Car Auto Design

Well, really big plastic snow, which comes in handy as the wonderful spell of warm weather in the middle of winter has melted much of the real stuff. There is even a big shiny Christmas tree sticking out of the fountain.

James Gardens Park is gorgeous in spring, summer and fall, in the winter it is cold but still full of life. As the ducks gather around the spring fed ponds and foot bridges waiting for food handouts and running from dogs. As dropping winter temperatures freeze standing water the warmer moving water from underground springs keeps part of the ponds ice free. It makes a furious free for all when all the ducks try to get into the small space when they are spooked. If you are in the middle of the birds when they take off in mass heading for the water you immediately become surrounded by hundreds of flapping wings and beaten by the wind they generate as they take flight - it is quite a feeling.

You can walk many trails including one that runs along the bank of the Humber River and it is popular for wedding photos (but you will need to get a permit). Near Dundas and Royal York the scenery is worth the visit.

Fun in High Park happens year round and it is much easier to get parking in the winter than it is in the other seasons. Besides the restaurant, cool wooden castles and playground, the ice skating and hiking you can still see the animals in the zoo. Many of the animals even come up to say hi - I think they are looking for food but you shouldn't feed them, besides most of them slobber on your fingers if you try to give them peanuts or anything.
Another must see place to visit in the park is the leash free dog zone. The large area on a hill has it's own doggie fire hydrant, poster stand and picnic tables where you can relax and watch the dogs sniff, run, play and  engage in other fun doggie entertainment. On the doggie hill you can also find a tree, strangely not a coniferous tree, that has been decked with various Christmas decorations.

Not wanting to join the immense crowds flooding into the malls and stores for all manner of Boxing Day sales  (and Boxing Week sales) we decide instead to check out nature and head down to the waters of Lake Ontario. Only birds are swimming in the lakes' cold water which will soon be full of Polar Bear dippers.

Surprisingly, water is key to the waterfront and we are lucky that it is not a foul, stinking mess of liquid crap. Instead it is a pretty clean complement to our beautiful city. I always look forward to visiting the area and taking in the fun of the Queens Quay area. From the new wave decks and boat tours to the HTO beach their is plenty to see and do along the shores of Lake Ontario.

The Scarborough Bluffs face bravely into Lake Ontario, bravely because the water and the extreme slope of the cliff face means that erosion will slowly bring down the grey clay wall over time. Large chunks of the hill fall to the base and large cracks appear along the cliff face. When you walk along their edge it is hard not to be nervous at the possibility that today will be the day that a piece will just happen to come fall down. There was a nice smattering of fall colours in the trees on the slopes.

More pictures after the jump.



A fall weekend usually means large crowds on the park along the lake front which looks back to the Bluffs. The cold weather and light drizzle kept those crowds away when I visited, but it was still a good day to be out taking pictures.

Walking by the Berczy Park fountain I noticed some bubbles along the sidewalk and in the road. I followed the trail back to the fountain and, aha, found the source. Someone, or something, had placed soap in the water and like a big washing machine the churning water had soon created a cloud of bubbles.
This also happened in 2008 and 2009. I don't believe in coincidence so I think it is just someone, probably a broke University student, doing their laundry - once a year.