Wandering this fall

Since I plan to walk the Camino once again in the Spring of 2014 with my friend Wendy, I need to step up the training. I now lead walk 3 days a week. Monday and Tuesday are usually in the neighbourhood, for about an hour, and Friday is a day-long walk with pilgrims - about the length of my definition of a short day on the Camino - about 4 and a half hours of walking, ending with a lunch somewhere on the route.

On the shorter walks, I have explored Corktown Common, the Distillery, Cherry Beach, the new Rouge Park, the Necropolis, Craigleith Gardens, Chorley Park, the Brickworks, the abandoned CPR rail route up the Don Valley, Governor's Bridge and Rosedale. On all but one of these hikes, I have had friends with me.

On the longer walks with Pilgrims Practice/Progress, we have walked the Eastern Beaches, Grenadier Pond in High Park and the Humber River, the waterfront to High Park, the Toronto Islands, and the Don Valley trail to Edwards Gardens. This week we return to the Humber and walk north from Bloor.

This is a picture taken by Julie, of our walk near Wilkett Creek.

Toronto is so beautiful, and provides so many opportunities to get away from the bustle and the pavement, and so many challenges and adventures in preparation for the pilgrimage.

Ultreia! 

PILGRIMS PRACTICE HIKES FALL 2013

 PILGRIMS PRACTICE HIKES FOR THE FALL, 2013

I've been hiking outside Toronto for the summer.

July I was in  Fenelon Falls, hiking with assorted pilgrims and friends, and 2 regular groups in the town. There is a lovely trail along the lake, so it was comfortable even in the heat.

August I was in Kelowna with my daughter and her family, as you can see above. One day we hiked at the top of Knox Mountain. The views were spectaclar. Another day we walked the bird sanctuary along Lake Okanagan, where we saw and climbed Ogopogo.

Pilgrims Practice - the regular weekly long hikes, will start again on Sept 27.
Contact me at darmckeeatyahoodotcom for more information.

I am looking forward to long hikes, as I prepare for my next Camino in the spring.

On the Camino (Photo Credit: Kiwi Nomad)

Hola pilgrims and readers

The Friday walks continue in Toronto, at least until the May 24 weekend. 
Meet at 8:45 for a 9 am departure. Please email me before your first walk with us.  (darmckee AT yahoo DOT com)

On Good Friday, March 29, the walk will begin from St Aidan's Church at Queen and Silverbirch with a 11:45 gathering for a 12:00 departure. Meet at the south entrance of the church hall. You are welcome to attend the 10:30 Good Friday Service at Beach United Church, in the church hall at the south end of the building. I will be singing in the choir.

We will walk the Boardwalk and the Martin Goodman trail to the Leslie Street spit, down the spit and back, west on the Martin Goodman trail, and up the Don Valley to my place. I will be serving tea and goodies, after the walk.

Please email me in advance for this walk.

On Easter Monday, we will meet at 8:45 for a 9:00 departure, and walk the waterfront to High Park. The Grenadier Restaurant will be open for lunch.

Once again, please email in advance for this walk.

This is a link with info on the statistics from the Camino in 2012, from the Pilgrims office in Santiago.

 http://www.johnniewalker-santiago.blogspot.co.uk/

Buen Camino!

Darlene

www.caminowanderings.blogspot.ca

Hiking in Toronto

I'm walking regularly again - in Toronto!
Every Friday, a group comprising assorted pilgrims, prospective pilgrims, and other hikers gather at my place, and we walk out for the day. We take the Don Valley trail, have a coffee at the
 Brickworks  http://ebw.evergreen.ca/
Belong Cafe is a great place to take a break
http://www.cafebelong.ca/
We head up the
 Moore Park Ravine  http://www.lostrivers.ca/MoorePkRavR.htm
to Mount Pleasant Cemetery  http://friends.mountpleasantgroup.com/Self-GuidedTours.
Then we walk the Beltline,, through Forest Hill to Cedarvale Park, then Nordheimer Ravine, and have lunch.
Home is down the Rosedale Valley road, through Wellesley Park, and Rivedale Park West and East.
Here is the City of Toronto link for most of the walk.

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/pdf/trails/DW_Central.pdf


 
This is a photo of Cedarvale Park in the summer - almost as beautiful as it was today!

Email me if you would like to join us,