Walking

27 posts / 0 new

Mon, 2009-01-12 05:54

Michelle

Walking

It's such a great way to travel. :)

I've been walking a lot more lately - it started out as a way to get a bit more active, but now I'm doing it because I'm craving it. It's amazing how much more you see even when you walk the same route that you normally take the bus or streetcar. All these little shops that I never really noticed much before, or the ones I did notice but never had seen up close with their wares out front. Especially in Chinatown and St. Clair West.

Even in the winter, even on really cold days, I'm finding it's great to walk from the subway home instead of catching the bus, or getting off a couple of subway stops early and walking the rest of the way to work in the morning. Because once you get walking for a block or two, you don't feel the cold so much anyhow.

Where do you walk?

Mon, 2009-01-12 07:41

Catchfire

One of my favourite things to do is walk. In the city, I walk everywhere, just for transportation, but of course, walking is a great way to just spend a day. But I also like to get out in the countryside and walk--I'm currently very fortunate because I live in an area with vast, diverse hills that are very walker-friendly. You can walk for a couple of hours or over several days. Just before New Year's Ms. C and I walked up to the top of the Pentland Hills outside Edinburgh where you can see the whole of Fife. The ground was frozen and frosty but it was crystal clear. That's some of the best weather for walking: low wind, clear but a bit brisk.

I also walked through the coastal mountains of Spain last year on the best holiday I ever took. It was incredible. Making porridge and espresso on the top of a mountain as the sun came up over the Mediterranean was an unforgettable experience.

Mon, 2009-01-12 08:28

lagatta

Catchfire, a friend of mine (who is about 60) did the Compostela pilgrimage walk earlier this year. No, she is not a practising Catholic; people do the walk for many different reasons. There is more rain on the Atlantic coast though!

I love to walk (though I confess I prefer riding my bicycle, terrain permitting, and don't ride too fast to see the passing scenery). Though I've been having arthritic pain of late - really bad two winters ago, could scarcely walk for a while. I'd done A LOT of cycling in the cyclable season which helps a lot, but still it can be as hard for me to walk as much as I'd like, for example down to Chinatown, downtown or Old Montreal from where I live near the Jean-Talon Market, in central-northern MTL. I'm wondering if an elastic knee brace would be a help or counter to strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the joint. (My shoulder hurts even more, but that doesn't prevent walking).

I do have a hard time with the extreme cold; I can't breathe (no, I don't smoke and never have). Montreal is colder than Toronto. I'm hoping to have time for a walk this afternoon, depending on deadlines, because starting tomorrow evening or so it will be bitterly cold for at least three days.

The Gaza demonstration was a surprisingly pleasant walk; with the cold weather we walked at an almost-normal pace, instead of moving very s-l-o-w-l-y, which is hell on joints. Afterwards I walked around our little Chinatown and bought some nice green vegetables, and took the 55 bus up St-Laurent to my place, looking at the passing scene.

Mon, 2009-01-12 09:29

Boom Boom

I haven't done much walking this winter as it's been very cold, and the snow wasn't removed from the roads, so it's not much fun. However last week thelocal contractor cleared some - not all - of the roads here, for the contractors arrivingto build a new bridge tomorrow, so I'll get out more.

This is an isolated territory with no malls to walk to, just the wilderness which is a very short walk from the centre of this tiny village (pop 98).

Mon, 2009-01-12 09:59

lagatta

Boom Boom, don't you have snowshoes? I'd think they'd be a must where you live. Not that they would help with the intense cold, alas.

The newer type of snowshoes are much more ergonomic (pretty as the classic ones are) and it is a real pleasure to walk in them. It will be horribly cold this week, after today and tomorrow morning (at which time I must walk - to run errands - lay in CAT FOOD and COFFEE) but when the cold snap is over I'll go snowshoeing on our so-called "Mountain" with a friend. That is a very pleasant and peaceful thing to do. Where could Torontonians do it; on the islands?

