A Walk along the Humber

April 2016 - Toronto ON

Finally I think spring has sprung. The sun is shining and Saturday's temperature reached a balmy 11C or 52F. 

John and I took a walk along the Humber River. We hadn't walked this before and I didn't want to do it on my own, as it seemed quite deserted and dark in the tunnels under the highway.

This is a 5 km walk.
Bear in mind it is just barely spring here, very late and not a bud on the trees as yet. 

The Anishinaabe, the most recent native inhabitants of the area, refer to the river as Cobechenonk, for “leave the canoes and go back.” During the 1600s and 1700s, the river was known by several names before it was given the official name of Humber. Popple's map of 1733 shows a prominent river beside the native settlement "Tejajagon" assumed to be the Humber. Its name is given as the Tanaovate River.The river was also known as the "Toronto River." Lieutenant-Governor John Graves Simcoe gave the river the name of Humber, likely after the Humber estuary in England.
More about the Anishnaabe later.

Why do people do this to trees??

John had his camera set on painting.

The Humber as it exits into Lake Ontario. The bridge carries a cycling path over the river.

Interesting etchings under the bridge.

We are walking under the Gardiner Expressway as well as the railway tracks.

Looking back towards home.

City of Toronto map showing where you can walk to.

The Humber River is in the Great Lakes Basin, is a tributary of Lake Ontario and is one of two major rivers on either side of the city of Toronto, the other being the Don River to the east. It was designated a Canadian Heritage River on September 24, 1999

CN Tower.

The Humber collects from about 750 creeks and tributaries in a fan-shaped area north of Toronto that encompasses portions of Dufferin County, the Regional Municipality of Peel, Simcoe County, and the Regional Municipality of York. The main branch runs for about 100 kilometres (60 mi) from the Niagara Escarpment in the northwest, while another other major branch, known as the East Humber River, starts at Lake St. George in the Oak Ridges Moraine near Aurora to the northeast. They join north of Toronto and then flow in a generally southeasterly direction into Lake Ontario at what was once the far western portions of the city. The river mouth is flanked by Sir Casimir Gzowski Park and Humber Bay Park East.

Very cool light coming through the slats.

Mural hidden by the branches, once they bud and flower you won't be able to see it.

Oh, might be some buds on this tree.

I've got a hunch.

Canadian National rail tracks.

Lots of signage.

John just looked at me oddly when I took this photo.

WOW now the grass is green. It is hard to believe that there is a highway behind us and just to the right are houses. It is very peaceful and quiet.

John saying, sorry didn't mean to step into the photo.

Turning around and heading back.

Family fishing.

Almost home and we take a different path towards the expressway.

Looking towards downtown.

 Palace Pier Park, you can purchase a tree to pay tribute to a person.

 Hidden on a wall bordering the expressway is a plaque telling the Anishinabe story.

We arrive home by the front door.

Just to give you an idea of the bridge we crossed under, this is the expressway when we got home traffic is going west out of the city. Not sure why it was so busy, there had been a Raptors basketball game.

Monday Walks 

Through My Lens Monday

Life Through the Lens