Book ~ "The Hitchhikers" (2025) Chevy Stevens

From Goodreads ~ The open road beckons. A chance for them to reconnect. Then they make a fatal mistake.

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes, In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day?

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and her husband, Tom, who are from Seattle, are taking a road trip through Canada in their RV, meandering their way from British Columbia to the Olympics in Montreal, hoping to heal after some heartbreaking losses. Along the way, they pick up two young hitchhikers who go by “Ocean” and “Blue.” At first, they just seem like free-spirited kids but Alice soon finds out they’re not who they say they are ... they are Jenny and Simon and are wanted for a horrific crime. 

From there, the trip takes a violent turn. Tom gets badly hurt and Alice is forced into a terrifying journey with these strangers who get more violent as time goes on. Alice has to figure out how to survive, protect Tom and hope more people don't get hurt along the way.

I thought this book was okay, though I found it long. There was so much going on and I found it dragged the story down. It got repetitious after a while with the violence. The details of a couple of the beatings could have been left out because I got right away that Simon wasn't a nice stable guy. Plus I didn't need every detail of when Alice cooked. The story was interesting enough and I was curious to see how it would end. 

The author is Canadian and didn't hide the fact that Alice, Tom, Simon and Jenny were traveling through British Columbia. It's written in third person perspective in Alice and Jenny's voices (the chapters are labeled) and sometimes goes back in time so we get Jenny and Simon's backstories. I didn't find Jenny to be a very believable character. Unbelievably after all the killing, robbing and kidnapping they'd done, she still thought she and Simon had a future. Because it's set in 1976, it was a time before cell phones and the Internet so there's no way Jenny and Simon could have stayed on the run as long as they did had it been set in present day. As a head's up, there is violence, swearing and sexual assault.

The Keating Channel Pub & Grill, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had an early supper at The Keating Channel Pub & Grill in the Port Lands, on their lovely patio in the back overlooking the water.

Gord had Crab Cakes (Served with mixed greens raspberry vinaigrette, chipotle mango salsa & rice) and said they were good and he’d get them again. 

I had the KC Beef Pie (Brimming with tender chunks of beef sirloin braised in Guinness and tomato sauce, topped with golden brown puff pastry, served with fries) … the sauce was tasty and the beef was really tender. 

Biidaasige Park, Toronto, ON

Gord and I spent a fun afternoon exploring the new Biidaasige Park in the Port Lands (on Commissioners Street, just east of Cherry Street). I was there a couple weeks ago with my friend, Trish, and Gord was looking forward to checking it out.

Biidaasige Park (pronounced "bee-daw-sih-geh" and meaning "sunlight shining toward us" in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin) is a sweeping greenspace that lines the new mouth of the Don River. This is the largest park to open in Toronto in a generation and the first public space to open on Ookwemin Minising. The park was built as part of an innovative approach to flood protection. Through tri-government investment, Port Lands Flood Protection project protects 174 hectares of land in the Port Lands and eastern waterfront from flooding.

The park is opening in two phases. Approximately 50 acres/20 hectares of parkland opened in July 2025, with an additional 10 acres/4 hectares set to open in 2026, along with the first-in-Canada Lassonde Art Trail.

Visitors to Biidaasige Park will discover an array of features designed for all ages and interests. Highlights of the 2025 opening included picnic areas, a vibrant playground featuring larger-than-life animal sculptures representing Anishinaabe, Ongwehonwe, and Huron dodems, Toronto’s first ziplines, and a recreation waterplay feature, the Badlands Scramble. The park also boasts recreational trails and cycling paths, including step-downs to the river for fishing and birdwatching, slips for non-motorized boats, and the Don Greenway wetland for birdwatching. Two dog off-leash areas and a pebble landing area for watercraft further enhance the visitor experience.

We started by exploring the Snowy Owl Theatre.

The snowy owl has a stage built into its belly where kids can perform for fun or play with sound features, like a drum or bells. There is a talk tube that lets kids talk to one another from one area of the stage to another. The seating around the Snowy Owl is made to look like a nest.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are yellow, mustard and black.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Book ~ "The Armchair Detectives" (2025) Matt Dunn

From Goodreads ~ They might be over the hill but they’re far from six feet under and now there’s a murder to solve!

Meet Martin Maxwell. As a former government operative, at eighty-four-years young he always pictured a retirement sipping shaken-not-stirred martinis on a far-flung island. But in need of some care after a new hip, he finds himself at Twilight Lodge on the decidedly cloudy English coast.

From the outside, it’s a picture-perfect place to recuperate. But when popular resident Elsie dies unexpectedly, Martin suspects foul play. She’s the third death in less than two weeks and always had a clean bill of health. Armed with a walking stick and his trusty notebook and pen, Martin decides to investigate.

While nobody believes him – death is an inevitable part of care home life after all – Martin is convinced something sinister is afoot. With his wheelchair-bound sidekick and former nemesis Albie in tow, they begin questioning the residents. Soon they learn that there are several suspects in the frame.

