Winding Down a Bit

It's been over a week since we completed the walk. I'm still sort of amazed that it happened. But I'm sure it did. How else would I have gotten those 900 or more pictures on my camera, all taken at road level!

People ask about the shoes. I had three pairs - - a cheap pair of "Starter" running shoes from WalMart and two pairs of low cost Adidas from SportChek. I changed pairs each day at mid-day. By the time the 1.2 million or so steps were over, the wear on each pair was similar. And slight. They're all ready for another long hike.

And people ask about the feet. Very lucky there too. One small blister one afternoon, treated with salt water, gone in a day. Margaret was good about giving the feet a good creaming job once or twice a day. And I had 28 pairs of socks with us in the van. There were frequent changes especially on wet days. And I'm a regular at Stouffville Family Footcare. They do miracles.

People ask what I was thinking about while walking. After I got it straight in my little brain that this walking trip was actually underway, I would often see or hear something that would trigger a memory. For example, a miniature lighthouse on a front lawn - - times in Peggy's Cove, or Newfoundland, or on the Toronto Islands or up the road from Port Huron where I've seen a variety of lighthouses. Or an Adirondack chair for sale in someone's driveway - - would make me think for the dozens of chairs I repaired one summer at MBC in Huntsville. Or the sound of a bird - - memories of my mother's great interest in birds and how she taught me how to recognize many of them by their calls.

And we're asked about the fund-raising. Well, there's almost $5000 additional at Sunnybrook ready to help someone with their heart problems. (Not too late to donate!)

http://www.sunnybrookfoundation.ca/ click Events, click Trail, . . . .

Photo - - The Boardwalk, East Toronto

Boston Pizza, Stouffville, Monday Night

It was great for us to see about a hundred customers at the restaurant tonight - - and more than half of them were people we knew, too! Community-minded Boston Pizza donated a part of their profits tonight to the Trail of the Susquehanna Walk - Schulich Heart Centre fund at Sunnybrook.

A few had wondered about the menu. And one couple was concerned about how loud the canned music was going to be. The place has a good selection of "heart smart" items on the menu. And conversation was easy with the music at a could-barely-hear level.

And we were happy to accept a dozen donation envelopes for the Schulich Heart Centre, too.

Thank you to everyone who came. From Ron and Margaret.

Local Newspaper and Web Coverage

Thank you to the Stouffville Sun-Tribune for their four months of support - - front page again today - -and to the Markham Economist for their recent coverage of our activities.

Also thanks to http://www.guidingstar.ca/ for Grant Weaver's excellent article with photos.

For first time visitors to this blog, we have finished a two month walk for heart - - southern Pennsylvania to Stouffville Ontario - - see the first entry, March 15th, for the original news release.

And see http://www.sunnybrookfoundation.ca/ Events, click "Trail..." click to donate.

It was great to see our daughter Ann and others at the Welcome Home event reported on Rogers TV's York Region Local News last night. We're still waiting for some good Toronto coverage. The greater the audience, the greater will be the contributions to the Heart Centre.

Photo - - Fariba, owner of Hair Depot, presents a cheque for $400 from her customers' fund-raising.

And did you know that, for a few days, David Barthau contributed profits from watch battery installations at Barthau Jewellers?

Monday night if you are in the Stouffville area, have supper at Boston Pizza and bring a lot of your friends. They are contributing to the Heart Centre, 5 - 8 p.m.

Some of the Statistics

Total distance walked: About 443 miles or about 715 kms. About 8 miles a day average. 12.8 km. Total number of steps (estimated) 1,240,800 Margaret walked more than 80% of the distance

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Cost of U.S. motels, gas, food, meals, etc., and buying a used mini-van for the trip, you wouldn' want to know.

Pennsylvania - March 30 to April 24

New York State - April 29 to May 12th

Ontario section - May 25th to June 11th

Total about 60 days on the road.

Breaks: four days Corning area Apr 25-28 and 12 days at home, Stouffville May 13-24

Highest elevation 2480 ft. ASL near Gold, PA. Lowest about 248 ' ASL along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Funds raised by June 11th, somewhere between $4000. and $5000. Target was $10,000. Now $22,000 which will supply one artificial heart.

