Bike Riding In Toronto

                                                                 Bluffers Park Trail (16KM)

Bike riding is a fun. When I get bored, I always find something to do to kill the boredom. bicycle riding is one of them. Bike routes are not easily accessible to all the communities. However, one can get access to the bike route in a few meters distance. I always do the same.

Bluffers Park waterfront trail is my favorite. I come out my home with a bottle of water and a few protein bars in the bag paddling City-2 bike. I always wear helmet and wrapped up in the seasonal clothing. As I enter Brimely road I, turn to the southeast towards Kingston Road. There is no bike trail up to Kingston road. There is one from the Thomson park along, but I prefer the main road which connects me quickly to the bluffers bike trail.

As soon as I hit the bike rote down the Brimely road, it is along the other traffic in the slope hill road. It is little scary to ride along with other vehicles. As I hit the bottom of the hill, there is a short loop from the along side the lake to the light house. I take a rest for a few minutes to wet the dry mouth and take a bite of crunchy bar. I can't stand taking the picture of the breathtaking view of the lake. In the evening, the reflection of the setting sun on the lake  makes me forget all the stress. White swan, lagoon, and Canadian geese can be seen on the route. The little forest standing on the edge of the lake makes the perfect habitat for the birds.

Onces I make a loop to the lower trail right by the light house, I return from the same trail to the other side of the park. The waterfront look out of the bluffer park is a peace of heaven. I make a loop of the park and climb the hill which strengthen the calf muscles. As I push the paddle, my chest expands giving enough room for the oxygen. At the top of the hill, I rest for a few minutes to relax the muscles and the lung. But my eyes never stops. The mesmerizing view of the bluffers park from the top, reminds me the P.B Shellys 'Ancient Mariner.' Dock of the bluffers beach looks full of motorboats parked in the line. Its reflection on the lake makes the view panoramic.

When returning from Bluffers park, I take the right from the Macwan park trail which goes along Bendale road unto Eglington road. The trail is like a green tunnel under the busy trees screening the houses on the both sides. In the middle of the trail, there is a park with all the amenities for children and the adults. Two large football grounds and the children park draws the attraction of the communities stretching along side of the trail. This is a short and beautiful bike trail in the middle of the community.
                                        Thomson Park Bike Trail 

Thomson Memorial Park has a short and quiet bike trail along the Birkdale ravine. Since this park is a minutes ride from my home, I often visit this park. There are multiple trails that connects the park. However, I prefer the bike trail that goes to the east of the Brimley road along the ravine. This park has more mature trees which are inhabited by different species of birds. There are short unpaved trails in the forest with obstacles which I find more adventurous to ride. Many squirrels and buddies live in the forests. The small sized gray swans, blue birds, robins, woodpecker are common birds I see in along the trail.

As I paddle along the ravin, the most annoying thing is the smell of the brook which is contaminated with the sewerage water that comes from the community. This trail connects different communities such as Bendale, Beleay Creascent, Macwan and the Danforth road with a short bridges over the ravine. Most of the riders of this trail are either novice or with children. If you want to speed up wheels, you need to be extra cautious. Due to the bush on the both side of the brook, and sharp turns under the bridges sometimes makes our judgements wrong.

I like ride two way of the trail and sit for a while at the park listening the birds. Due to the covid-19 park ban, only a few people are seen strolling in the park. Otherwise, this park is one of the busiest park in Scarborough as it is situated in the middle of different communities. People often gather here for picnicking and barbecue with the family. As it has two children's waterpark at middle of the park, it is the attraction of the families with multiple children. We can see the children riding their colorful bike in along the trail with their parents running after them.

                                          Lower Highland Creek Park 

Lower Highland Creek Park bike trail is one of the coolest trail in the east end of Scarborough. I often go to the highland creek park on my car carrying bike on the hood. I park the car at the top of the creek over on the right of the Lawerence Ave bridge. The bike trail begins from bridge down the hill. There is some parking on Beechgrove Drive and the trail to the bottom of the ravine enters from the south east corner at Lawerence. The trail goes down along the ravin to the waterfront of Lake Ontario.

