Toronto Travel Discoveries - Ride through funky neighbourhood

The fact that it's already late October (Oct 28) didn't deter me from another bike ride. So at about 10:30 am this morning I linked up with my friend Randy at the Taylor Park Bridge in the Don Valley. We cycled down on the west side of the River on a packed dirt trail that is quite reminiscent of a roller coaster, with all its exhilarating curves and turns.

Just south of the Leaside Bridge we arrived at the makeshift dirt riding park that has been created in the middle of the woods by a group of unknown volunteers. We came across five young guys in their mid to late teens, all experts in dirt biking and terrain jumping.

We spent a good half hour watching the guys jumping from hill to hill and doing 180 degree turns in the air and one of the guys told me that they usually ride in the skate park near Wallace Emerson (High School). This was their first outing on a dirt trail and they really impressed us with their jumps (check out my footage on Youtube and search for "travelandtransitions", you should see some footage of their advanced riding skills).

Then we continued on southwards and came up at Riverdale Farm where we connected with my good friend Shauna. The three of us checked out the various farm animals at the farm (all accessible for free), including the chickens, horses, cows, a rather sad-looking donkey and some very affectionate goats in the barn. They sure liked their head scratched...

Off to Queen Street East for brunch where we had an absolutely scrumptious meal at "Le Cafe Vert" , a place that features lots of vegan and vegetarian meals. My spinach/bacon frittata and the passionfruit creme brule were to die for. Shauna's mango chocolate parfait looked pretty awesome too.

After a little excursion back towards the Queen and Broadview area and a ride past all the funky cafes and boutiques on Queen East and recently gentrified Leslieville, I rode home on Gerrard Street through Little India. This colourful neighbourhood is always an interesting destination. A perfect day for a bike ride...
Check out some of my other travel stories and articles at www.travelandtransitions.com.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• toronto
• canada
• don
• valley
• riverdale
• farm
• queen
• street
• riverside

[EternalVibrations]

I enjoyed the fact that you chose to showcase the Toronto that is rarely seen by tourists.

Thank you :)

[travelandtransitions]

Thank you, EternalVibrations. I came to this city 21 years ago as an immigrant and I have truly come to love Toronto, warts and all. No matter where I travel, I like to get to know the areas that are less well-known and share them with others who may not have a chance to get out there.

[ecaftermath]

lol wow..i live around there! nice video!

[travelandtransitions]

Thanks, ecaftermath. Toronto has some nifty cool neighbourhoods, and this is definitely one of them.

[AuShawster]

You likely could make up some kind of head bracket but you'd likely look like bit of an idiot. LOL. Your video is watchable enough the dialog is great

[travelandtransitions]

Thanks, AuShawster. I do lots of footage from my bike, even off-roading. It takes some time to get used to the motion in the footage, but after you get over the initial nausea watching it it's a pretty decent way of getting to know some new places.

[supaaztig]

BTW: and in case you haven't notice this country CANADA you speak of was founded by immigrants and built by immigrants so who ever lands on this soil by plane or by boat! can speak any language they so choose so phaaak off and put your mouth and head were the sun don't shine BITACCCCH!

[supaaztig]

geezus another dumbass hypocritical, racist arrogant fool! please cracker JACK go learn a native tongue before you start making false accusations about a city you know nothing about! I almost guarantee your not from their and I also guarantee you were never born and bred in T.O so go back where you come from up in hicksville where you can eat your Kraft dinner in PEACE!

[yamahonkawazuki]

@supaaztig fair enough. to be honest i wish i lived there. heck i speak english, know french etc. this area filmed reminds me of hometown area near chicago

[dahouseizonfyre]

LOL i live like 10 mins from Gerrard square:P

[erkandemir]

i dont like indians .animal worshipers

[irish89055]

dude... lol... dig the funky power lines and on both side of the street... I'd like to go riding with her...

[cryoes]

you gotta ride faster...

[jamesmilos]

hah i don't remember posting that at all, but it definitely was me based on what I said. I am still living in Calgary, but I am moving back to t.dot this summer!!!!

[Particleman50]

Yeah im from Toronto now living in Calgary as well. This video was my old hood... my old high school!

You posted a year ago.. you still in cowtown?

[Jolsonlim]

I live on Jones Ave. Hehe

[mayorbill11]

my old neighborhood :)

[jamesmilos]

i love toronto and wish I still lived there

I live in Calgary now and it sucks

TORONTO IS THE BEST CITY IN THE WORLD AND THERES NO WAY YOU CAN CHANGE MY MIND