I don't live close to any malls, the closest are in the downtown core (Complexe Desjardins would be the closest of any size) or Centre Boulevard at the corner of Pie-IX, but that is rather a long, boring walk from here. Not that I like malls - much prefer the shops around Villeray, Petite-Patrie and Plateau/Mile-End/Outremont, but they can permit people who can't stand extreme cold to do some walking. There are mall walking groups for seniors that go from one end to the other before the shops open. Not much fun, but at least they get out and see some friends.

Mon, 2009-01-12 10:34

Lard Tunderin Jeezus Lard Tunderin Jeezus's picture

I usually love walking in Toronto. But in winter, not so much - and not because of the weather. My first issue is with sidewalks; or rather the lack of them, buried in snow and ice. On many streets, the city plows snow up onto the sidewalks. Roads are cleared within 24 hours - the sidewalks can take weeks.

On many streets, property owners neglect their duty to keep them clear. Apartment owners seem to be the worst for this. I have friends living a couple of blocks n. of Eglinton at Bathurst. I swear not one amongst dozens of apartments there ever clear the sidewalks.

More aggravating is the attitude of the city itself toward pedestrians. At Chaplin Cresent and Eglinton, they've closed down a block of sidewalks for bridge and road repairs, routing everyone to the south side. Fair enough, except that there is only a crosswalk on one side of the light, forcing some people on foot to wait through 3 lights to get around to where they must walk. With all the planning, fencing, and signage involved, one might think that they should have considered putting up a new crosswalk for the one year duration of the project.

...and don't even get me started on the drivers in this city, impatient arseholes all. (I'll admit that I'm one too, with fellow motorists. But I truly try to be considerate of pedestrians and cyclists.)

Mon, 2009-01-12 10:43

Boom Boom

I have a pair of old-style snowshoes, which are made for deep and powder snow. That isn't what we find here on the roads - usually it's semi-packed snow from skidoos. I don't particularly enjoy using snowshoes - I keep them for emergencies, mostly.

I've seen the new smaller aluminum frame snowshoes, haven't gotten around to ordering a pair yet. May do that this winter.

Mon, 2009-01-12 11:00

jrose

I love walking and because I don’t have a car I walk as many places as I can to avoid public transit. I’m lucky to live in an area with all the amenities I need close by. I covered a few kilometres in Toronto over the weekend, doing some record shopping for my better half’s birthday. It was exercise with a purpose! I was able to get a few of the albums I needed, while getting a decent work out, too! I especially love walking with my headphones on, blocking the world out, and just listening to some great music.

Mon, 2009-01-12 11:02

Maysie

Le T, I too have been aggravated about those who don't shovel the sidewalk, not just large buildings but single-dwelling houses in my neighbourhood. I finally figured it out: these are people who never use the sidewalk or their front doors. They drive, so are always going through alleys, side/back doors and never think about the rest of us who'd like to walk without risking life and limb.

And I don't expect sidewalks to be cleared within 12 hours (or whatever the time is in the City of Toronto by-law). Just, you know, eventually. Before they turn into a frozen chunk of ice, all the more treacherous when another snowfall comes and covers it up. And I'm able-bodied.

And don't get me started about the gigantor "frozen-slush-lakes" that pedestrians have to wade through, try to leap over, or walk arooooound to try to cross at intersections like Spadina/College. While the streets are clear, and even sometimes dry. Argh

All this makes winter walking a challenge for me, but I do agree with Michelle that you look at neighbourhoods differently when you walk through them regularly.

Mon, 2009-01-12 13:31

#10

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

I live in one of the few "walking" neighborhoods in this city. We have a grocery store, organic grocery, bakery, butcher, hair stylist etc. all within a few blocks of our house -- even a branch library. We don't need to drive for most of our day-to-day errands, and people around here know each other better.

We're also only about 20 minutes' walk from where the wild girls take their music lessons, so in the warmer months we often walk it. Last time Ms B carried her cello on her back most of the way. If we keep it up, I may have to get a shoulder strap for Ms T's violin case.

When I was working for someone else, my job was downtown, about a 20, 25 minute walk from home (nearly 20 blocks, I think). I walked in all weather, even -40. Parking was too expensive, public transit was worse than walking because of long wait times at a frosty bus stop. At least if you move, you don't freeze and I was home by the time the bus would arrive anyway.

