Peach, Plum, Orange

May 21

Coboconk, Ontario

Canada’s Smallest Jail

I’m in heat. No really. There are so many beautiful men walking through the streets of Toronto that I can barely contain myself. The only way to cool off and to distract myself from perverted thoughts was to make the trip to Coboconk, just outside of Lindsay, Ontario. The heat was brutal, but the scenery was worth it. For those unfamiliar, Coboconk is a community in the city of Kawartha lakes, on the northern tip of Balsam Lake. Coboconk has a rich history amongst the villages of Kawartha Lakes, and has played a prominent role in the logging, limestone, and tourism industries for over 150 years. Of course, the main attraction is Canada’s smallest jail. Go figure.

Pattie House

Pharmacy

Downtown

Variety Gift Shop

Barn

There are countless beautiful homes in Coboconk

I love the red

Twins!

Tiny, and I want to live here

Ice cream

Coboconk cemetery

Northern tip of Balsam Lake

May 21

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May long weekend at Balsam Lake

Balsam Lake

I can’t help but look around this green earth and thank heavens I’m alive. The world is a magnificently beautiful creature, one that demands attention and respect. This weekend we drove to Balsam Lake and spent quality time with the McCallum’s. The weather was excruciatingly beautiful without a cloud in the sky. A couple of mornings I awoke before the rest of the crew and captured some photographs to document the physical evidence of the tremendous radiance of the Balsam landscape. Good company never hurts, so Lisa accompanied us and entertained with her warm sense of humour. With good food, great conversation and amazing temperatures, I can confidently say we all had an experience to remember.

6:30 a.m.

On the boat house

7 a.m.

Make a wish!

Empty Chairs

Dirt road

Lisa making veggie burgers!

Lisssssaaaaaaa!!!!

The gas station and corner store

Balsam Lake Provincial Park

My shadow

Sun

The moon over Balsam Lake

May 17

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Bond Street and beyond

A co-op building on Richmond St. East

Another day, another walk. Today I decided to peruse Bond Street where a number of old historic buildings nestle beneath old maple leaf trees. Toronto is awash in modern and historic buildings, and you can’t walk very far without confronting the juxtaposition of old meets new. Toronto could do more to preserve these haunts, but the ones that have been protected are impressive and proud pieces of architecture. I am struggling to keep my camera straight! Practice makes perfect, yet perfection is far.

The oldest post office in Toronto

The Spire on Adelaide and Church

St. James Church

St. Michael’s Hospital

Saint Michael’s Choir School

Mackenzie House

William Lyon Mackenzie was Toronto’s first mayor, and this was his house

St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church

St. George’s Church has a large dome in the back that I didn’t photograph. Shoot me.

May 16

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Ralph Bissonnette

On Monday night, not far from where I live, a young man riding his skateboard was struck by a taxi car and killed. Police have charged the driver with second-degree murder.

The name of the victim was Ralph Bissonnette. He was only 28.

This afternoon, while I was walking to meet Raquel for lunch I passed the spot where Ralph died and found that a collection of flowers and cards had been left by people affected by the young man’s death. I noticed that the wind had blown over the yellow pot and I knelt down to fix it. As I did a young woman stopped and said to me, “It’s horrible to have to see that here.” Of course, I agreed.

According to The Toronto Star, Bissonnette was from Quebec. He worked in kitchens in different parts of the world, including as a line cook at Club Med in Florida, various restaurants in Quebec and a jazz bar in San Diego.

A few years ago he settled in Toronto, working at local restaurants including Rosewater Supper Club. He was an avid skateboarder and cyclist who was living with his girlfriend at the time of his death.

Witnesses told police that there was an altercation between Ralph and the taxi driver only moments before the accident, and it is suspected that road rage was a contributing factor in his death.

A completely avoidable situation. Ralph woke up on Monday morning for the last time. Only he didn’t know it.

Rest in peace buddy.

May 16

Lunch with Raquel at Sugar Beach

Raquel and me, after the morning rain

Sugar Beach is an urban beach park located on Lake Ontario and across from the Redpath Sugar Refinery. It opened in 2010. Roughly a ten minute walk from my apartment, I spend a lot of time there, and its surrounding area, which includes Sherbourne Common. Raquel and I have met a couple of times this week to have our lunch under the pink umbrellas and to chat about life. Unfortunately for today the weather was a bit on the chilly side after a rain storm washed across the downtown core early this morning. Only yesterday the beach was full of sunbathers. Here are the photos from today’s excursion.

The rain from my balcony only moments before lunch

Nerd alert!

Raquel

My face is red!

Raquel enjoys some rays!

Everyday a different ship

May 15

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Yonge-Dundas Square

Originally I posted this without any text. To be honest I’m not sure what I think about Yonge-Dundas Square. It’s an advertisement for our consumer driven Western philosophy. But the area where the square occupies was once dilapidated and unloved, until a major renovation, that took approximately ten years, rejuvenated it in to what it is today. The intersection is one of Canada’s busiest, serving over 100,000 pedestrians daily, and 56 million annually. I could highlight the many attractions and shopping centres that revolve around the square, but I figure the best thing you could really do is check it out for yourself, and then, decide if you ever want to return!