Places doing good media coverage: Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake, St Catharines, Oakville, Mississauga, and Stouffville and Markham

A GREAT article www.guidingstar.ca/Ron_Brownsberger.htm This site has done some super articles for Markham Little Theatre, too.

Google all of the following words to find news stories: Brownsberger Ron walk heart Pennsylvania Sunnybrook

Number of people who came out to the great "welcome home", about 92.

In the picture - - Steve and Donna McCorquodale from Etobicoke, our hosts for three nights, came in their "olde country best" to the welcome home event.

What a Welcome - Wow !

We made the last dash to the finish line this afternoon, arriving at the farm at 3:59:30 p.m. What a crowd! A huge thank-you to at least seventy people who were there to welcome us home. Mayor Wayne Emmerson soon took the mic and offered congratulations and presented a citation and a beautiful leather-bound special edition Stouffville history book. Bob Flemming of Springvale offered congratulations and a prayer of thankgiving, Dr Helena Jaczek, MPP spoke briefly offering congratulations, John Storey of Markham Little Theatre presented a cheque, Fariba Nasirtzadeh-Marandy of the Hair Depot in Stouffville presented a cheque. And I got to say my own thank-you's - - no, I won't include the 300 word text - - and also offered the challenge to direct more funds to the Heart Centre.

And it was a nice touch for the Stouffville fire dept. to be there with their lights flashing.

Following the "formalities", at least four journalists grabbed me for interviews. For which I'm thankful. My appologies to friends that I didn't get a chance to speak to personally. By the time the journalists were gone, I looked around and there were only a dozen or so left - - the ones that had brought unbrellas. It had started to rain.

What an adventure! This will not be the last entry posted on this blog. Margaret has a few topics she'd like to add - - stories that haven't been told so far. And. We still have a lot of money to raise. I still want a bit more exposure in the Toronto area by the "big guns" in the media. (CBC, CFTO, CITY-TV, The Globe, The Star, The Sun.) A big thank-you to 680 NEWS who broadcasted a good news report today. Sunnybrook hospital serves Toronto and I'd like to get more Toronto dollars directed to the Schulich Heart Centre.

http://www.sunnybrookfoundation.com/ Events, click "Trail", "Donate now"

Room H366, 2075 Bayview Ave., Toronto, M4N 3M5 Cheques marked "Trail"

Also tell others about this blog. People say it's good reading.

Tomorrow We Finish the Walk !

Hard to believe. Two and a half months ago we were traveling southbound to Manheim, Pennsylvania, scouting the walking route.- - do we go over that mountain or around? Then, after fifty-eight days on the road, we're about to enter Stouffville, Ontario.





Today we did the Markham section, walking from Milne Dam Road, past Markville, and up McCowan to 19th and over to 48. While on the road we did a phone interview with 680 News. Don't know when it airs. An appointment with Markhan Economist was another no-show. (Added later: But, using material from a previous Tribune article they did publish on Thursday, the 11th, complete with a coloured picture.)

The Stouffville Sun-Tribune has been absolutely wonderful.





So, tomorrow, the final steps. We're leaving Dixons Hill (n/w corner of 48 and 19th) at 3 p.m. planning to arrive at the Brownsberger farm just before 4 p.m. Join us for the last two miles if you wish. It is nice to see that there is new grass established beside road near the pond, a nice touch.

Into Markham

The northern section of Scarborough is really rather beautiful. The subdivisions are filled with well kept private homes, while fifteen-storey apartment buildings cluster around the main intersections. Along the upper part of McCowan, the sidewalks are over twenty feet from the roadway and in many places the road property is quite nicely treed. I wish I'd had ear plugs while crossing the 401. Fourteen lanes of roaring traffic below, plus the traffic on the McCowan overpass. Quite loud!

By mid-afternoon we'd entered Markham. And crossing the 407 was SO much quieter. Note to those of you reading this in Australia: When built, the 407 Express Toll Route in south central Ontario was the world's first automatic toll road. Sensors read your transponder in the car or photograph the registration plate and the bill comes in the mail the next month. It's not cheap - - almost five time the cost of the Indiana Toll Road which I'm accustomed to. But even at the high cost, some use it every working day.