It used to be I'd walk for hours around different parts of the city. I was without a car for a while and working shifts at a place several miles from home -- if the buses had stopped running at the end of a late shift, I usually walked home.

Unfortunately for us, the public transit around here sucks to the point where managing without a vehicle would be really onerous. I'd like to do without a car, but a lot would have to change before I could.

Mon, 2009-01-12 13:38

#11

Boom Boom

The contractor plowed the road leading out of Kegaska all the way to Foreman's River (where a new bridge will be under construction starting tomorrow) - a distance of almost ten kilometers - and it's perfect for walking, although one has to be on the lookout for big construction vehicles and hungry black bears (if they're not hibernating). I think it will be kept clear all winter, as building the new bridge is a big, slow job. So, I'll get busy walking again!*

*but not today - windchill was -27C an hour ago.

Mon, 2009-01-12 13:45

#12

lagatta

Out for a walk now - have to get convalescent cat food and Chinese greens! It is -3c and sunny! The tropics!

We'll get a serious cold snap starting tomorrow evening, though it rarely goes down to -40 here, as on the Prairies.

Mon, 2009-01-12 19:11

#13

Boom Boom

It will warm up a bit for the next few days, then another cold spell arrives Thursday. Looking at the thermostat outside my LR window, it's now -23C, although the windchill is probably colder than that. I really dread the onset of -35 to -40 temps because I'm already burning up a lot of firewood.

Mon, 2009-01-12 19:42

#14

Tommy_Paine

I like walking, too, but haven't done much lately. Over the holidays, Snarfy the Wonder Girl and I walked to the store, just to get out. It was dark, and clear, and the stars twinkled.

I like quiet when I walk, so I avoid busy streets. However, when I am out walking in the woodlots and woods, I don't really get much excersize. I keep my pace slow because I'm looking at everything, and listening for everything.

But, on sidewalks and such I keep a brisk pace. It's been a while since I had to deal with the fun of shinsplints, so I guess I haven't really been doing that much...

Mon, 2009-01-12 20:25

#15

Michelle

Note to self: a 2 km brisk winter's walk on a lovely night is charming. A 2 km brisk winter's walk carrying three bags of groceries is exhausting. But every time I got to the next bus stop I kept thinking, nah, I'm just going to keep walking. So it wasn't that bad, really.

Mon, 2009-01-12 22:15

#16

lagatta

Yeah, I had the same sentiment, laden down with (entre autres) a bag of cat food and another of cat litter. But I don't have a monthly pass, as I mostly work at home now. And though I do have a card with electronic tickets, I was loathe to shell out $2 to ride a few blocks.

This is a great thread, by the way.

Mon, 2009-01-12 22:22

#17

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

I have a wagon from when the wee girls are small and use it to get my groceries. Other than a few smart-assed comments I've put up with (Hey, you forgot something! or You know, they have carts at the front...), it's worked great. The wheels are gnarly enough not to get stuck in the snow, too.

When that gives up the ghost, I'll get one of those fold-down wheelies basket things - maybe two so I can hitch 'em together!

Tue, 2009-01-13 04:10

#18

Catchfire

lagatta, where did your friend start the pilgrimage? What a wonderful challenge and experience for her. I made some plans to do part of the walk over the Pyrenees (which still would take about 25-30 days) but I think that will have to wait until a later year (maybe when I'm 60!) Instead, I think my partner and I are going to walk the West Highland Way and Great Glen Way in the spring, here in Scotland. Essentially, you walk from Glasgow to Fort William to Inverness, through Glencoe and the central highlands. I can't wait.

It's funny you mentioned the Gaza protests--the ones here have been quite lengthy walks, the one on Saturday was more than two hours and involved what most active tourists would take as a star-studded tour through the city: down Princes Street and up Calton Hill to the US embassy (past Arthur's Seat and the Scottish Parliament) then back down Princes Street, past the Walter Scott Monument, through the Royal gardens (and past Lloyds TSB Bank who helps enforce the siege of Gaza) all the way to the West End. Quite the hike!

Tue, 2009-01-13 06:36

#19

Michelle

Timebandit, that's funny - "You forgot something..." Heh.

