Note: this is the pre-depature post for my walk across Toronto. You can follow the first half of the walk here and read what happened in the second half here.
I’ve lived in Toronto for the past 27 years. I love being “in the street” and have obsessively walked Toronto’s streets, back alleys, side alleys, front alleys and ravines like some sort of territorial dog.
So when I got the idea to cross all of Toronto on foot, it just made sense!
I’ve been inspired by Craig Mod’s TOKIO TŌKYŌ TOKYO, an ephemeral journal of his walk across the city of Tokyo. In September of 2026 the stars have finally aligned to make it happen.
I am writing this “pre walk” post two days before departure to give some background. The walk is called “A to Z” because I’ll be crossing the city between its two psychogeographical ends – going from the Airport to the Zoo. There will be tears, joy, endless monologues, blurry phone pics and snacks. And all that before I even step out of the apartment! 😁
What you need to know about Toronto is that the city is a beast.
Absolutely sprawling.
Overlaying it on other cities can give you an idea. Toronto is wider than Tokyo, as wide as London and more than three times wider than Florence.
I am worried.
Which is probably a good sign that I’m pushing outside my comfort zone.
While Day 1 should have about 6 hours of walking, Day 2 will be about 8 hours – uphill. On that second day there is a 4 hour span of unbelievably boring road that I am dreading. I know what it’s like because I’ve ridden my bike near the Zoo as teen. The boredom will be broken up by a mystery landmark that’s the entire reason why I’m chosen this route instead of a more interesting one.
I am half-expecting an injury.
My footwear is just regular leather-topped Rockports, I haven’t done any training in preparation and my left knee hurts on certain days. The knee pains began at 15. At first I thought I’d overstretched it while a weird lotus pose. Later, a top physiotherapist ran his hands down the sides of my pelvis, stared at my legs for a while and announced that my left leg is 14 mm shorter than the right. So perhaps I was born this way (thanks a lot, MOM AND DAD!) I am reminded that as we become old, our body doesn’t accumulate “all the problems” of age – we usually get just one big one. This knee will be mine.
As I set out it, bears reflecting on the facts that:
Me no word goodly like Craig.
And my shitty Samsung phone is not a Hasselblad camera.
Toronto is not a cool megalopolis like Tokyo.
I am just second-rate man. In a second-rate city.
But, perhaps, we deserve each other.
See you on Day One of the walk!