On the both side of the trail, we can see fiddle heads (we call निउरो ), common nettle (सिस्नु ) and other wild flowers. Although picking wild flowers including fiddle heads, many Nepalese go there to pick up the fiddle heads. Not only the Nepalese pick up the fiddle heads, but also other ethic people are seen picking the fiddle heads. I paddle the bike first to the riverfront. The lake view from the bridge looks breathtaking. The creek joins the lake right there. However, it looks like the water stopped flowing before it meets the lake. People go there for fishing and bird watching.

I stop by the bridge for a few minutes to smell the water of the lake and snap a couple of pictures. On the both sides of the creek where it joins the lake under the bridge, there are two sandy beaches. We can see the lovers sunbathing without caring the people standing right above on the bridge. In every fifteen minutes, Go train passes by that way. Running go train and high tides of the lake make the bike ride worth memorable. On the side of the lake, there are giant stone slabs which blocks the tides of the water protecting the bikers as well as the hikers.

Bitterns, Herons, Canada Gees, Tundra Swans, the common Goldeneye, the common Loon are some of the birds we can see in the water and on the beach. This birds ofter halt my ride on the way. I spend hours looking at the birds and taking their picture. The flat slabs of stone are perfect to sit and watch the blue water. Due to Covid-19, we hardly see the water activities such as boating, water gliding, fly boarding. The water front trail is stretched on the both direction of the lake.  Community Bike Trail Community bike ride is a different kind of fun experience. There are short bike trails in between communities which are often hidden beneath the fence line.  As I merge to Brimly road, I cross it and join the Arnprior road. I go straight down for about hundred meter and take the left turn Haileybury Dr. Then I paddle the bike for 500 meter and take the right turn at Hunter Glen's Junior Pu blic school. There is a short bike trail that links with Midland Ave. When I cross a ravine, I often stop for a while to look at the brook u under the bridge. Then I take left turn on the Midland Ave. I paddle for a kilometer through the sidewalk and enter into the Lord Roberts drive on the right. The house s on this community are spacious and often have well maintained front yards. In the month of May we can see different kinds of flowers blooming. Due to pandemic, I guess, many people are working on their yard.I go around the Lord Roberts drive as the road itself has a  square shape connected to the Midland ave on both side. I stop by Lord Roberts Junior Public School and enter into the woods. There are tall trees and cloves in the wood perfect for a short walk or a bike ride. Green leaves on the bough screen the sunlight. I enjoy the birds songs and wind blowing in the branches. There are many short trails like a cobweb in the woods. I like riding through all the trails which are interconnected. Logs on the ground make a natural chair for the nature lover. I like sitting on it for a while and lost in the imagination. I often remember the nature poets or romanticists while passing through this woods.Birkdale Ravine Bike TrailBirkdale Ravine Trail is one of the most beautiful bike trail. It is located in the watershed of the Highland Creek- the most advanced watershed in Toronto Region. As it  is connected to the Morningside Park, It is the most important corridor for the migration of the birds and other animals. Completely hidden in the woods on both sides this trail brings an enchanting experience to the bikers and also those who want to hike in the woods.As I live near Thompson Park, I often go for biking on this trail in the evening.  As I  go out of my home located at Belyea Crescent towards NE Lawrence Ave, I take left to Brimly Rd. After 200 meter paddling of my bike I turn left to the Birkdale Ravine Trail. Soon I enter into the trail, it enthralls me with chriping sounds of the birds and whistling sound of the wind passing through the trees. Although there are communities on the both side of the ravine, the trail looks completely away from the crowd. The beautiful soothing sound of the running water along the trails makes me relax as I am meditating in the middle of the forest. There are short connection trails on the both side of the route. This trails are connected by the wooden bridges. Standing on the bridge and looking at the flowing water with its gurgling sound gives anyone the heavenly pleasure. For bird lovers, this place perfect to watch Canada goose, Robins, sparrows, Blue Jays,  White Ducks, Black tails Hawks, Killdeer, Woodpeckers. There are also deers, foxes and coyotes wandering around the ravine. I stop to look at them on the way and click pictures for my collection.