16 - 2022
The Lakefront Promenade is one of our more frequent walks.
We had a group of 8. Along the route there is a selection of home demolitions, upgrades, and new buildings to make the walk interesting.
We went as far as the Credit river, all the way along to the end of the Port Credit promenade at the river’s end and back.
July 7- 2022
Applewood Trail following Little Etobicoke Creek from Dundas up to Eastgate Pkwy.
It was a beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze. We had five walkers. Not a lot of wildlife - robin, cardinal, gray and black squirrels.
There is no longer any construction on the trail.
A good walk!
July 21- 2022
An enjoyable walk in Streetsville on the Culham Trail along the mighty Credit river; 7 walkers took part.
Trees along the trail provided shade from the day’s hot sun. We shortened the walk at Britannia road due to the hot weather.
We ended the morning with a picnic lunch at the riverside.
August 4 - 2022
An enjoyable walk in Glen Erin and Sawmill Creek. 9 walkers took part in the walk, plus the Calders joined in for the picnic lunch.. Trees along the trail provided shade from the day’s hot sun. At one interesting point we had 5 cellphones providing several different directions for our route. Along with us, two gentlemen, who had grown up in the area, we visiting for the first time in 50 years. They helped too. We all found our way back.
Garnetwood Park, August 18, 2022.
We had a wonderful bright summer walk. Our group of 8 walked along Etobicoke creek from Burhamthorpe road north towards the 401and back. We had lunch under the trees in the park.
August 18- 2022
Sept 1 2022
Marie Curtis Park - September 1, 2022
A wonderful day for walking, sunny with a cool breeze. Our group of 9 walked through Colonel Samual Smith Park as far as the eastern headland and back to Marie Curtis for a picnic lunch..
Sept 15 2022
Joshua Creek Trail - Sept 15, 2022
Another beautiful walking day sunny and cool. Autumn was in the air, with many morning dragon flies in flight. Late season flowers like goldenrod, asters, and orange jewelweed were on display. Sumac was in show. We saw one coyote in the woods. There were 9 of us on the walk. Some had picnic lunch at nearby Lakeside park to end the walk.
Contact Phil for annual BBQ and pot luck details
October 6 2022
We had 10 of us doing the morning walk from Joshua Creek to Lakeside Park and back. Along the way were great views of the lake at the end of Arkendo road and a large busy wedding ceremony at the Harding waterfront estate. After the walk we moved on to our annual walking group BBQ.. Another 8 people joined. It was an enjoyable afternoon on that October day when rain had threatened but turned out clear. We announced this years WOTY awards (walker of the year) - Paul Taylor and Margot Spence. Thanks to everyone for taking part and making the annual BBQ a success.
Special thanks to Tom McAuliffe for hosting, to Heather Walker for arranging the BBQ, to John Mark for cooking at the BBQ..
October 20 2022
Rattray Marsh - Oct 20 2022
Another cool, overcast, but comfortable walk. Our group of 8 was eager to get underway. We started out from Jack Darling park, followed the shoreline, and walked through Rattray park. Trees were dropping leaves, the cobble beach was all sand that day, we checked out the bicycle tool rack, and had a dragonfly join part of our route. Rattray now has excellent new boardwalks. We finished our walk at the Pump and Patio in Clarkson.
Marie Curtis Park - Nov 2, 2022
It's pretty clear from the photo that we had a good time. This is one of our shortest walks with very nice woodland, and a dramatic stone barrier along the path. Lots of other walkers were on the trail this day. We were all making the most of the last days of autumn. The walking pathway underneath the QEW will be ready some time soon allowing us to extend this walk. Lunch at Bobbys restaurant.
November 2 2022
November 17 2022
Lakefront Promenade - Nov 17, 2022
Eleven joined in for our morning walk on a comfortable sunny day, but it was clear that winter was on its way. We made the walk to the Credit river and back.
Several joined for lunch at Bobby's.
December 1, 2022
Erindale Park - Dec 1, 2022
9 walkers for this 6 K outing. The day started out with a cold wind and some ice on the ground. We quickly got into the woods where the weather was much more comfortable. There were a fair number of other groups using the trails. Our last few outings have produced very few wildlife but this day we counted ten bird species. Further wildlife was found at the Erin Mills Pump and Patio lunch.
December 15, 2022
Centennial Park - Dec 15, 2022
The weather was miserable for this walk so we sped into the conservatory to enjoy the flowers on display. Poinsettia is the highlight with many shades and colours. The staff provided information on the varieties of plants and the construction of the floral displays. Weather was still miserable so off to lunch at the Stanfield grill.
Applewood Trail- Jan 5, 2023
14 walkers for this day which included 2 grandchildren. The day’s weather was grey but comfortable. We followed up with lunch at Swiss Chalet.
December 15, 2022
January 19, 2023
Marie Curtis Park - Jan 19, 2023
A cold blustery day, not well suited for walking along the lakeshore. So we chose to walk the woodland trail from the park to the QEW and back. We spent slightly over 1 hour doing the walk. Then an early lunch at Bobbys Hideaway
West Deane Park - Feb 2, 2023
The walk this day began overcast, but soon the sun came out and we had a glorious sunny day. The trail was perfect white and the temperature rose high enough to shed hats and gloves. Eleven people joined in this walk. This was such a surprise given the forecasts for the week. We had lunch at the London gate.
February 2, 2023
February 16, 2023
Lakefront Promenade - Feb 16, 2023
The walk this day began overcast, but with no weather problem. Just a comfortable walk along the Port Credit lakeshore to the Credit river and back. Onlyt 7 of us that day. No lunch.
March 2, 2023
An enjoyable sunny day walking through the Rattray Park Estates, the Rattray Marsh, the Bradly Museum, and along the lakeshore at Watersedge Park.
At the Bradly Museum school children were outside around a campfire learning how maple syrup was made in earlier days. Staff at the museum gave us an interesting talk on the impact that climate change is having on maple syrup harvest.
We had 11 walkers that day.