My Afternoon Walk - Wortley Rd.

Belated Birthday?

Near the end of our walk yesterday I bought Don a cup of coffee for his birthday.

Once seated at Fire Roasted on Wortley Rd. I said, "Here's a card. Sorry I'm late."

"You're early," he said. "I don't turn 65 until next week." (At least that's what I think he said. My hearing hasn't been too good lately, eh).

At least we got home without getting lost.

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My Afternoon Walk - Old South

Near Home

["Don pointed at this house"]

Don and I stayed in Old South yesterday - wandering about for one hour - due to the cold wind, cold enough to freeze our words in mid-air.

["I liked the upper window on this one"]

["On the way home w a pocketful of frozen conversation"]

We spotted two nice houses, worthy of brilliant photos, and I was happy to reach the home stretch by 2 PM.

I saved some of our frozen conversation, warmed it up in a fry pan and at 2:15 listened to what we'd said earlier.

Don said, "My nose is bright red."

I said, "I can't see it. My eyes are sealed."

I think the next sentence was us chortling.

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My Afternoon Walk - Fences

Beyond the Fence

Don and I walked in an eastward direction yesterday, from Wortley Village to the corner of Grey and William St.. Then we turned south on William to begin the homeward half of our jaunt.

We are both pleased to see some remnants of Historic London saved for posterity but wondered how much has been buried because we are too busy with less-important matters?

Are we too busy to care? Too cheap to pay for restorations? Too focused on lifestyle?

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My Afternoon Walk - w Ollie

School Zone

["Soon the bell will ring and chaos will reign"]

I have not returned to school often since I retired as an elemental school teacher and Guardian of the Empire. Friday, however, I was Plan C to pick up my grandson and when my number was called I answered. So, I picked him up at Victoria P.S. and took him to a Wortley Village coffee shop for hot chocolate.

["Someday I want to climb a mountain," says Ollie]

["Somebody thought about sitting down, but changed his mind"]

["Ollie showed me the trail he made some other time"]

Not kidding. $5 for the hot chocolate. Why, when I was a kid you could last all day with a couple of nickels and pocketful of coppers.

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My Afternoon Walk - Thames Park

Not All Downhill

Don and I hit no dead-ends yesterday as we marched on slippery, slushy roads and sidewalks in and around Old South.

After a 'two-steps forward and one step back' type of walk, we do look forward to spring.

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My Afternoon Walk - Dead End

Now What?

 ["Looking north toward Stanley Street."]

The walk started out so well. My mate and I hit the downtown, wandered about, caught a few rays near the Fork of the Thames, and then headed toward home on Wortley Road (above).

Suddenly, the sidewalk ended. We figured if the sidewalk-plow couldn't budge the snow then we should go around as well.

Lightly and athletically we jumped over the drifts and onto the road, then briskly walked home. Or, something like that, eh.

: )

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My Afternoon Walk - Near the Thames

Follow Me to The Forks

Don and I can walk to The Forks in 15 minutes from my front door and from there we go left or right, up or down numerous side streets or public paths before turning around to find a suitable route home. Our trek is usually just 60 - 90 minutes of good walking and conversation.

Good boots, good warm coats, good toques and gloves - the Canadian way to go during winter.

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My Afternoon Walk - Half a Tree

Half Gone

["Looking north on Cathcart between Duchess and Tecumseh"]

I took this photo one half-block from home. I missed a snazzy photo of a pint-sized Hairy Woodpecker (I was slow on the draw), then noticed many trees on Cathcart are half gone, likely due to our hydro company.

Above ground wires = cheaper, but not for the trees.

Are Canadians 'cheaping-out' in other ways too?

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My Afternoon Walk - Squirrel Bridge

AKA King Street Bridge

I huffed and I puffed and got my 60 minute-walk finished by 3 PM, leaving me three hours to plug away at projects inside the workshop.

["Photo taken from the centre of Squirrel Bridge"]

BTW. I write in the morning, walk after lunch and work in the workshop before supper. Writing, walking, woodworking in the workshop. My life has a certain amount of alliteration, does it not? And a lot of double-yous.

: )

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My Afternoon Walk - Dundas Street

Two Buildings, Two Londons

["What's on top of the roof?"]

I walked downtown yesterday to pick up a ticket for an upcoming Knights game and snapped a picture of a unique four-storey walk-up on Dundas Street. I don't like the green paint but I do like the two owl houses on the roof. (Or maybe they're for peregrine falcons).

At any rate, I was reminded of another tall slim four-storey walk-up I spotted while in the other London last October. The brickwork is lovely... and no green paint.

