JACK LAYTON Memorial Critical Mass

August 26 Critical Mass held in Toronto this month was a memorial ride in honour of the recently deceased NDP leader Jack Layton, who along with his wife Olivia (both Members of Parliament in Canada) were active cyclist within our community. The Mass cycled east on Bloor Street over the Prince Edward Viaduct to Broadview Ave then downhill south to the Jack Layton Community Office where a large memorial was held. Blocking the entire street and bringing all the traffic including the streetcars to a standstill for the memorial. Afterwards the Mass went down to Queen Street and rode west to Toronto City Hall where a memorial of several thousand people was being held. A while later we left to ride home, as it was about 9pm and getting dark.
2.5 hours 8km.

Humber Trail South To Lakeshore

Had to go out to Kipling and Dixon Road to pick up an adult tricycle, and since it was rush hour, I couldn't bring it back on the subway, so I decided to ride it back home. Part of the ride was along the Humber Trail bike path starting at Eglinton & Scarlett Drive, the same route taken when riding the Tour 'D Toronto. Some scenic spots on the paved trail and south to the Martin Goodman Trail at the Lakeshore. 5 hours, 20km.

Sunday Ride To Anywhere (BUT) Caribana

Its unbelievable the lack of people and traffic in downtown and in the east side of Racoon City today. Festivities still on at Ontario Place and what not keeping people out of where we were going. Nothing wrong, till we went down Sherbourne we found that Lakeshore was closed from Jarvis to Cherry Beach for the filming of the futuristic police chase in the movie "Total Recall". All cross streets were blocked and if you wanted to get onto the Martin Goodman Trail you had to get over the Don River and access it through Leslieville or go down Jarvis to Queens Quay. Car traffic was being re-routed back at Parliament Street, but the movie moguls let bike riders go through east on the trail to Cherry. We waited at Sherbourne Common, the new water park at the foot of Sherbourne Street and left at 12:45pm. I couldn't get the setting right on my camera for action shots but managed to get a pic of one of the cars in the police chase with two of the stars in it. Down Leslie Street, the trail which is normally teeming with cyclists, roller bladers and walkers was empty. We stopped for lunch at the pit stop and then took the north side trail over to Coxwell, crossing over and through Ashbridges Bay. The usual crowds on the trail going through the various beaches was surprisingly light as were the beaches themselves. After resting at Balmy Beach, we retraced our route back, and stopped at the east side of the Eastern Gap and then to Sherbourne Common and north to home. 5 hours 10km.