Distractions, reflections

St. Michaels Cemetery from 95 St. Clair Avenue West. Landlocked Catholic cemetery from 1854, near Deer Park. Gates from Yonge Street locked, land is visible from the north side via parking lot off 95 St. Clair West. West and south sides are bordered by residential homes, children and dogs playing in the southwest corner, behind sign that prohibits recreation. Should graves be forgotten by locking visitors out? (Toronto) 20110901 1848

Ryerson U Quad. Quadrangle facing southwest inside Kerr Hall at Ryerson University. A quiet spot before Labour Day, surely to be overrun by undergrads next week. Banking towers in the background (Toronto) 20110903 1655

Driftwood Drive downhill. Biked up steep hill after following Don River north on the west bank. Route past the Police Department canine unit. Definitely bicycling as exercise, could choose other routes that don’t require huffing and puffing. Driftwood Drive put me back on the east side of town. (Toronto) 20110906 1849

Orchard View Blvd market. Touring bike to Northern District Library on Orchard View Blvd., missed on first pass with street blocked for market. Temporary public space with farmers market on Thursdays until October. Looked at book in library, but didn’t check it out. Market was just packing up at 7 p.m. (Toronto) 20110908 1910

Cabbagetown Festival. Neighbourhood crowd scene looking south on Parliament Street, north of Winchester Street in the annual Cabbagetown Festival. Unlike summer festivals, didn’t seem like out-of-town tourists. Local businesses, small tents with community organizations, side street lawns selling odds and ends. www.cabbagetownfestival.org/ (Toronto) 20110910 1828

YVR Flying Traveller. Fiberglass artwork of passenger with luggage running through airport terminals by Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent doesn’t reflect reality in Vancouver International Airport domestic terminal. Landing here, the west coast laid back style was evident as soon as we touched down. (Vancouver) 20110912 1600

Approaching Vancouver via Seabus. Business travel luxury to return from North Vancouver via Seabus. Much faster than riding in car north over Lions Gate Bridge, and then west through construction on Marine Drive. (Vancouver, BC) 20110913 1525

Pacific Cod, Sole, Halibut. Full sized fresh fish on ice at the Lonsdale Quay Market, North Vancouver. Seafood envy for tourists from inland homes. 20110914 1611

Dundas Square fountains. Dancing fountains at plaza on a sunny fall afternoon when no formal events have been scheduled. Tourists stop to have their photos taken. Busker hawks his skills to draw a crowd. A chance for bicycling without coat, forecast is rain over next few days. (Toronto) 20110922 1826

St. Matthews Church, Riverdale. Toured St. Matthews Anglican Church. Built in 1890, original church first one east of Don River in 1876. Congregation peaked at 400, now 75. On tree-lined First Ave., west of Broadview Ave. Riverdale Historical Society guide said long history of poor funding means building almost the same as when constructed, bricks donated by 11 local companies, laid with red bricks facade over rubble brick walls. Could be a good downtown location for a wedding. www.stmatthews-riverdale.com/ (Toronto) 20110924 1250

St James Cemetery Ross marker. Durable grave marker from 1871, John Ross, Canadian senator. Inscription clearly legible. At St. James Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Toronto still in operation, opened in 1844 for people in Upper Canada of the Anglican faith (Toronto) 20110925 18:01 See photo of inscription.

Outer Harbour Marina. Poorly maintained lighthouse at mouth of Outer Harbour Marina. This peninsula is shorter than for Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie Street Spit) just beyond, practically swimming distance across. Marina is for small pleasure craft, so larger investment in infrastructure probably isn’t justified. Peninsula is available for film shoots. (Toronto) 20110926 1733

Flemish Beauty Pears. Local Ontario Flemish Beauty Pears in season. Mislabelled as Barletts, I recognized them on sight. Sentimental fall ritual for me. (Foodland on Danforth, Toronto) 20110928 1836