Monday, April 28, 2014

Rappelling on the Niagara Escarpment

Equinox Adventures provided the equipment and training to allow us to descend the steep rock face of the escarpment at Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area. With a crest higher than the Himalayas, actually it only seemed that way when hanging from the ropes, we work our way over the edge of the exposed rocks and step out onto the vertical wall of the wall of fractured limestone cliff. Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton.

Not falling was my favourite part of the adventure. Second favourite was the excitement of climbing down the rock wall, strapped down with a secure harness and two thick ropes that helped me not fall.
There were rock climbers to the right and left of us
"Equinox Adventures has offered courses, trips and programs in the Adventure Industry for over twenty years. We pride ourselves in offering educational programs in Whitewater Kayaking, Canoeing, Rock and Ice Climbing, Sea Kayaking, River and High Angle Rescue. We operate a 140 acre base camp on the shores of the Ottawa River as the hub of our Whitewater activities and C.O.R.E. Program. Rock Climbing and High Angle Rescue courses are conducted in Southern Ontario near Milton, the Gatineau north of Ottawa, and various regional sites across Ontario and Canada."
Fresh Joe comes down

The family unit with one of the Pauls (bottom left)

Saturday, April 26, 2014

World Naked Bike Ride #Toronto 2014 in June

Saturday, June 14 will mark the tenth anniversary of the worldwide protest against oil dependency; two wheeled and clothes free (or as bare as you dare)! Ride with the wind between your cheeks during the WNBR which will begin in Coronation Park, located near the Princes' Gate entrance to the CNE.

"Gather at 12 noon for socializing, body painting, bike decorating etc. Bring food to share if you wish. Ride starts at 1 pm, following a route along several major streets in the downtown core."
Participants start to group around the bronze sculpture that looks like part of a boat, grounded before it hit the waters of Lake Ontario. Removing clothes and applying body-paint gives people time to get ready for the ride along city streets. The path of the ride usually includes a run along Queen's Park, a brisk ride down Yonge Street and a photo opportunity at City Hall before hitting the Toronto Island ferry terminal. Once down at Queens Quay the group splits up - some put on clothes and give up their superhero personas, some go on the ferries and hitting the sands at Hanlan's Point clothing optional beach and some make the journey back to where it all began - Coronation Park.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Railway Sunset

A vital lifeline into #Toronto winds along the Lakeshore and Gardiner Expressway. Parallel bands of steel bring in passenger and freight traffic into the city, reducing traffic on the streets. The sunset on the rail

Monday, April 21, 2014

Holy #Toronto, Batman

The one, the only @TorontoBatman was checking out his utility belt at the @toEatonCentre when we spotted him doing interviews, posing with fans and looking for the lost nipples on his batsuit. Suddenly, superstar Tony Stark's good friend Captain America made an appearance. Movie star Chris Evans looks quite a bit smaller in person - the camera must add pounds and feet, and it had to be him because he had his shield.
Joe poses with the world famous performer
Batman has the strength of ten and can pick up just about everyone

420 protest 2014

In the middle of the big city of #Toronto an enthusiastic crowd of pro-mj protesters gathered in Yonge-Dundas Square to continue their fight to legalize the product with organizer Chris Goodwin. The event was billed as a comedy festival and taking part in the global demonstration on April 20 had four stages: group together, light up, get the munchies and enjoy the bands, the comedians and the speakers.
Before
After

Posted by Joe Hamilton. See more smoke after the jump.

#Toronto Easter Parade 2014

A giant bunny was the star of the Beaches Lions Club annual Easter Parade which hopped down Queen Street East on Sunday, April 20. The parade began at 2pm and left Munro Park and headed to Woodbine Avenue - without politicians.


Posted by Joe Hamilton. See more of the parade after the jump.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Folk the Winter!!!

Wild, wild Queen St West beats the winter blues with a community parade, music and flames that welcomed the rites of spring on Friday evening, April 18, 2014. Beginning in two locations, including the parking lot of FreshCo and the Brock St LCBO, and continuing to the Parkdale Ampitheatre at Dufferin Street with Toronto's percussion group Samba Elegua, the Lemon Bucket Orkestra and surprise guest - Detroit's Guerilla Brass Band. Samba Elegua will also be at the 2014 Toronto Easter Parade in the Beach.
Joining the drums and dancing were the tall puppets from Clay and Paper Theatre. The theme of the 2nd annual event is to say "good riddance to the dead season's hardship and invitation to the rites of spring."
New to this year's Fold the Winter was the introduction of Marzanna who was a pagan folklore character that when her effigy was burned the death of winter was symbolized. Saturday was pretty chilly so I don't think the burning did any good.

Posted by Joe Hamilton. See more of the celebration of spring after the jump.

Red Bull Race the Place

A large field of athletes competed in the #Toronto @RedBullTO 2014 urban bicycle race through Ontario Place in a race that lasted just over one hour. Time trials on the 3.7km track began at 10:30am with the mass start final beginning at 6:30pm. The Saturday, April 19 event brought life back into the park which has been closed for the past two years - unfortunately spectators couldn't go into the park to watch the action! Stefan 'Fish' was the overall winner of the day.
Gregory Addo (2nd), Stefan 'Fish' Vis (1st) and Marc Seguin (3rd)
Scraped elbows after the win

"Racers will be taken on a speed-soaked chase through the island’s industrial jungle full of hairpin turns, pedal heavy straight-aways and other urban obstacles. Survival of the fastest is the name of the game."
Ladies winners: Paula Manzano (2nd), Linda Chin (1st) and Ioana Stanca (3rd)
Jon Slaughter (2nd), Richard Machhein (1st) and Hugues Lapoint (3rd)

Both males and females competed during the same race in two available categories - fixed gear/track bike and open "You dream it, you ride it, as long as there is no motor!"

Bike polo, vendors village, food trucks and the time trials kept the day full of exciting action.


Posted by Joe Hamilton and James Hamilton. More two-wheeled race coverage after the jump.

Friday, April 18, 2014

Charlie Chaplin and the Easter long weekend

Like a charcoal ghost, the great silent film actor rises from the past to haunt #Toronto as the long weekend blows into town. Up to four days of fun which will include the Lions Club Beach Easter Parade on Sunday.
A curious child greets the street performer

On Saturday, April 19 the bikes will be flying through Ontario Place during the Red Bull Race the Place. You can find more April events on my post here.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

To Trains

The arrow points the way to the #Toronto Transit Commission subway trains and you can fix your hair in the mirrors as you pass by.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Snow and the pursuit of spring

#Toronto saw some flurries today, halfway through the month of April 2014, and hopefully that is all she wrote on that thing we call winter. Annnnnnndd now its time to think of all those things that come with spring; patios and green buds that start sparingly on trees and grow out to a lush green forest.
The unofficial start of spring is fruit blossoms - especially the cherry trees in High Park

Birds have started to pair up and pretty soon we will seen tiny little balls of fluff
Bees will pollinate some beautiful flowers

Cute little chairs and tables in Berczy Park
Water gets turned on and flows in the many fountains found in the city

Did I mention green?

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation