Crothers' Woods (The Bike Trail)

Back at Crothers' Woods.  This time to check out more of the bike trails, and not just the natural, untouched settings surrounding the forests.  Some of the trails are really challenging and not for beginners.  When I am not feeling sure of some the hills, I remain on the foot trails at times when I'm a little less than confident.  I'll just use my bike as an excuse.  


The forest is a cool place to be in an otherwise hot day though.  I am not looking forward to when I can't go riding anymore, since I find myself always anxious to get back out and ride again.  


Click here to see parts of the trail: Crothers Woods Trail 
Note: dear Reader don't think it's me, or ever will be me in the video :)

Overall, the trails are safe and are usually fenced off after if the conditions are too muddy).  Generally just respect the conditions, as well as your own limitations and other riders who are less agile (like me)...  

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Heading out, while crossing the train tracks, I noticed a truck up ahead riding the 'rails' to do some weekend maintenance.  He thought it was pretty "hilarious" laughing his head off while I squealed as he let out a loud honk <wiseguy :P>

Tommy Thompson Park (additional photographs)

unfilled landfill :)

  I went back to the Tommy Thompson Park for a ride..mostly because I just can't get enough of this place.  I rode for about an hour from home and instead of following the path to the Vicky Keith Lighthouse (see Tommy Thompson Park on this blog) I explored a little and tried to find paths closer to the shoreline.  It was a windy night, but a warm wind and just hours after the 5.8 earthquake that Toronto and surrounding areas including Quebec experienced.  I must have been in a 'safe zone' because desks didn't shake, or rattle, or roll 

and I was pretty much oblivious to what had happened until I heard the buzz from people talking about it.  

Confused Geese...

Nothing spells the end of summer like the shorter days

 and the early confusion of geese swarming around dusk.  I remembered my grandfather used to tell me when I was a child that we could learn a lot from the animals, especially the birds (yes he was Native ;).  They were altruistic and would be able to give me all the warnings signs I would ever need for the weather ahead.  Judging by the way the they swarmed, almost manically back and forth and hovering at times, I figured there was going to be a bad wind shift happening in the near future. Canadian weather is always so unpredictable anyways. I rode to the end of a gravelly road and looked around for miles without seeing a soul in sight. I was a little concerned with my bike tires because of the rubble, so kept the weight off them.  The shoreline was littered with building remnants and construction waste.  It is a landfill site after all, and in time this too will be covered with grassland and wildflowers.  The ducks didn't seem to mind...    

trails of geese