bits and pieces

so, here we are on the 31st of May, and it is pretty clear that I have failed in this challenge. my km total is very far from my share of 250km.

it may be worthwhile to try and include the bits and pieces i did manage to accomplish.

so let's start with the Mother's Day flower run, searching for lily of the valley at my favourite flower shops on Avenue Road :)


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ps - it was a successful run and my mom was very impressed :)

3.9 km

Stroll

Monday - 3km - partway to work, then to C'est What with Puga after.
Tuesday - 14.12km - went to a book launch at the Lula Lounge.

Got an email on Monday from Elias with the subject, "A FLANEUR IS YOU." In it was a link to an Eye article about a book that one of it's regular columnists, Shawn Micallef, had written: STROLL - Psychogeographic Walking Tours of Toronto.

Apparently a flaneur is simply someone who "wanders their city with the sole purpose of paying attention to it"; and this idea of psychogeography, borne from groups of folks in Europe with more serious goals in mind, is the examination of the effect that geography has on human emotion and behavior.

I do like to wander and explore... but I'm not sure I explore things THAT deeply.

Gonna read the book and see. So far it seems more like a history lesson than a emotional journey.

17.12km

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New Record

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Last night I bested last year's Islington hike by 10km -- a total of 32.75km, over a walk that started at noon and ended 12 hours later.

Originally I was just supposed to meet up with Pylon for a little event in Liberty Village (an event involving the consumption of DELICIOUS CUPCAKES), but after a whole lotta butter and sugar and a quick brunch at the Brazen Head, I was back on the street heading Westwards.

I wandered on and off Waterfront Trail, took Lakeshore all the way to Kipling, Kip up to Bloor, then Bloor West eastwards. Since I was passing through their neighbourhood, I texted up two of my favouritest ladies in the whole wide world to join me for a pint at Bryden's.

Afterwards I wandered a bit further east, foraging for fast foods. Eventually got on the subway at High Park.

32.75km

Day 14 - Kingston Road

Walked up to John's for a bit of drinking and movie-ing ("Oh. It's LEGION. I thought we were watching LESION"). It's not an exciting walk, other than the first bit getting out of my home area, but it's nice. Kingston road passes through some nice quiet neighborhoods at the south end, but as you head northeast it seems to turn into the main street of a whole other small town.

12.58km + 4km to work and back

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Bits and Bobs

Day 13 was a night out with some visitors from Dallas: drinks at Cayo Coco ($4.50 martinis every Thurs until 8!), some errands at King Biermarkt, and finally dinner at Urban (I ate a kangaroo), desert at Smokes (philly cheesesteak) and then the walk home. ~4.75km

Day 15 was some wandering with Troy, but mostly by car. Managed about 3km.

~7.75km

pretty depressing total so far

so I added things up and it seems that I have only walked ~36.34 km so far. yes, i have started using 2 decimal points - the desperation really shows.

this doesn't spell out failure just yet, but now I am determined to walk to the Ashbridge's bay for beach volleyball instead of driving today.

hello Parkdale, how you doin

after getting back in town Friday night, I felt like I really needed to at least make an attempt. my good friend Alison just got an awesome job, so we went to Harlem Underground to celebrate. On my way to meet Alison, ran into Q at Roncesvalles. He was wearing an awesome light green western shirt :)


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~7.63 km