For you who live close by, remember the Welcome Back at the Millard bridge, east of Hwy. 48, June 11, 4 p.m. . . . And a welcome home party at Boston, Pizza, Stouffville, June 15th, 5 - 8 p.m. Some of the proceeds are being donated to the Heart Centre. Come. Tell your friends to come.

And to those who have pledged "by the mile", the number will likely be about 443. For others insisting on metric, the number is about 710 km. (Be sure to write your cheque in metric dollars.) All donations are appreciated.
Go to http://www.sunnybrookfoundation.ca/ Events, Trail, Donate.

A Quiet Day into Scarborough

Lake Ontario is at 248 feet above sea level; Stouffville is at 901. A lot of the climb today was in getting over a number of old glacial lake shorelines. The hill on Fallingbrook in lower Scarborough is brutal.

We had hoped for a little media exposure while travelling through Toronto yesterday, but it's hard to compete with the closing the Gardner and the Parkway for a bike ride for charity. While walking along Kingston Road near Warden, I sensed someone watching. A store-converted-into-a-home had closed window blinds except for this little observer. I thought of holding up my "Trail" business card, but I doubt that the creature is old enough to read!

Most of Tuesday and Wednesday, we'll be on McCowan northbound. Our destination is getting closer!

Downtown Toronto to the Beach

* * *

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

We're walking from southern Pennsylvania to Stouffville for the Sunnybrook heart department.
See the first blog - - go to March 15th for the original news release.
See http://www.sunnybrookfoundation.ca/ click Events, click Trail for details.
Google all of Ron Brownsberger heart walk Pennsylvania Sunnybrook for several news articles.
Cell 416 835 2457 to speak to Ron.

* * * *

The forecasted rain never happened during the day today. Margaret helped with baby-sitting in Uxbridge while daughter Ann and I had a pleasant walk from Bathurst Street east to the Beaches. This was the first time Ann had had nine hours away from the kids since the third was born! Several beautiful large three masted sailing ships were docked in the harbour. During the lunch break, we watched the ferry boats going to and from the islands. On Queen Street, east of Broadview, we happened upon an art festival and wandered the park where about sixty artists were showing their stuff.

I used to think this part of East Toronto was a bit rough, but most storefronts were open and there were many coffee houses and restaurants serving the crowds. We continued to the Beaches, walked the boardwalk to Lee Avenue and then took the streetcar (a 50 min. ride) back to where we'd left the van. On the way back we saw a huge red ball stuck into the doorway of the old city hall. Later I found out that it is part of an art installation that started in Barcelona and moved on to Chicago and Toronto.

Just three days and a bit to go! Northeast through Scarborough, north through Markham and on to north of Ringwood to the farm in Stouffville.

^ ^ ^

A Special Blog to a Special Boy

When we were walking on Friday I saw this creature in a large sandbox and decided to take a picture of it for you. It is located in a park beside Lake Ontario in the west end of Toronto between the Sunnyside Pavilion and Pool, and Ontario Place. To those of you who are reading this in Australia, these Canadian animals became extinct a long time ago.

P.S. folks. Just found out that all our photos on this site are click-to-enlarge. A quick double click will do it. Use the "back' button to return to normal. You computer types probably already knew this.

Into Beautiful Toronto

Today's walk was from Royal York Road along the lake to Bathurst Street in perfect cool, sunny weather. I've never travelled this route before, even though I've lived in or near the city most of my life. New lands have been added to the shoreline, a butterfly refuge established, many high end high-rise condos have gone up, beautiful pedestrian bridges have been installed over Etobicoke Creek and the Humber River. Peeking through the trees we could see the dome of the flower building and the bandshell at the CNE. A number of sail boats were enjoying the light winds, and for the first time I saw an amphibious bus motoring along a lagoon at Ontario Place. For those of you reading this blog from Australia, just google some of the places above to get more info and photos.

We had three guests with us for today's walk. Edith, Marilyn and Keith are all avid walkers - - it must have been a pain for them to travel at my somewhat slow pace - - but we spent much of the time hearing about their many walking experiences. And, of course, they heard about ours.