When they discover Albie’s love interest Barbara is in the killer’s sights, Martin knows time is running out. Will Albie’s heart be broken forever, or can they battle the effects of old age and each other, outwitting a murderer before it’s too late?

Martin is 84 and a widower, recovering from hip surgery and not wanting to burden his daughter to have to take care of him. Instead he checks into Twilight Lodge, a seaside care home where he plans on taking it easy and recuperate. But taking it easy doesn’t last long. When one of the residents dies unexpectedly (and then others start dying), Martin’s old instincts kick in. Martin isn’t your average retiree ... he used to work for “The Company” (something very spy-like). When he starts connecting the dots, he’s sure there’s foul play involved. Luckily his old partner, wheelchair-bound Albie, who claims to not remember Martin, is also at the home and the two end up sleuthing together along with Martin’s wild theories and his notebook full of half-remembered clues.

This was a fun story and it was interesting to have it written from the first person perspective of an 84-year-old man. It's surprisingly a cozy mystery as there is no swearing or violence. The interactions between Martin and Albie were cute. There are some red herrings and I was okay with the whodunnit. It seems like it's the first of a series and I look forward to reading the future books.

One Eyed Jack, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at One Eyed Jack on Richmond Street W this evening. 

Gord had Beef Stuffed Yorkshire (Shaved roast beef, sautéed onion, mushroom and gravy in a homemade Yorkshire pudding) and a side salad. He loved the beef but said the Yorkshire pudding was dense and tough.

TIFF, Toronto, ON

I recently volunteered for TIFF ... it's my third year. I spent Friday, Saturday, Sunday and this afternoon and evening at the TIFF Lightbox.

Wednesday, August 27

One of the benefits of being a returning TIFF volunteer is you get invited to a complimentary screening of a movie that will be in the festival ... and you don't know what it is until it starts! This year it was Carolina Caroline, which was good. And there was lots of complimentary popcorn!

General Assembly Pizza, Toronto, ON

I had supper this evening at General Assembly on Adelaide Street W.

I had a Loving Cup pizza (grass fed mozzarella, ezzo natural pepperoni, grana padano). The crust was soft and chewy and there was lots of pepperoni!

Elephant & Castle, Toronto, ON

I had supper at Elephant & Castle (King Street W/Simcoe Street) this evening because TIFF Festival volunteers enjoy $6 house beers and a 20% discount on food (I volunteered again this year).

I ordered Manta’s Butter Chicken (curried tomato cream sauce with cashew butter topped with chopped cilantro & spiced yogurt, served with basmati rice & grilled garlic naan bread). It wasn’t great … the rice and naan were the best part. I wasn’t sure what kind of meat was in it at first as it looked like ground beef. Once I dug around a bit, I found chunks of chicken that seemed to be left over seasoned grilled chicken from yesterday.

One Eyed Jack, Toronto, ON

I had supper at One Eyed Jack on Richmond Street W this evening.

Ya gotta love $5.50 beer!

I had wings with medium sauce and ranch on the side and fries. Big yummy wings and crispy fries!

TIFF Festival Street, Toronto, ON

I checked out TIFF Festival Street (King Street W, Peter Street to University Avenue) this morning. 

There were lots of giveaways (chocolate, coffee, etc.) and the lines are long.

Book ~ "Nogged Off" (2016) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ ‘Twas the week before Christmas and Julia Snowden’s escape from New York has just hit a snag. Fresh off accidentally poisoning half her colleagues with her “Killer Eggnog”, Julia’s would-be subletter, Imogen Geinkes, is now jobless and homeless - leading Julia to invite the young woman home for the holidays in Maine. But when they unload the rental truck in Busman’s Harbor, they find something that wasn’t on anyone’s packing list: the body of Imogen’s former boyfriend. 

Suddenly, the wordplay in Imogen’s name - “I’m a jinx” - isn’t so adorable. But for all the calamities that follow in Imogen’s wake, Julia’s certain she’s no killer. As Julia digs into the case, the appearance of the ex’s brother - his identical twin - doubles the confusion. Has Imogene been double-crossed by an evil twin? Was the eggnog “accident” no accident at all? If Julia doesn’t unwrap the murderer’s true identity soon, one of the twelve days of Christmas could be her last.

Julia thought her quick trip to New York would be simple ... grab the last of her stuff from her apartment, head back home to Busman's Harbor, Maine, and settle in for Christmas with her boyfriend and family. Instead she finds her apartment still occupied by her subletter, Imogen, a heartbroken mess who has just lost her job and her boyfriend. Rather than kick her out right before the holidays, Julia does the kind thing and brings her home to Busman’s Harbor. Julia's moving truck is stolen in the middle of the night from her mother's driveway and when it's found, they find more than boxes and furniture ... the body of Imogen's ex-boyfriend.

This quick read (it's a novella) was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. It had a couple interesting twists at the end. It's a cozy mystery so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. At the end, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story for hazelnut wreaths and pecan puffs.

This novella is 4.5 (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. I read the first four in the series recently and will keep moving through the series.