In the spirit of the hostel cancelling activities such as the pub crawl, the canoeing around Toronto Island I had signed up for today doesn’t go ahead either due to lack of interest. But the sun is again beaming from a bright blue sky and I spontaneously decide to hire a bike and cycle to the beaches. The hostel offers bike hire for 5 CAD for 4 hours, a mere 2.5 GBP or 3.40 EUR so I pick my bike and ride off eastbound. My destination is the Scarborough Bluffs, which has been highly recommended to me by one of the guys we met in the pub yesterday.
The Scarborough Bluffs are glacial cliffs that stretch 14 km along the shores of Lake Ontario. On the map, getting there looks pretty straightforward so I don’t bother looking too much into it and just take off on my top-notch bike without any gears but featuring a funny whizzing sound on the road. Well it cost me five bucks so I guess I can’t really complain.
At first the cycle path takes me past Toronto harbour and some industrial buildings with their high chimneys not exactly offering a stunning view. Cherry Beach is the first on my way but I barely stop because I’m still too close to the industrial estate for my liking. I push forward until I get to Woodbine Beach, a wide, beautiful stretch with nice views out to the lake. Probably because of the bank holiday and the lovely weather, there are lots of people on the walk and cycle path, the beach itself and the lawn underneath the shady trees. Families have barbecues and picnics, sports enthusiasts cycle, rollerblade and play volleyball at the numerous nets that have been installed along the beach and there are long queues in front of the ice cream van.
I take a little stroll and enjoy the atmosphere for a bit before I move on to Kew Beach. Narrower but even more picturesque than Woodbine Beach, this is my favourite so far.
But I can’t stay long, it’s already past 4 pm and I am still nowhere near Scarborough Bluffs, which is 15 km from Downtown Toronto.
The cycle path along the lakeside seems to end at Kew Beach so I try to find my way back onto Kingston Road. After a few dead ends and by asking some friendly locals for directions, I arrive on the top of the cliffs at first. The area is fenced off and many warning signs tell visitors not to cross as the bluffs are unstable but people don’t seem to care. Many are wandering around behind the fence, some of them even picnic right on the edge of the vertical drop. I also duck under the fence and I am instantly rewarded by amazing views across Lake Ontario. Scarborough Bluffs Park underneath me unfolds as a pretty little wood- and beach land. I turn around and cycle down there as well, to see the cliffs from the bottom.
It’s already getting chilly as I set off to ride back to the hostel. This time I find my way immediately and without any further stops, I manage to get back to Downtown Toronto within an hour.
