The breeze crossing the small expanse of water between the ferry terminal and Center Island takes a welcomed edge off the stifling heat of the day. People begin to move towards the exit of the ferry, clad in their beachwear and dragging coolers and folding beach chairs. It was only a 13 minute ride, my precision of time was merely coincidental to my haphazardly checking my phone as often as I do. With no coolers, or baby strollers, nor bikes….. or dogs in tow, I wonder if I am ill prepared for my afternoon.

Everyone seems to be veering to the left as we step off the ferry and onto the island in one big, synchronized mob. I slip through the wave of people exiting the boat and pop over to the right, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Toronto skyline while the crowd thins out along the main path that spans the island. By the time I get to Avenue of the Island, only the stragglers remain and the walk is far more pleasant than it would have been a few minutes ago.

The heat of the day still grips me and I find myself musing how pleasant it is in the shade. I absentmindedly vary my pace, quickening it when in the direct sun and lingering a bit while in the shade. I pause by the water lilies and watch as the parents are dragged by their small children over to the amusement park rides. They are full of the energy of childhood anticipation now but in a few hours it will be the parents dragging their children back to the ferry, exhausted by the thrill of the day and the hot sun.

I wander along the beachfront, pausing to look out at the sail boats in the distance. I am still getting used to a lake so big that one cannot see the other shore. Not much farther along the path, I run across an old lighthouse and that blows my mind just a little more. The lighthouse hasn’t been in use for a long time. The historic marker nearby tells the tale of its former keeper and the people who inhabited the island back when it was in use.