I'm not crazy about those basket carts, although I have one. The main reason being that stacking grocery bags in it without squashing tender stuff is tricky, even if you're careful to put heavy stuff on the bottom, etc. But they definitely are handy. I think a wagon would be better, though. It's not an uncommon sight to see people pulling a wagon without kids in it in Toronto.

I do my grocery shopping in small installments throughout the week on the way home from work, and usually at small fruit markets around the corner from my place. But last night I had to pick up some of the stuff that I can usually only get in grocery stores due to being picky about brand and type - the kind of instant oatmeal I like to bring to work for lunch or snacks (I know, I know, but it's portable and easy to make and I get a healthy kind that you can't get in the corner store), low fat cheese and sour cream (the corner markets don't have much of a dairy selection), cereal (big box rather than little ones for overly-inflated prices in corner stores), etc.

There's a grocery store closer to my home that's probably cheaper than the one I went to at the subway station. I think next time I'll do that instead.

The Gaza protest here last weekend didn't include a march, so not much walking exercise to be had there!

As for snow on the sidewalks - yeah, that's a pain, and I agree that it's a mobility issue. There's no way my Oma, for instance, could walk down my street. Lately I've been looking at it as a way to get a little more exercise out of the walk. ;) But my walks are mostly on main streets like St. Clair West and Dundas West, so for the most part, the sidewalks are clear. I don't do the side streets until I get to my own neighbourhood, and I live close to St. Clair so there isn't far to go on the really snowy sidewalks.

Tue, 2009-01-13 06:45

#20

Catchfire

Michelle wrote:
Note to self: a 2 km brisk winter's walk on a lovely night is charming. A 2 km brisk winter's walk carrying three bags of groceries is exhausting. But every time I got to the next bus stop I kept thinking, nah, I'm just going to keep walking. So it wasn't that bad, really.

I remember doing one of these when I first moved to Montreal. I set out to get some bagels and thought it would be a nice walk, except when I set out, the mercury was leaning towards -25 and I was not wearing longjohns. As one does who walks in cold weather, I adopted the navel-gazing grimace that tries to banish from the mind how cold it is, but instead ends up entrenching the fact in your thoughts. At one point, waiting for a stop light, I raised my head and exited my insulated funk when I realized someone had stopped right beside me. It was a young, university-aged girl, wrapped in several scarves and she was just standing there whimpering. From, I assume, the brutal cold. Maybe she was crying about something else entirely (far more probable, in fact) but for some reason, that image stuck with me as testament to the unforgiving Montreal winters.

In conclusion, long underwear is amazing.

Tue, 2009-01-13 06:51

#21

Michelle

I have long underwear! But since all my walking is done to and from places I was already going (I like getting off the subway early, or walking from stations rather than taking buses), I don't generally don long underwear for the walk, simply because I don't want to be wearing longjohns all day at work. (Besides, they're bulky, and I don't need any extra girth! :D )

But yeah, I remember one time when I went tobogganing with my son and a few other kids in my extended family - a bunch of adults and kids went to a hill for the day and we had a blast. I didn't have ski pants, so I wore longjohns under my jeans instead. And it's amazing, but I stayed toasty warm the whole time, even when my jeans got a bit damp from the snow.

In conclusion, long underwear is amazing. :)

Tue, 2009-01-13 07:27

#22

Catchfire

Here's a photo from the very picturesque march last Saturday, on the way to the US Consulate in Edinburgh.

[IMG]http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6302/phpi4ppvsamve4.jpg[/IMG]

We're walking up Calton Hill, and you can see Arthur's Seat and the Salisbury Crags behind us.

Tue, 2009-01-13 08:05

#23

lagatta

Michelle, if you buy silk long underwear (yes, of course it is from China, and always has been) that does not add bulk at all and is not too hot to wear on most work commutes. I have very nice leggings in a bamboo fibre from Elita (made right here in Montréal, or so it seems). Alas I can't fit in their matching top (boobs) - that particular line doesn't come in plus sizes yet, but perhaps they will bring it out if there is enough demand for it - why do these things even have to be "demanded", but that is another rant, about designers who assume everyone is a size 4 (rant, rant).

