Ladies And The Tram by KatesFriend
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Description
It was a hot and muggy Tuesday afternoon when I took this photo two weeks ago. The summer humidity had finally and savagely struck down Toronto. Even under the shadow of a Pizza Pizza parlor there was no escape from the thick, smothering air. The sun found its way into every recess and pushed down upon the head, burning like a cosmic task master. I kept a bottle of water on hand - a rarity for me. Some call it the 'dog days' but I thought those were reserved for August.
And then there were the pecking pigeons. Oppressive, stroke inspiring heat is part of the suffering man was meant to endure. But being marauded by birds, it's Hitchcock all over again. Never let food land on your shoe around this place. Those opportunistic, gray feathered, red eyed, poop machines will perform acupuncture to get it. That is, when they're not fluffing their foliage to impress a female. Then she attacks your foot.
Pecked and sweaty, I loitered at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst. I indulged myself with the documenting of streetcar movements - a hobby of mine don't cha' know - and I was not disappointed. During weekdays, the Bathurst Line (Route 511) is one of the busiest routes in Toronto. Volume is so high by mid afternoon that the trams get backed up waiting to enter Bathurst subway station just to the north of this shot. And I captured quite a few line ups during my time at this corner. I never knew streetcar drivers could get so impatient they would gong at each other.
But this shot differs from most I took that day as it captures a mildly interesting quirk of the TTC streetcar system. Here CLRV 4186 is traveling north on the Bathurst tracks, but its linens indicate the St. Clair Line (Route 512). This is no mistake, it's a consequence of the complex dance that brings trams in and out of service as rush hour begins in the city. All St. Clair cars are maintained at the Roncesvalles Car Yard in the south west corner of the old City of Toronto (see TTC CLRV 4180 On The Queensway). Heading into service they travel east along Queen Street and then curve north up Bathurst to St. Clair Avenue. But, they don't dead head. On the way to St. Clair, they pick up passengers, even turning into the Bathurst station to pick up people before traveling up the ancient lake shore to St. Clair Avenue. The St. Clair cars follow a similar pattern when returning to Roncesvalles at the end of service, displaying the unlikely '512 RONCESVALLES' (St. Clair Avenue does not meet Roncesvalles) and transporting passengers as far as the car barn via Bathurst and Queen Streets. Just one of those odd ball things you glimpse every day here in Toronto.
Ah, this photo is full of unexpected bonuses. Including introducing myself (AND THE WORLD) to The Wonder Girls. Apparently they will/were be playing at the Mod Club on Saturday, the 10th of July 2010. Set your TARDISs. If you don't have a cranky senile time machine then may I suggest their web site.
As always, thanks for taking the time for a viewing. I've had a shocking lack of personal computer time in the last week and a half so I'm a little behind on ebots - sorry about that. Hope to catch up this weekend. Which I hope all of you enjoy.
Cheers!
PS. Please see TTC CLRV 4014 On Bathurst Street for more information about the famous Bloor and Bathurst intersection.
NOTES:
CLRV: Canadian Light Rail Vehicle
TTC: Toronto Transit Commission
Comments (26)
MagikUnicorn
Wonderful shot...Montreal will have some Tramway soon - St Catherine street...No more cars...Bus & Tramway arround 2012
ragouc
Very good POV and shot.
flaviok
Texto e captura excelentes meu amigo, aplausos (5)
flavia49
great shot!
alessimarco
Exellent capture! Love your monologue too!
mgtcs
Excellent image fabulous shot!
MrsLubner
Great street scene. nice narative. I love pigeons and feel so bad for their struggles in the city. :-)
shadownet
Great photo! Love the write up!
sandra46
INTERESTING, CREATIVE, AND REALLY BEAUTIFUL IMAGE!!!
MOSKETON
muy buena imagen.
zoren
great shot!!
Faemike55
Fantastic and fun narrative! Checked out the website of The Wonder Girls, not bad at all! Nice photo
eekdog
cool shot..
evielouise
I have abrother that did live in Toronto and the weather is about the same in MOntreal as it was there so he said: I am used to the heat in southern California but I do not like to be cold and hate winters in Canada: lovely scene indeed:
npauling
I can feel your heat from here. A super story to go with this capture.
Minda
Great capture and nice write up clayton...:)
magnus073
Really do love this stylish photo Clayton and I have to say your thoughts brought a smile to my face and made this one a keeper
renecyberdoc
fantastic work and story to go with. here in denia/costa-blanca spain it is all stinky hot as well, i keep away from the crowds as i dont want to smell their farts and bad breath hehehe. have a nice weekend.
drifterlee
Cool shot. Wonder girls was playing here awhile back, too.
goldie
great capture...love that tram! and that heavy set woman says it all about the heat :) glad to the rest of the world is doing the right thing when it comes to energy, etc. the U.S. is still in the dark ages i fear.
tennesseecowgirl
Great work... very creative title.. :)
2Loose2Trek
I appears that you had quite an adventure with the heat, birds, and trains. Well, the shot is cool! :-) Well done.
chimera46
Ahh.. I`ve seen that wondergirls poster somewhere...
0rest4wicked
Nice candid of urbin Canada
MongusKing
Great capture my friend!!!
Chipka
What a deliciously urban shot. Everything on the left side of the image seems so crisp and clean and (despite the reality of the day) rather cool and crisp...it's the colors, they're quite crisp, implying a sense of coolness that everyone was probably praying for on that day. The right side of the image is so deliciously urban, darker and full of advertizements, including the Wonder Girls. This is intensely interesting, and I love your reference to flying poop machines as well...it seems that pigeons are incredibly good at that...and feeding induced foot accupuncture. This is a great shot.