EVCco
Senior Member
Thanks RC8 - I trek solo; haven't quite branched out into guided tours of the city's famous culverts and stormwater ponds...yet 
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Urban Wilderness!
- Thread starter EVCco
- Start date
EVCco
Senior Member
Leslie Street Spit - spitting images, pt. 2
With last week's "scheduling error" out of the way, I get up early on Saturday and walk down to the Spit again from Woodbine Heights. As the park doesn't open until 9AM, I find the time to take a couple of Port Lands detours prior to my main hike; first along the Keating Channel...:
...and then around the Ship Channel Turning Basin:
Now, at long last, I'm finally able to enter the confines of Tommy Thompson Park, starting down the upper east coast of the Outer East Headland. To help follow along you may want to consult this link for a map of the area (and for an article about the rather utilitarian nature of the names around the Spit, click here):
Through Checkpoint Charlie to some views of the Outer Harbour Marina:
Back across Spine Road to the lakeshore:
At the point where the Spit forks in two you'll find the Cell #1 wetland:
Nothing "small" about the amount of dredged-up and dumped-off rubble along the Endikement, where I snap my 3,000th picture for Google Earth:
Past Cells #2 and #3, to East Cove and Pipit Point:
From the tip of the Endikement I spy the lighthouse at Vicki Kieth Point, from where I commence the next leg of my journey up Peninsula A:
Downtown views from Embayments A and B:
You would be forgiven for mistaking the dark spots on the trees over Embayment C for leaves; but they are, in fact, hundreds upon hundreds of black cormorants. And a quick trip down Peninsula C will show that they are joined in their numbers by a few thousand seagulls. Those put off by Hitchcock's "The Birds" would do well to avoid this area of the Spit altogether. The sound alone from this mass aerie is positively eerie!
As if there wasn't enough water in and around the Spit, just south of Embayment B is Triangle Pond:
Over the lift bridge between the embayments and the cells where, after 6 straight hours of walking in 30 degree weather, I'm really starting to feel the burn:
Around this point I start to regret my choice of taking the scenic route down here. After a half-hearted trek through Peninsula D, I head back up the Spit to face yet another hour of walking before I finally catch a bus back home:
With last week's "scheduling error" out of the way, I get up early on Saturday and walk down to the Spit again from Woodbine Heights. As the park doesn't open until 9AM, I find the time to take a couple of Port Lands detours prior to my main hike; first along the Keating Channel...:
...and then around the Ship Channel Turning Basin:
Now, at long last, I'm finally able to enter the confines of Tommy Thompson Park, starting down the upper east coast of the Outer East Headland. To help follow along you may want to consult this link for a map of the area (and for an article about the rather utilitarian nature of the names around the Spit, click here):
Through Checkpoint Charlie to some views of the Outer Harbour Marina:
Back across Spine Road to the lakeshore:
At the point where the Spit forks in two you'll find the Cell #1 wetland:
Nothing "small" about the amount of dredged-up and dumped-off rubble along the Endikement, where I snap my 3,000th picture for Google Earth:
Past Cells #2 and #3, to East Cove and Pipit Point:
From the tip of the Endikement I spy the lighthouse at Vicki Kieth Point, from where I commence the next leg of my journey up Peninsula A:
Downtown views from Embayments A and B:
You would be forgiven for mistaking the dark spots on the trees over Embayment C for leaves; but they are, in fact, hundreds upon hundreds of black cormorants. And a quick trip down Peninsula C will show that they are joined in their numbers by a few thousand seagulls. Those put off by Hitchcock's "The Birds" would do well to avoid this area of the Spit altogether. The sound alone from this mass aerie is positively eerie!
