Distractions, reflections

Distractions, reflections

David Ing, at large … Sometimes, my mind wanders

Monthly Archives September 2009

2008/09/24 Elora, and the Grand River by the Mill Inn

September 28, 2009
After finishing our business in the area, Stephen and I walked around the village of Elora, and toured the nearby Grand River.
On the way to a meeting at the Township of Centre Wellington, Stephen and I got lost.  I hadn’t done the mapping in advance and was relying on Blackberry Maps on Stephen’s handheld device.  Out in the country, street addresses don’t work so well.  We stopped for directions, and were told simply:  go to the main street of Elora.  It’s not a huge metropolis.  As we drove into the village, we saw John parked on the side of main street, on his mobile phone, calling for directions.  We were all late!  There’s a lesson here for big city boys!

DI_20080924 124428 Elora sign

After our business was done, John had to head back to Toronto.  Stephen and I took some leisure time to take in the sights.  We walked south on Metcalf Street.

DI_20080924 124714 Elora MetcalfStreet view south

At the foot of Metcalf Street is Mill Street.  Looking west, the road curves around, and the Elora Mill Inn is at the end.

DI_20080924 133938 Elora MillStreetW

On the east side of Mill Street, there’s an information centre.  The lady there gave us a local map.  She suggested crossing the Metcalf Street bridge south, and following the river west.

DI_20080924 134026 Elora MetcalfStreet bridge

As we crossed the bridge, the scenic Grand River revealed itself. Continue reading “2008/09/24 Elora, and the Grand River by the Mill Inn“

2008/09/22 Toronto-Windsor on a day trip

September 25, 2009
The Toronto – Windsor corridor is one of the more popular routes in Canada, and travel by rail can be an adventure.
In my day job, I recommend in-person interviews, because they produce a richness of understanding not possible over the telephone.  On this engagement, we decided to visit interviewees in Windsor as a day trip.  On a prior gig in Detroit, I had flown to Windsor and driven across the border.  For this day trip, the travel by Via Rail was practical. I arrived at the platform at Union Station with 5 minutes to spare.  Nancy was already there, and Stephen arrived one minute before the train departed.

DI_20080922 074558 UnionStation Via Train

With a schedule to pick up the train from Oshawa through Toronto to Windsor, Stephen got caught in a traffic at the shift change at the General Motors plant.  Having missed the Via Rail train, he was told that he could catch the later GO Train from Oshawa to Windsor, and arrive at Union Station before the train left.  The voyage outbound from Toronto was considerably less stressful.

DI_20080922 111728 ViaRail SB NI

I prefer travelling by train over flying.  The stress is lower.  It’s too bad rail travel isn’t a practical alternative to most destinations.

DI_20080922 114002 ViaRail

The rail route through southern Ontario sees a lot of farm land.

DI_20080922 114620 ViaRail south view

Highway 401 is normally considered the direct freeway from Toronto to Windsor. The original Highway 2 ran through small towns north of Highway 401.  Approaching Windsor, Highway 2 lost its official designation in 1998. Continue reading “2008/09/22 Toronto-Windsor on a day trip“

2008/09/15 Purley to Victoria Station to Victoria Coach Station to Heathrow

September 23, 2009
Coming from Purley in South London, the train to Victoria Station connecting at the Victoria Coach Station to Heathrow made sense.
Like many travellers, I’ve taken the Heathrow Express from the airport to Paddington Station in central London.  However, Paddington is in the north side of London, and I was visiting on the south side.  Starting out from Purley Station, I decided to experiment with another route.

DI_20080915 094350 PurleyStation

I took the train north towards Victoria Station.

DI_20080915 095208 Purley train north

The northbound rail tracks pass over some east-west lines.

DI_20080915 104052 train to Victoria

The route goes by a power station.

DI_20080915 104124 train to Victoria power station

Approaching Victoria Station, tracks began to converge. Continue reading “2008/09/15 Purley to Victoria Station to Victoria Coach Station to Heathrow“

2008/09/14 Walks in Happy Valley Park and Coulsdon Common, farm in Surrey

September 22, 2009
On a Sunday, Greg and Scott and Daniel (with Jasper) went for a walk in Happy Valley Park and Coulsdon Common, and then picked at a farm in Surrey.
For a quiet family Sunday, Greg and Scott suggested seeing the countryside nearby.  I’m used to touring the urbanized London, but the Green Belt near the southern suburbs has a completely different feel.  We drove over to Happy Valley Park in Croydon.

DI_20080914 092908 HappyValley kiosk

In the parking lot, we encountered some urban art:  a burned out car.  This vandalism was probably was the work of some juveniles.  We wondered why the chassis hadn’t been taken away, already.

DI_20080914 092740 HappyValley burned car

Down the road, we walked into Happy Valley Park.  The park was quiet, and we encountered a few other families on the way.

DI_20080914 093206 HappyValley family walk

On the way, Jasper stopped to check out some interesting smells. Continue reading “2008/09/14 Walks in Happy Valley Park and Coulsdon Common, farm in Surrey“

2008/09/14 Market in Croydon, dining in Purley

September 21, 2009
Scott and I went shopping at the Surrey Street Market in Croydon, so that I could prepare for a dinner party at their home.
Purley is a suburb south of London.  Since Scott and Greg hosted me at their home, I offered to cook dinner for them.  To go shopping for supplies, Scott accompanied me, and we walked over to the bus stop.

DI_20080913 070006 PurleyDownsRoad bus stop SW

Greg thought the best shopping would be in Croydon.  The bus took a route direct to the city centre, and then drove around some one way streets before dropping us off just north of the Croydon Flyover.

DI_20080913 072718 CroydonFlyover

I waited on the street while Scott stopped in a store to buy a few household supplies.

DI_20080913 072730 CroydonFlyover bus stop

A few blocks north, we came to a fork in the road at the entry to the Surrey Street Market.

DI_20080913 072834 Croydon SurreyStreet market

This market has a history serving the neighbourhood going back centuries. Continue reading “2008/09/14 Market in Croydon, dining in Purley“

2008/09/12 Tate Modern, South Bank, London

September 20, 2009
I saw the galleries of contemporary art at the Tate Modern, and then walked South Bank to meet Dav and LJ for dinner.
To see the other Tate Museum in London, I took the tube down to the Southwark tube station.  I observed the Blackfriars station as closed, when I walked north.  Approaching the former Bankside Power Station from the south side, the Tate Modern is an imposing building.

DI_20080912 130108 TateModern BanksidePowerStation south side

Walking around to the west side of the building, I could see the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral in the distance.

DI_20080912 130200 TateModern BanksidePowerStation west side

From the west side, the entry of to the Tate Modern is down a long ramp.

DI_20080912 130254 TateModern west entry ramp

The ramp continues inside the building into the Turbine Hall.

DI_20080912 130354 TateModern TurbineHall

The galleries are on the upper floors.  I went up to Level 3, and saw some red benches with display terminals. Continue reading “2008/09/12 Tate Modern, South Bank, London“

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