Though I have the same damned problem with the buses and métro that are far TOO hot in winter.

The other problem is that all these garments, crampons, etc cost money, and a lot of people here simply don't have much money. (And true, we'd rather spend it on stylish, attractive clothes, but that's Québec)...

Catchfire, my friend undertook her trek near Toulouse, in France. Your Scottish walks sound splendid, though of course you have ... challenging weather in any season. The Edinburgh demo sounds great (saw it was an all-Scotland demo) and I'll try to find photos of it. Quite a long walk though!

Edited to add: Catchfire, thanks for the Edinburgh demo photo! Not bad weather, for Scotland.

I hate the cold and snow, and there are times when it is just too much and I could very well break down crying.

My "granny cart" serves one main purpose - bringing home large bags of clumping cat litter. I have to do that today sometime as it will be mild today, then bitterly cold for several days. I have a few more grocery type things to pick up, will do that with a cloth bag, set atop the cat litter.

Tue, 2009-01-13 08:30

#24

Boom Boom

I'm usually in Sept-Iles for a day or two in the winter, and it has absolutely the worst sidewalk snow clearing program I have ever seen. Really, Sept-Iles city council don't give a f*ck for pedestrians, they assume everyone has a car. Good place to avoid in the winter.

Tue, 2009-01-13 09:49

#25

Michelle

lagatta, those leggings sound great, but the problem is also that I'd likely be too hot in them once I get to work. Also, if they don't come in plus sizes, they wouldn't fit me...although if I keep walking everywhere, that might change. :D

Boom Boom, that's a drag. Guess it's time to drag out the snowshoes! I've never done that before, myself, gone snowshoeing. I'd like to try it sometime.

Catchfire, great picture. It looks positively balmy there!

Tue, 2009-01-13 11:15

#26

Timebandit Timebandit's picture

Michelle wrote:

Timebandit, that's funny - "You forgot something..." Heh.

I'm not crazy about those basket carts, although I have one. The main reason being that stacking grocery bags in it without squashing tender stuff is tricky, even if you're careful to put heavy stuff on the bottom, etc. But they definitely are handy. I think a wagon would be better, though. It's not an uncommon sight to see people pulling a wagon without kids in it in Toronto.

Cool! Now I can say I'm just being cosmopolitan!

Catchfire wrote:

I remember doing one of these when I first moved to Montreal. I set out to get some bagels and thought it would be a nice walk, except when I set out, the mercury was leaning towards -25 and I was not wearing longjohns. As one does who walks in cold weather, I adopted the navel-gazing grimace that tries to banish from the mind how cold it is, but instead ends up entrenching the fact in your thoughts. At one point, waiting for a stop light, I raised my head and exited my insulated funk when I realized someone had stopped right beside me. It was a young, university-aged girl, wrapped in several scarves and she was just standing there whimpering. From, I assume, the brutal cold. Maybe she was crying about something else entirely (far more probable, in fact) but for some reason, that image stuck with me as testament to the unforgiving Montreal winters.

In conclusion, long underwear is amazing.

I didn't tend to wear longjohns, but have always had a nice, long coat. Even a wool coat that isn't especially padded up works well -- it's the wind you want to keep off more than anything. -25 is relatively normal here late December through mid-February, and it can get much colder, even if you don't factor in the wind chill, but I find if you move at a good pace you generate much of your own heat.

Wind pants were another good thing, better than long johns. Slip them over whatever you're wearing, they block the wind and you're much better off, then just remove them when you get to your destination.

Tue, 2009-01-13 20:10

#27

Tommy_Paine

I had long johns when I was a kid, but not the once piece, the two piece. They used to ride down and drive me nuts. I opted for multiple pairs of pants or sweat pants under pants.

When I was a teen, there was an urban myth that pantyhose would keep you warmer than long johns, but not restrict mobility. I tried that a few times. Probably one more time, in fact, than a man aught to admit. While they didn't restrict mobility, they didn't do much to keep me warm.

One of my many, many, daughters gave me some chemical warmers for Christmas, for the hands and feet. I keep them in the van for emergencies. Seems the most likely place for me to be stranded and in need of something to prevent frost bite.