ON THE WIND

Spent the week in Toronto expecting the asphalt job to happen. Nope, another no-show and frustration. Instead, enjoyed the 'hood as always. Great weather still for beach volleyball. But also hundreds of kids involved in the "Climate Strike". (Sorry, kids, in my very thought-through opinion the damage is irreversible and your lives will be hell-on-earth...)

Fewer beach daytrippers now so more normal events happening. Kites fly on the wind. More video productions --- this one was all for a Spotify commercial! The iconic mural has been replaced with a  scene voted by peoples' choice. And The Piano Man tinkles away amid runners, strollers, and storm clouds.

Two major daytrips in the city. One to familiar but endangered Ontario Place which now recognizes indigenous history. The other a first-time visit to the Evergreen Brick Works. A former massive clay pit that produced bricks to rebuild Toronto after the fire of 1908. Now a heritage site used for teaching, entertainment, and just hanging out in a quiet natural urban oasis. Quite a discovery for us.

It's a breezy time of year. At Cherry Beach the kite surfers were in wind heaven. Next to them the board-based wind surfers raced to nowhere in particular. How wet do you like your wind??

Back at home, the wind has knocked down all the pears, apples, and red haw berries. Memories of eating haws as a kid and getting major stomach aches!

But the most awesome, wonderful, meaningful thing happened sitting out on the deck. Monarch butterflies have been migrating by for weeks now. This time, one fluttered by Pat in a sort of tribute fly-past. Then it landed on my head and lingered there for selfies, like a celebrity on a red carpet --- which it is to us. A magical moment on the wind. Maybe we'll get some wind beneath our wings and return the favour in February?

AirBnB (= fresh air, Beach, and Bognor...)

It's the last day of summer. Up the hill there are some late bloomers, early droppers, and thick cones with no ice cream in them...

The Gardener is still fine-tuning the yard. Who knew there are hundreds of kinds of grass? Pick and plant!

We passed through tiny Bognor and got a preview of the area's annual Scarecrow Invasion. Hundreds more will be on display, more creative and whimsical than BOO!

Optimism about the long-delayed repaving job took us to Toronto. On the way in a scary scene as a tandem dump truck ran a light, smashed two cars, and plowed into a storefront. (No one died but lots of damage and injury...)

A beautiful weekend so still lots of activity at the Beach. Bikes, kites, volleyball, even some polar bear types in the lake.

We're staying the week at an AirBnB on a quiet street near our old 'hood. Large space, friendly owner, but very personal in decor and vibe---- such as lots of photos, momentoes, and food in the fridge. Quirky touches like heritage maps, lights from a TV staging, and a fire extinguisher from the '50's. Think it works??

The harbourfront was at it's best with summery weather and the popular Word On The Street bringing together authors, publishers, and bookworms. Or you could take the island ferry. Or you could fight off a pirate attack with garden hoses! Canada's city at it's best.

Tonight autumn arrives. Equal day and night ---- got a  favourite?

FINLAND!

Cold and raining this morning, which puts a damper on local events. But we're joining the annual Terry Fox Run around the world --- what's a little rain compared to what cancer victims go through??

This is the time of year when the sky is the most dramatic up here. We had the ultra-rare full moon on Friday the 13th. Contrails criss-cross like a celestial tic-tac-toe board. Sunrises are silent spectaculars. Rainbows vie for attention against full-screen soaks of red.

Back on earth, butterflies keep passing through. The Gardener found grass growing inside a bag of sheep manure! Healthy cookies (oxymoron?) emerged from the oven. And a painful shoulder injury postponed our road trip plans.

 Salmon have started their run up local rivers to their spawning beds. They struggle through water only a few inches deep.

Canada's most prestigious Concours d'Elegance is happening on the 18th green of Cobble Beach. The beauties could be seen on tour outside the gates. But we avoided the steep admission by simply walking in on the golf cart paths. Yesterday was for the classics (today is for the elite and one-of-a-kind --- they'll be rained on...). Always eye candy for me.

And more, arrayed like a jewellery box on the green velvet fairways...

And more. I can usually i.d. classic cars but there was one that totally stumped me. Anybody out there know what THEFLAME is??

Meanwhile, those salmon have started to arrive at the upper fish ladder in town. River levels are high this year so the only fish-spotting is right at the jump zone. Awesome to see them flinging into the air, determined to get back to their birthplace. Brave but futile runs against furious flumes.

So, a real fin-land! 300 chinooks or a Chrysler 300?