GlassOcean Reflections Too

Ward's Island (Toronto, Ontario)

As I sit at a picnic table just to the left of the ferry dock on Ward's Island, I see the play of orange lights, from the "street" lamps that encircle the cement platform, rippling like six suns setting over the harbour. At this point, the sun has set, although there is still light in the sky. It is 9:20 pm. 

Nine cyclists circle the platform slowly. They are not restless nor reckless - but graceful in their seemingly choreographed moves. Soft laughter is carried over by the breeze, as well as snippets of song, at first thought to be a radio, but which turns out to be a beautiful harmony, sung by the cyclists, "Amazing Grace". Perhaps they are the singing cycling club that I had read about. Whoever they are, they have made the evening's end a gentle one.

Later -

The ferry went from Ward's Island to Hanlon's Point, where it picked up more "singing cyclists", who where serenaded onto the ferry by the first group. From the upper level of the passenger ferry, the Wm. Inglis, in full harmony they sang the complete version of "Bicycle Built for Two". With the new arrivals joining in the second verse, we drifted away form the docks, musical notes hovering in the cool night air behind us and the sparking lights of the city, welcoming up home.

(From my journal "Paths I have Followed" - July 1994)