Day 5 - Yummy

Because of rough water in the Western Gap, Scott and I had to take out here @ Stadium Road behind the Tip Top building.

Day 5 - Ducks and Lights

Lights

Ducks

Day 5 - Scott paddling on the lower Humber

Start Time: 8:45 am; 4 portages; Grenadier Pond, Catfish Pond, the lower Humber river and Lake Ontario. Scott opts for canoeing over Wednesday classes at his Brampton High School.

Day 4 - The underside of the Gardiner

Below the Gardiner on the Humber

Below the Gardiner on the Mimico there is some amazing graffiti

Day 4 - Lunch on Mimico Creek

This beach appeared around a bend--perfect spot for lunch

Day 4 - Toronto Skyline from South Etobicoke

Day 4 - Etobicoke Creek

Approaching Lake Ontario

9:15 am - Etobicoke Creek just north of the CN Tracks, Nick packs the dry bag.

Day 4 - Big Fish in a small creek

Here is some footage of a big fish on the Mimico Creek

Day 3 - Bed

Day 3 - Down

Day 3 - Up

Day 3 - Shooting

A rare Creek chance to canoe

Day 3 - Bicycle Wheel

Day 3 - Dam

Day 3 - River Dance

Day 3 - Up the Etobicoke Creek

Day 3 - Urban Portage 2

Day 3 - Marie Curtis Park

Sea creature evolves, takes to land

Day 3 - Lake ON

Day 3 - Debris

Day 3 - Urban Portage

Day 3 - Humber Bay

Day 3 - Humber River

Cormorants, I think

Day 3 - Humber River

Swan moments after our life-threatening confrontation (unprovoked)

Day 3 - Humber River

Day 3 - 8 a.m.

Mike and Steve

Day 3 - Swans in the Humber Marshes

Big swans and big fish in the Humber marshes today

Day 3 - Bloor Street Bridge

Just before a morning shower, the light was fantastic

Day 3 - Steve putting the gear in the canoe

Start time: 8:30 am, Just north of the Bloor Street bridge

Day 2 - The canoe docked for the day

On Day 2 Ben and I started north of Highway 401 and finished at the Old Mill

Day 2 - Approaching Scarlet Road

Day 2 - Retrieving golf balls from Black Creek

An integral part of Urban Canoeing

Day 2 - Students from Portage Trail Public School before the portage

Are you guys going to paddle over the waterfall?

Day 2 - Students from Portage Trail Public School after the portage

Students on the banks of the Humber after the portage

Day 2 - Ben taking a break on Black Creek

Day 2 - Paddling under Highway 401

DAY 1 - The trip begins just East of Finch and Highway 427

Day 1 - Putting the gear in the boat

Day 1 - Bob and Michael navigating the upper section of the West Humber River

Day 1 - Between 427 and Weston Road

Day 1 - Sounds of a Canada Goose on the Humber River.

This video was shot approaching Weston Road on the Humber River

The canoe makes its way down to Toronto from up North

Ben Scholes (who will be paddling on day 2) can't find the water

Erin Zimerman illustration for the T-shirt

The Trip

May 22 - June 3, 2008

This project will be realized on weekdays between May 22 and June 3, 2008. The trip will start at Finch and Highway 427 and crisscross Toronto using Lake Ontario and the major streams, rivers, and ponds in the city (Etobicoke Creek, Mimico Creek, Black Creek, Humber River, Grenadier Pond, Cat Fish Pond, Don River, Highland Creek and Rouge River).

At times, in order to cross from one river system to another, the canoe will be portaged along city streets/parks. The trip will conclude in the Rouge Valley in the north eastern part of Toronto.

The route will be paddled by 10 Toronto residents: Michael Brown, Scott Brown (Brampton), Stephen Brown, Nick Gamble, Soren Mikson (Hamilton), Steve Pollitt, Ben Scholes, Bob Sexton, Ana Silva and Erin Zimerman.

Check back towards the end of May for images, video and audio recordings of Toronto's watershed

The route

May 22 (Day 1)

Canoe is put in the water at Humberwood Blvd (Finch and 427 area). West Humber and Upper Humber river in the Thistletown area of North Etobicoke.

May 23 (Day 2)

Humber and sections of Black Creek to Lake Ontario

May 26 (Day 3)

Lake Ontario and Etobicoke Creek to Rathburn Avenue

May 27 (Day 4)

Portage East on Rathburn Road over Highway 427 to the Mimico Creek. Mimico Creek to Lake Ontario

May 28 (Day 5)

Lake Ontario, portage along Ellis Avenue from Sunnyside to Grenadier Pond and Catfish Pond then paddling along Lake Ontario, through Ontario Place to Harbourfront

May 29 (Day 6)

Toronto Islands, the Keating Channel and the Don River

May 30 (Day 7)

The portlands, portage over Leslie Spit and then Lake Ontario to Sylvan Park

June 2 (Day 8)

Lake Ontario then portage up Scarborough Bluffs in Guildwood village, over the Railway Tracks and under Kingston Road to the Highland Creek. Highland Creek to Lake Ontario

June 3 (Day 9)

Lake Ontario along to the Rouge Beach then up the Rouge River. Trip ends and canoe is picked up.