This is the second in a series of posts covering my trip to Eastern Canada in September 2019, adapting emails originally sent to friends. I use NOW to refer to any updates since I did the trip.
Woke up at 3:30, got up just before 5. Walked along Queen west to
Queensway. The McDonald's there didn't have a kiosk so headed east along
King and found another one there and used a coupon code. The kiosk
didn't print the receipt. Walked along King and stumbled up set up for
the last day of the Toronto Film Festival and thus overlooked the
Canada's Walk of Fame. Walked along Yonge I had to cross the street
because a street cleaner kept blocking my path. Nearing Yonge Dundas
Square I started to slipped one ice cream(?) from night before but
caught myself in time. Security was guarding the event set-up there.
[NOW: The hostel was Parkdale Hostellerie. The McDonald's on King has moved.]
I
got a sandwich at 7-11 for later. I walked past the former location of
Backpackers on Dundas from 2016 and passed a guy who was a decent sin ger
but singing a really homophobic song. I got what shots I could of
Canada's Walk of Fame with the festival stuff there. Just before I
passed a petition protesting it blocking King St. Worked my way to the
waterfront, passing a Railway Museum by CN Tower.
I
took a ferry to Centre Island, aka Centreville Island. I explore the
Centreville Amusement Park which you only pay to go on rides, not wander
through. Very little was open. i visited Olympic Island before
returning to the amusement park. At the Far Enough Farm section a pig
took a liking to me. A peacock seemed to be trolling a caged bird. There
were two cats; one came to me when I sat down.
[NOW: The first island I believe is also called Middle Island.]
I
crossed over to another Centre Island and visited Chelsea Beach aka
Centre island beach. managed to gets signs welcoming visitors to both
names in same sign. I visited Gibraltar Point Lighthouse and contined
west, where this Centre Island becomes Hanlan's Point. I visited the
same clothing optional beach there and took lots of photos even though
you're not supposed to. Mind you no one else was there when I arrived
though neither the sand nor Lake Ontario were wearing any clothing; but I
didn't see any issue with photos as long as no one was in the photos.
Mine stayed on. I left just as someone was arriving. I returned to
Chelsea beach and visited the Pier there.
I
crossed over to NYCC Island and back and then Snake Island and back.
Just after this Centre Island became Ward Island I visited Algonquin
Island and back. I visited the Ward Island ferry terminal and then had
lunch at Ward Island Beach, there I think a young seagull want ed some
food. I walked a ways along the boardwalk but switched to the main road
because a 10K was underway and people running along loose boards was
distracting. On the main road people were running the other way (earlier
in their race) but still less distracting. Because It was so overcast I
I walked to Hanlan Point Ferry Terminal and left about two hours
earlier than usual (mind you I arrived an hour earlier than usual).
Passing
Yonge-Dundas Square, I fouhnd the map book I was looking for at a
Shoppers Drug Mart and grabbed a Big Gulp at a 7-11 across the street.
On College Street I visited some stores and a landmark that got bumped
yesterday including Beguiling (made a note about some trades; have to
pack light until my Megabus trip to Montreal is over; Denison Square
just south of College (a statue of Al Waxman was marked up; non the plus
side the bench by the statue is normally occupied requiring another
visit but not this time; She Said Boom! (moved a few doors down),
Balfour Books and Soundscapes; Neurotica (couldn't find and door at
address locked); Sellers and Newell Books; MVP Master Video production
(closing and locked). Finishing College, I made my way to High Park
briefly, then Dundas St W. There I visited Type Books, Pandemonium (got
$2 Blu-ray), Book Exchange (closed today).
[NOW: MVP has of course finished closing.]
I
made my way to Bloor and Jane where Red Nails II (comics) had closed for
the day 15 minutes later. The nearby 2 for 1 Movies was closing down.
Not much i was interested in and couldn't find anyone working in the
store to ask prices. I had dinner at the McDonald's at Bloor and
Runnymede. Again the kiosk wouldn't print the receipt. So of the three
visited so far this trip two have had printing issues. I passed the Bar
with No Name, a name which amused me because in the comics the villain
killer Scourge killed 18 super-villains at one. The Bar had closed down.
I walked south along Brock and made my way back to the hostel, where I
chatted for a bit with someone from the UK working in film.
[NOW: 2 for 1 Movies has of course finished closing.]
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