As if there wasn't enough water in and around the Spit, just south of Embayment B is Triangle Pond:
Over the lift bridge between the embayments and the cells where, after 6 straight hours of walking in 30 degree weather, I'm really starting to feel the burn:
Around this point I start to regret my choice of taking the scenic route down here. After a half-hearted trek through Peninsula D, I head back up the Spit to face yet another hour of walking before I finally catch a bus back home:
EVCco
Senior Member
Rouge River - single point play
In honour of the upcoming start to the CFL's 100th Grey Cup season, today I visit the last of the city's major river systems which I've yet to tour - the Rouge. To be fair, actually, I had previously been to this river, at Rouge Beach Park, back in 2006...:
...but now, six years and a few seasons later:
Just to the west of the river's mouth lays Rouge Marsh:
There's no apparent route up the river from here, so I hunt around until I discover a small path along the east bank, which gradually gets smaller and smaller until it disappears altogether:
After half an hour of slow slogging through the thick of it all, I manage to make it as far as wherever the thing pictured above is. Realizing that I'm not going to get any further this way without a machete, I turn back to try the other side of the river; heading in off Island Road:
Approaching the 401 the river takes a drastic bend from which a long forgotton walkway leads up to a hidden storm water pond, then under the highway itself:
On towards Kingston Road:
From here the Little Rouge Creek breaks away to the east. But I continue along the larger Rouge, though Glen Rouge Park:
Still haven't seen a coyote out here - but for those keeping track, just before finishing at Twyn Rivers Drive, I spot yet another deer. It was pretty far off, and since I've seen so many now, I didn't even try to take a picture. I must be getting jaded:
In honour of the upcoming start to the CFL's 100th Grey Cup season, today I visit the last of the city's major river systems which I've yet to tour - the Rouge. To be fair, actually, I had previously been to this river, at Rouge Beach Park, back in 2006...:
...but now, six years and a few seasons later:
Just to the west of the river's mouth lays Rouge Marsh:
There's no apparent route up the river from here, so I hunt around until I discover a small path along the east bank, which gradually gets smaller and smaller until it disappears altogether:
After half an hour of slow slogging through the thick of it all, I manage to make it as far as wherever the thing pictured above is. Realizing that I'm not going to get any further this way without a machete, I turn back to try the other side of the river; heading in off Island Road:
Approaching the 401 the river takes a drastic bend from which a long forgotton walkway leads up to a hidden storm water pond, then under the highway itself:
On towards Kingston Road:
From here the Little Rouge Creek breaks away to the east. But I continue along the larger Rouge, though Glen Rouge Park:
Still haven't seen a coyote out here - but for those keeping track, just before finishing at Twyn Rivers Drive, I spot yet another deer. It was pretty far off, and since I've seen so many now, I didn't even try to take a picture. I must be getting jaded:
the lemur
Senior Member
Leslie Street Spit - spitting images, pt. 2
Through Checkpoint Charlie to some views of the Outer Harbour Marina:
I just wanted to say that I've really been enjoying your photos and it's astounding to realize how much nature is tucked away throughout the city.
I was on the Spit this past weekend and I noticed that Montgomery Sisam were responsible for some work on the gatehouse. Does anyone know if that's part of a larger project?
The other thing I noticed, audibly before visually, was ... those birds! I wonder what draws them to that area.
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Goldie
Senior Member
NOT QUITE URBAN WILDERNESS ----------
Just the front yard of a Scarborough residential neighbourhood.
Big Bird, call home!
Just the front yard of a Scarborough residential neighbourhood.
Big Bird, call home!
RC8
Senior Member
Nice pics! I actually did a trek from Pickering Nuclear down to the Rouge the other day. It was great. I was there on the 25th, so maybe we just missed one another?
I have a couple of questions regarding the spit:
-How long does it take from lakeshore to the lighthouse (walking)?
-How do you get to the bird colony?
-How long does it take back from the bird colony?
Thanks!
I have a couple of questions regarding the spit:
-How long does it take from lakeshore to the lighthouse (walking)?
-How do you get to the bird colony?
-How long does it take back from the bird colony?
Thanks!
EVCco
Senior Member
the lemur -
Thanks!
Montomery Sisam seems to be responsible for all the newer buildings at the park, such as the restrooms north of Cell 1 and the pavilion on Peninsula D:
...in addition to the new gatehouse.
http://www.montgomerysisam.com/projects/tommy-thompson-park-infrastructure
Goldie -
Nice! Is that an actual bird house, or just some eccentric tree art?
