And it sure was a beautiful summer morning on Saturday. The sun was shining amidst fluffy clouds and the air was warm with a light breeze coming off the water. We arrived at the Toronto harbour in time to take the 8:15 am ferry across to Ward's island. Fortunately the crowds were taking the Centre Island ferry and it was very busy that morning because there was a Super Power 5 and 10 km race happening (and we have the photos to prove it - there were many spider men and even a dinosaur!)
Taking the ferry provides that necessary separation from the city (I hope they never build a bridge) and being on the Islands feels like we have landed in another dimension. Even though we can see the big city buildings just across the water, walking around the islands is so peaceful and quiet. Trees line the pathways, sandy beaches peek through the foliage every once in a while. On the boardwalk, we stroll past pretty houses looking out over the open water that stretches before them. It was a delightful day of calm and serenity (once we got away from those racers) in the company of friends.
But tragedy can strike these magical islands too. This past spring, the Island Cafe and community centre burnt to the ground, devastating the community. So we were happy to see that a temporary cafe had sprung up in its place and of course we had to support their efforts, so after our relaxed walk came to an end, we stopped for breakfast, coffee and ice cream. It was a perfect day.