["If offered the top floor, I'd take it"]

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My Afternoon Walk - Wortley Rd.

Typical Route

["A view of Horton St. extension overtop some shrubs"]

Eight times out of ten my afternoon walk leads me to Downtown London. Usually I walk along Wortley Rd. to get there, admiring local shrubberies all the while.

["A nice building behind many tall shrubs"]

PS My walking mate is on vacation. Who is free on Thursday at 1 PM for 75 min. brisk walk?

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My Afternoon Walk - Odd Tree

Pod Tree?

This tree stands tall on Cathcart Street, London, about one block south of my house. I call it 'the pod tree' because hundreds of foot-long seed pods can be seen at the ends of branches.

It is certainly stately, perhaps rare.

Can you identify it for me? You're only half-right if you say it's Brian's tree because I think he moved away.

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My Afternoon Walk

Yesterday Don and I walked for a bit more than an hour at a good brisk pace. We covered several scintillating topics:

Responses to the shootings in Paris, including that of the Pope

The state of our insurance coverage now that we are both 65 or older

Whether or not we are smarter than squirrels in Old South.

Conclusions: The Pope is on the right track. State of flux. Absolutely not.

By 2018, thanks to many miles covered, we will look lean and mean. And we will be closer to solving the problems of the world.

Walk, walk, walk!

: )

My Afternoon Walk - Huge Spruces

Eye Popping

 ["Hey, I recognize that birdhouse, though covered w snow"]

Walk, walk, walk. We're keeping at it and by 2018 my walking mate and I will truly see the results.

Just to let you know: There are some incredible spruce trees on Iroquois Avenue in Old South London, both east and west of Cathcart Street.

They are very tall with broad trunks. And some of the lower branches are eye-poppingly huge and strong.

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My Afternoon Walk - Rib Eye

Taller and Leaner

["I'm the guy on the left and my rib cage looks made of iron"]

["We occasionally turn for home at Blackfriars Bridge"]

No doubt about it - due to our fitness walks - my walking mate and I look taller and leaner than ever.

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My Afternoon Walk

Weights and Measures

 ["We walked east on Fullarton toward Richmond St."]

Don and I turned for home yesterday at the corner of Dundas and Clarence and our full walk lasted a little over one hour. Pretty good result in our book.

["Some measurements aren't in our favour anymore!" : ) ]

Not that we're keeping a book, but if we were we would likely be watching our weight, to see if it was improving as a result of our afternoon walks.

I'll let you know if anything good happens.

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My Afternoon Walk - Follow my Nose

It's Up To Me

 ["Harris Park is a common destination"]

My walking mate leaves the route up to me and, on average, we head toward Downtown London 4 out of 5 times. I leave 'topics of conversation' up to him, so everything balances out in the end.

[I suggest we stop somewhere for French Fries"]

["My walking mate squashed that idea by stepping on my head"]

I think all the walking is making me taller. Cool.

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My Afternoon Walk - Bald Eagle

It's a Small Bird?

["Top centre, definitely a teeny tiny bald eagle"]

My walking mate spotted a path west of Wharncliffe that took is to the bank of the River Thames. While I snapped a photo of the quiet north shore he spotted a bald eagle. I had one good look and hurriedly snapped a photo.

Yup, it was a bald eagle all right, heading east toward the Wharncliffe bridge near the Children's Museum.

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My Afternoon Walk - Downtown

Me and My Future Digs

 ["Sturdy shoes will carry me a thousand miles"]

Properly attired in sturdy shoes and several warm layers of plaid and denim (a very Canadian thing, eh), I walked downtown to pick up hockey tickets recently and saw - lo and behold - me and a future apartment for my wife and I. (Okay. That's if I can convince her. Not easy!)

["The Jail Birds: These downtown condos are small and cozy"]

["Ye Olde Courthouse: I've got my eye on the upstairs apartment w balcony"]

Getting into fun and fitness walks while living in Downtown London would be easy. I'd just walk to Wortley Village for coffee and groceries every second day. Every day if my wife hands me a list.

: )

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My Afternoon Walk - Short Cut Map

Prettier in Real Life

Like some people I know, East Woods Pond looks better in real life than in a photo.

 ["Look closely at upper right corner. Hawk?"]

How does one get to the pond in order to hug the oldest tree known to a few hearty Londoners?

First, you walk to Archies on Wharncliffe and Cove Rd. Then you walk west, down Cove Rd. hill and hang yerself a right. Keep on goin' now.

Q: re upper right corner of Top Photo. Is that a hawk in the next tree?

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