11.05.2005

november

Still no sign of that famous Canadian winter. Yesterday it reached a balmy 17 degrees here in the GTA. For you Fahrenheit readers, that's about 62 F, lovely weather for November. (Lovely weather for any time if you ask me!) I went for a long walk, this time following the Waterfront Trail west instead of east.

I've just about reached the limit of Waterfront Trail I can explore in comfortable walking distance from our house, making a one-hour loop. Soon I'll have to start driving to different spots on the trail and walking from there. Depending on the weather, this might happen next Spring.

I bought a whole set of trail maps from the Waterfront folks. Yes, I know you can print out sections from .pdfs, but I wanted the entire trail. It would cost more in ink cartridges than it would to purchase them, and the quality wouldn't be as good. They came in a spiral binder with a plastic cover.

As the leaves fall, I'm making plans for winter exercise, either buying a treadmill or joining a pool. I can exercise at home with no problem, and if I'm just going to walk on a treadmill and use weights, I'd just as soon skip the driving and do it at home. Only one thing could sufficiently motivate me to get in my car to exercise, and that's swimming.

I'm in the midst of investigating my swimming options. The Mississauga YMCA has a pool, and it's not far from me; there are also pools at two nearby high schools that have some public hours. I'll be checking those out soon.

Meanwhile, here are some scenes from yesterday's walk.


waterfront trail 11.05.05 001


waterfront trail 11.05.05 002


waterfront trail 11.05.05 003


waterfront trail 11.05.05 004


waterfront trail 11.05.05 005


waterfront trail 11.05.05 006


waterfront trail 11.05.05 007


waterfront trail 11.05.05 009


waterfront trail 11.05.05 014


waterfront trail 11.05.05 011


waterfront trail 11.05.05 015


waterfront trail 11.05.05 016


waterfront trail 11.05.05 018
Many streets in Port Credit end at little parks like this,
and the parks connect with the Waterfront Trail.


waterfront trail 11.05.05 020
I love cute little houses like this.
They're plentiful around here, scattered among the McMansions.

19 comments:

Andrea said...

you are right, a lovely winter, BUT a very bad sign for the summer to come. As I am sure you already know, Canada may be cold in the winter but we are one hot country in the summer. No snow is a bad recipie for drought and one hell of a lot of forest fires.
We all love mild winters but then every summer we complain about them, I am one of them. I hate snow, but....

Unknown said...

Well here in Vancouver we have had something like 2 plus weeks of daily rain and it's only about 10C. We have 70cm of snow up at Blackholm and it's snowing at the local mountain tops which is about 10 mins from the house but 1300 m higher. The mountains opened today.

I've heard this is a TO thing because it certainly isn't that way here on the west coast. Just feel lucky and enjoy the weather while it lasts. It seems fall has moved quicker over here on the west coast. But I love love the photos. :) thanks laura.

laura k said...

Just feel lucky and enjoy the weather while it lasts.

Well, that's all anyone can do.

Hey, it's a big country. Weather in NYC is not the weather in L.A. Same must go here.

Glad you like the photos. :)

laura k said...

No snow is a bad recipie for drought and one hell of a lot of forest fires.

Everyone I speak to in the GTA says it's too early for snow anyway. They all say it's rare to have snow before late November or early December here.

melusina said...

Spectacular scenery. Reminds me of the eastern shore of Maryland a bit.

It has been mid 60's during the day here in Greece, and people are saying its cold. They wear winter coats on their balconies! Crazy warm weather people.

James Redekop said...

There's been snow out at the edges of the GTA a few times already. DOn't worry, it'll get here.

Suitcase Jenny said...

I dont know about you, but I feel sick to my stomache when I hear about weather like that. It just shouldnt be that warm in November. It may seem nice, but you have to ask the question, "is this REALLY normal? I think it's really scary.

laura k said...

There's been snow out at the edges of the GTA a few times already. DOn't worry, it'll get here.

LOL, I have no doubt.

I dont know about you, but I feel sick to my stomache when I hear about weather like that. It just shouldnt be that warm in November. It may seem nice, but you have to ask the question, "is this REALLY normal? I think it's really scary.

I know what you're saying, and I agree, but any given weather aberration is not attributable to global warming. There have always been warm spells in colder months. You can look back at weather almanacs and see that.

allan said...

Crazy weather in Vermont:

On the night of June 5, 1816, tempertures dropped 50 degrees, and a wet snow fell the next day throughout the state.

On June 7, a blizzard struck northern Vermont, with several inches in the valleys and 12 inches in Craftsbury Common.

Freezing weather continued for three more days. July, August and September all experienced cold periods.

The freak weather resulted in a loss of summer's crops. 1816 was referred to as "The Year Without a Summer".

laura k said...

Thank you, oh Vermont weather historian. :-)

Peregrinato said...

...I adore these photos!

laura k said...

Thank you, Peregrinato!

Anonymous said...

It's so pretty. Thank you so much for sharing these photos - it makes we want to crawl over the border, now:-)

dogsled_stacie said...

Just for a bit of contrast - up here in the Yukon, we're off to a pretty good winter! *Good* meaning, it's looking to be a chilly winter with plenty of snow. That's been the pattern the last few years after a really rainy summer.

Over the last few days our temps have been -20C (1F) which I have to admit, has seemed damned cold this early!!! But the first few cold snaps usually hit you that way. Soon enough we'll all be bounding around outside regardless of the crazy weather. Speaking of that, I'm heading out for the first skijor of the year!!

Anyways L, enjoy your extended fall!

barefoot hiker said...

Hey, there's nothing about a mild winter that says a drought has to follow! :)

Oh, the weather outside's delightful
Though it hardly seems it's rightful
But shoveling snow's a pain...
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

It might get a little foggy,
But a car crash leaves you groggy
From lamenting ice I'll refrain
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!

When it's finally Christmas Eve,
I'll relent; let it smother the ground...
Just as long as come Boxing Day
None of it's lying around!

Yeah, the weather outside is balmy
Think I'll go and mow the lawny
...In Victoria, anyway...
Let it raaaaain
Let it raaaaain
Let it raaaaain.

laura k said...

Another lyrical tour de force from our Primate.

Hey, there's nothing about a mild winter that says a drought has to follow! :)

And there's little point worrying about it if it does. Might as well enjoy what we've got in front of us...

gito said...

Lovely pictures! I can see why you love so much walking, very beautiful place! I know this might be out of the blue, but I am wondering why big cities are always builded by the water? Either by the ocean or the a river or a lake....just curious. Anyways Windsor also has a beautiful sidewalk like yours by the Detroit River.

laura k said...

Hi Gito! New picture, I see. :)

Cities have always been built on the water because, throughout all of history, water was the means of transportation. Trade and travel happened by boat.

This goes back to the very earliest cities in the world - and it's true all over the globe.

It's also why the oldest part of any city is near the river or lake or harbor. The city started there and grew inland.

Miss Kim said...

Those photos just make me sooooo homesick for Toronto :)