Well, alas, the final day of the vacation. And this one was the least vacous, again in the two senses. I got no cleaning done, but I did go out and enjoy some of the uncharacteristically good weather.

Alicia and I were originally planning to go to the ROM, but after seeing how nice it was yesterday, we decided instead to head for Center Island. We were sort of thinking on hitting Centerville since I had never been, and Alicia had been when she was younger. So at 2pm we headed down to the ferry, and even that we weren’t sure if it was running. But luckily it was and we have a fairly empty boat-ride over.

Unfortunately, Centerville was still closed down from the off-season, which was sort of expected. We walked through it anyway, which was kind of spooky, it was like a ghost town, since it was meant to resemble a little town, and of course, was empty. We went to the little farm-animal area, since they can’t shut down the animals in the off-season, and looked at the horses, a donkey, and some playful rams. On our way out, however, we encountered a far more aggressive animal.

There were geese all around, but mostly keeping to themselves, but keeping a watchful eye on the various people strolling around. But when Alicia and I were just about out of the area where we came in, a fairly large goose came down and was really displeased to see us. I have to figure that there were ganders, chicks or just general nesting nearby and this one felt threatened. It basically landed right in front of us, approached, and started to hiss. yes, these bastards hiss, and it was more alarming than anything else it did, since when I think of a bird, I don’t think of hissing. Snake, yes, goose, no. Then it charged at us. In a strange twist of fate, the jean jacket (well, actually a denim shirt I was using for a jacket) was slung over my shoulder, and also the cellphone that had been in the breast pocket I had moved to my pants pocket for no really particular reason. But I was able to quickly give it a little twist (like with a towel) and I whipped the bird in the face. I’m not sure how much of a connection there was, but I wasn’t actually trying to hurt it, just scare it off. If it hadn’t worked, I probably would have been forced to hit it in the face or grab it’s neck to keep it from nipping either myself or Alicia, as those beaks are capable of moderate damage. But it backed off and we were able to walk away, but I looked behind me a few times, and it was standimg there, keeping an eye on us. I’ve never had to fend off a bird before, it was an interesting experience.

After that, we walked at random, but generally veering in a single direction, walking on the sand and looking at things along the way. We started from basically the mooring point at Center Island, and looking at google maps, I can see that we nearly ended up at the airport, and Hanlan’s Point Ferry. At the time, we didn’t know where we were, but I could see the gap in the water between the landmass we were on, and what I now know to be Muggs Island, meaning there would be no bridge back, so we turned around and headed back to the main part of Center Island. I don’t know how far it was because google maps can’t give me a damn driving estimate on Lakeshore Ave or anything else on the island, but it looks pretty far. I feel justified in my sore feet now. Something else that’s off-season are apparently the washrooms. Everywhere we went it seemed the washrooms were “Closed for the season”. In the end, the only restrooms we found that functioned were in a restaurant, and the ones closest to the Ferry… the Ferry itself have washrooms. What the hell is the point of that?

We had dinner at a nice little restaurant on the island, mostly empty since the season hasn’t actually started yet. I had a Steam Whistle beer on account of mistaken identity, I thought it might have been a beer I had before. It was quite unplesant, but I was so hot and thirsty, it was finished fairly quickly. We rode the Ferry back, had coffee and I walked her home. It was a very nice outing, and I think I got some sun, perhaps too much sun. At this point in the seasons, it’s hard to even imagine putting sunscreen on, but perhaps I should have.

So tomorrow will be vacuuming and mopping. And perhaps a little work-work. But as my vacation comes to an end, I increasingly feel the desire not to do that. Actually, as I count the weekdays off as being the vacation, I guess the Vacuous Vacation is now at an end.

To the next