RC8 -
Straight to the lighthouse, without stopping, I figure would take about an hour or so (since I took the scenic route, stopping every 5 minutes to take pictures, it took me almost 3). The bird colony, 45 minutes at least. The birds are on the way to the lighthouse, so you could go there first.
The actual peninsula the colony is on, however, is closed to the public during the summer; I think until September. You probably wouldn't want to get too close anyways - I guarantee, with all those birds, you would be shat upon!
Thanks!
Montomery Sisam seems to be responsible for all the newer buildings at the park, such as the restrooms north of Cell 1 and the pavilion on Peninsula D:
...in addition to the new gatehouse.
http://www.montgomerysisam.com/projects/tommy-thompson-park-infrastructure
Goldie -
Nice! Is that an actual bird house, or just some eccentric tree art?
RC8 -
Straight to the lighthouse, without stopping, I figure would take about an hour or so (since I took the scenic route, stopping every 5 minutes to take pictures, it took me almost 3). The bird colony, 45 minutes at least. The birds are on the way to the lighthouse, so you could go there first.
The actual peninsula the colony is on, however, is closed to the public during the summer; I think until September. You probably wouldn't want to get too close anyways - I guarantee, with all those birds, you would be shat upon!
Goldie
Senior Member
I spoke with the owner and was told that it was designed as squirrel house,
and apparently has some residents - the 'door' is at the back.
EVCco
Senior Member
East Don River - (slight return)
It recently dawned on me that I hadn't been back to the Don since March. So yesterday I woke up at the crack of dawn, donned my hiking gear, and marched on down to the East Don River. But before getting there, I came across a little more pondage, tucked away in the southeast quadrant of Don Mills. So let's start there, heading through the DVP and into Moccasin Trail Park:
Making my way back to land, I head up a small ravine running between Plateau Cresent and Waxwing Place:
Now for a quick trip along the Don, picking up where I left off (down the Deerlick Creek in March), at Donalda Country Club:
Out of the golfscape, and under Don Mills Road:
North, into the Duncan Mill Greenbelt:
Over the Kitchener-forged bridge, onto the Betty Sutherland Trail:
Through the cavernous colonnade under the 401:
From Havenbrook Park to my final destination at Sheppard & Leslie:
It recently dawned on me that I hadn't been back to the Don since March. So yesterday I woke up at the crack of dawn, donned my hiking gear, and marched on down to the East Don River. But before getting there, I came across a little more pondage, tucked away in the southeast quadrant of Don Mills. So let's start there, heading through the DVP and into Moccasin Trail Park:
Making my way back to land, I head up a small ravine running between Plateau Cresent and Waxwing Place:
Now for a quick trip along the Don, picking up where I left off (down the Deerlick Creek in March), at Donalda Country Club:
Out of the golfscape, and under Don Mills Road:
North, into the Duncan Mill Greenbelt:
Over the Kitchener-forged bridge, onto the Betty Sutherland Trail:
Through the cavernous colonnade under the 401:
From Havenbrook Park to my final destination at Sheppard & Leslie:
r937
Active Member
the lemur
Senior Member
You mean York Mills Rd, right, since you were heading north?
EVCco
Senior Member
^Nope - the golf course continues under York Mills, from where I took the pics before. The river then bends northwest under Don Mills.
An old machinery shed found long before by this forum's own Lone Primate:
http://nyhs.ca/2011MysteryRuinsDMYM.pdf
The shed isn't actually much of a "find," as it's pretty much out in the open by the side of the trail - but if you follow the link to Lone Primate's flickr page you'll see there's parts of a pumping station further into the bush.
An old machinery shed found long before by this forum's own Lone Primate:
http://nyhs.ca/2011MysteryRuinsDMYM.pdf
The shed isn't actually much of a "find," as it's pretty much out in the open by the side of the trail - but if you follow the link to Lone Primate's flickr page you'll see there's parts of a pumping station further into the bush.
the lemur
Senior Member
RC8
Senior Member
Thanks! Will be exploring the spit for the first time one of these weekends. Sounds like a sandwich and a bottle of water will keep me alive then
adma
Superstar
I remember coming across those facilities a few years ago, and wondered by their curiously c20-esque pretension whether they had anything to do with the Graydon Hall estate...