Sometimes it's hard to believe that we've walked from southern Pennsyvania to Toronto! And with only a bit more than four days on the road, we'll be home. Saturday we rest. Sunday my daughter and I are walking from downtown Toronto to Kew Beach.

Our hosts for the past three days were Donna and Steve McCorquodale whose home in Etobicoke is less than a mile from our route - - so convenient.

For those of you recently reading this blog, our walk is for charity. See the first entry, mid March, for the original news release and go to www.sunnybrookfoundation.ca click Events, click Trail to donate.

Starting through Toronto for Heart

We're still on the trail - - walked from Port Credit to Royal York Road today.
The poor van - - start, stop, start, stop all day - - needed a boost this aft.
I've had an OML or CAA membership for fifty years.

We had another interview at Port Credit this morning. We're grateful.
WE NEED SOME COVERAGE IN TORONTO Please phone the TV stations, the newspapers and talk radio stations, and let them know what we're doing and when and where we'll be. Our cell phone 416 835 2457

The timetable for the next few days:

Friday June 5th Lakeshore at Royal York Road, 9 a.m.
Sunnyside parking lot east of Ellis Ave., about 11:30 a.m.
Princes Gates, CNE, Strachan at Lakeshore 3:30 p.m.

Sat. June 6th resting

Sunday June 7th Queens Quay at Bay Street, noon to 1 p.m.
Kew Beach, The Boardwalk near Lee Avenue about 4 p.m.

Monday the 8th The Boardwalk at Silverbrich about 9:30 a.m.

Tuesday June 9 McCowan near the RT about 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday June 10 McCowan near Markville about 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, June 11, the big finish 4 p.m. Millard, east of Hwy.48, at the bridge.

AND . . . On Monday, June 15, come, bring your family, to Boston Pizza in Stouffville and order dinner. The Boston Piza is donating 10% of the gross to the heart fund ! ! ! Margaret and I will be there. Donations can be made that evening to the Heart centre.

A Million Steps for Heart

Sometime yesterday afternoon, I did my millionth step from Manheim Pennsylvania. The entire trip to Stouffville will probably click in at about 1.2million steps. I guess it's OK to have a few hard spots on the foot bottoms or be a little stiff in the mornings. If there's anyone out there who wants to sponsor at a penny a step, I'm sure that the Hospital will be delighted!

Port Nelson, Bronte, Oakville

The trail around Lake Ontario follows the old Highway 2, with its hundreds of "fine" homes. It is obvious that there are many well-heeled people living in this area.

I began rethinking the term, "The Golden Horseshoe". The area from Oshawa around through Toronto, Hamilton and the Niagara Penninsula has for a century been an area of great economic prosperity. Although the steel mills in Hamilton are almost at rest and the Canadian auto industry in Oshawa a somewhat shakey, the health of this area is still quite good in comparison to what we've seen in regions of western New York and the hills of Pennsylvania where some people have to drive twenty minutes or more to just get to their nearest food store.

Yes, it is a rough time, but when we have 10% unemployment, that also means we have 90% employment. Loosely quoting the recent words of a world leader, those of us who are coping well will need to learn to share, which means getting our old clothes off to the thrift shop, a little extra food over to the food bank, lending our extra car to a mom who needs it, being in tune with the needs of the people living on our block or in our town.

Into Burlington, Ontario

For over forty years we have been flying over the Burlington Skyway bridges - - four lanes in each direction - - with no thought about what's underneath on the "old road". The narrow isthmus is home for several hundred homes and cottages along the Lake Ontario side. The footpath is wide and once again is the bed of a past electric and steam rail line that connected Hamilton with points north. The area was first developed in the 1870-1880 period and three original homes still exist. Several major storms and floods have bashed away at the shoreline but the people remain. Older tiny cottages are mixed with some more recent grand places. Signs by the path ask people to keep off the wild shoreline vegetation and along the other side there are numerous irises in full bloom.

Burlington has an absolutely beautiful waterside park on the north side of Lake Ontario with many footpaths and several dining facilities. Today's walking got us past the centre of town. We're now progressing north-east, bound for Toronto by Sunday.

CHCH news and the Hamilton Spectator had each expressed interest in our story but after a two hour wait for each of them, they had to be declared no-shows. Coverage earlier by St. Catharines and Niagara papers was excellent.