When I get downtown on my new route I'm opposite the tiny sand beach that attracts lots of mums (and occasionally dads) and their kids on hot summer days. From there I can ride either direction along the harbour, and access the streets that take me to the coffee shop and the library.
I'm sure this little bit of beach was created years ago when that line of boulders on the left was installed, but it works and is crowded on hot summer days. The wheelchair 'sidewalk' only appeared this spring. It was a chilly day when I took this photo, I was surprised there were any people at all.
This is Bayfield Street, the road that fronts the harbour. If I turn right at the first corner I go to the coffee shop, at the second corner, the library. This is also where the classic car show is held on Canada Day.
On this day the harbour was almost calm as glass. You can see three of the student sailboats moving slowly across, fighting the almost total lack of wind!
At one corner of the harbour is the local museum which houses a fascinating collection of artifacts.
On another day I went the opposite direction and watched the students practice their moves out in the open bay, with a nice breeze to help them. But a line of very big boulders to see past!
Heading back up Parker Street you can see why my original view of it on that hot summer day appeared shaded.
I noticed the second house on the right has put on this spectacular attic dormer. It would enable them to see right out to the bay over the roof of the smaller house next door.
Then there's the crosswalk, not much of a picture, but this is the key that unlocks this entire route for me. Without it to stop traffic on a busy road I would not not be using this route at all.
There's another block of Parker Street to ride, a brief detour west a short block, up to the back entrance to the Long Term Care Home, and then it's the meandering path behind the new Long Term Care Home, up the Collingwood Street hill and I'm home. I enjoy my new route downtown so much that I haven't gone back to Nelson or Trowbridge Street in weeks!
An excellent route! What a great spot.
ReplyDeleteNice! I would appreciate the views of the water and the activities on it. Perfect to have the coffee shop to stop at too.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great ride, especially on a beautiful day. It might not be so nice on a cold winter day with a stiff breeze.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you go downtown every day with this new route
ReplyDeleteYour mention of Bayfield St brought to mind a place that I haven’t thought about in years — Bayfield on Lake Huron. Have you been? I probably last visited in the 80s when we lived in Sarnia. It was a very touristy village then in a kind of upscale way. At least that is how i remember it.
ReplyDeleteThose sailboats would make the whole journey well worth the effort! I admit, I am impressed that you get about like this on your own. I am sure I would be afraid to try it in a wheelchair.
ReplyDeleteMy last position with the library was facilities manager, and my last major project was to bring all 10 of our locations up to the American Disabilities Act requirements. It took three years of moving toilets, doors, bookshelves, of redoing sidewalks and installing automatic door openers, and training staff on assistive hearing equipment, furniture placement, etc, etc, etc, but it was the most worthwhile thing I did in my 20 years with the library system.
I love boats! Ok, I love all the other stuff too, but I love boats. I want to know what that big tug-looking boat is in the first photo. But even better, I like your comment about mums (and dads) ... you are so clever and so irreverent. :-)
ReplyDeleteCrosswalks or as we call them " Pedestrian Crossings" make that so much safer, for walkers, wheelchair travellers or a Mum with a toddler or pushchair. Those training out in choppy water, brave souls, For me, anything more than a 2 inch ripple is too much !!!
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