Toronto to Frenchman's Bay
Trip Start
Jul 21, 2001
1
10
45
Trip End
Apr 22, 2002
Pickering,
Ontario,
Canada
Wednesday, August 15, 2001
Stop!!!
Close your eyes!!!
Don't move until you smell this!!
Suddenly my nostrils were exposed to the pungent smell of what I would learn was Russian Sage Grass. I may be the captain on board but there is no question as to who is the captain ashore especially when we are exploring a habitat such as in this case, The Toronto Music Garden.
If you ever sail into Toronto, you are faced with a number of choices. We were fortunate to pick Marina Quay West Marina. It is near the foot of the CN tower and the Skydome. It is totally protected from the surge of all the passing ships and is one of the few secure marinas with locked gates at the end of each dock, much like the American marinas on Lake Erie. We don't care about the security for ourselves as we have always found marina folk to be super but for the cats, it stops Sinbad from wandering off in the night. Although it is close to one of the busiest expressways in Canada - The Gardiner Expressway, the high condominiums stop that noise and then the beautiful gardens stop the street noise of Queens
Quay,
The Toronto Music Garden was built through private donations and with government support. They have transformed old, asphalt parking lots into a magnificent wildlife area at the waterfront area in front of Spadina Avenue. The grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees are divided into six sections, "each indicative of the different movements in Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello". I don't know about the music but to walk through it is a visual treat. I am sure you will find it a beautiful, enriching experience.
We walked through a magnificent garden mainly composed of exotic grasses. Floral gardens are everywhere but this was the first grass garden I've had the privilege of exploring. What a wonderful experience. I couldn't believe how many of the varied grasses and shrubs Margaret knew. I also couldn't believe how quickly she set out the next few summers of my life describing how she wanted to transform our home area into a miniature of what we were seeing this evening. If you've looked at the web pages of her present floral gardens you will see the work she has already accomplished with flowers. Now we have to start to develop grasses? If I hadn't seen the beauty of this Toronto work of art I never would have believed that anyone would want to cultivate such a mundane item as grass, but now ...
The best thing is that one doesn't have to cut these grasses as their beauty doesn't show until they have achieved their full height. That fact sold me!
August 13
Bruce Cunningham arrived with daughters Paula, Laura and Carol. Great to see them and great to receive OUR MAIL of the last 3 weeks. Bruce's parents live near Toronto and the
kids have seen many sights in the area but this would be their first time to see Toronto from the water and visit Toronto Island. While one has to keep a sharp lookout, there is no problem sightseeing from a boat. During the week the traffic was moderate and we all enjoyed sailing past so many famous landmarks. Watching out for the ferry traffic and staying out of the control lanes for airplanes landing at Toronto airport, we made our way to Hanlon's Point. What a beautiful protected area, with geese, ducks and swans slowly paddling out of our way as we meandered up the narrow channels. There is space for about 150 boats to tie up along a wall along the channel. It is first come, first served and when we arrived on a Monday morning, there was lots of room. We entered as far as possible and tied up to the wall under huge, ancient oak trees.
Hercules as usual immediately jumped ship to roll in the nearby grass and then lie in the shade of the nearest oak. He never goes far from the boat, so we've never had to worry about him taking off to parts unknown. Sinbad on the other hand never leaves the boat (in the daytime). Two completely opposite personalities. Now Carol, the youngest daughter, proved her personality was in the middle as she left us immediately to play on the nearby slides and swings.
Margaret stayed behind as the five of us commenced a trek to find the amusement park on Centre Island. What a distance in the heat!!! As 4 of us finally decided to stop in the shade of a tree, Miss Boundless Energy - Carol, left us to play on more slides and swings. We saw a number of these children areas along the pathway including picnic areas, tennis courts, beaches, etc. We also explored ponds with waterfalls and flower gardens. What an enjoyable walk, but long.
Finally arrived at "Centreville". It may have been a Monday, but one would not have know it from the crowds of people lined up for the different activities. Everyone's favourite that day was riding a carved out log in a water canal, up to the top of a slide and then plummeting down the water slide to crash into the water below. Lots of screaming, lots of fun. After I told them about Cedar Point and roller coasters, Paula and Laura decided to brave their first coaster. Their father kept saying " I dont think this is a very good idea. You know Paula gets sick just in a car."
The girls were perfect, had a great time and, following my sage advice, which would have petrified their mother had she been there, on one of the sharp turns, let go and lifted their hands high into the air so their father could take their picture and have proof of their brave adventure.
Carol got to go on a pony ride, a boat ride and an antique car ride. Far too soon it was time to go back and for them to take the ferry back to the mainland. The next day, when their dad wanted to take them to the Toronto zoo, for some strange reason they said, "Couldn't we just rest today!"
August 14
Having spent a very quiet night along the wall we decided to return to Marina Quay West for one more day in Toronto. A block from our boat, we took the streetcar then transferred to the subway. In no time we were in the Eaton Center and in the midst of hundreds of shops. Bruce and the girls picked us up in the afternoon to do some more shopping and return to the boat. It certainly was great having a car to take us to Genco Marine and other specialty shops. Thanks so much, Bruce!!!
August 15
After another quiet evening in this peaceful marina, we motored (no wind) to Frenchman's Bay, near Pickering. Finally an anchorage and free mooring. One isn't allowed to barbeque aboard at most marinas so tonight was my turn to cook. For your enlightenment, I've included the definition of barbequing sent to me by a friend and fellow boater, Daniel Sharp.
Definition of Outdoor Barbequing:
It's the only type of cooking a "real" man will do. When a man volunteers to do such cooking, the following chain of events is put into motion:
1. The woman goes to the store.
2. The woman fixes the salad, vegetables and dessert.
3. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils, and takes it to the man, who is lounging beside the grill, drinking a beer.
4. The man places the meat on the grill.
5. The woman goes inside to set the table and check the vegetables.
6. The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning.
7. The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman.
8. The woman prepares the plates and brings them to the table.
9. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
10. The mans ask the woman how she enjoyed "her night off". And, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women.
