Once upon a time I asked UER whether I should try to reach Brickworks from Castle Frank subway station, or Broadview. They said Broadview. They were very, very wrong.

Their directions got me 1 cliff, 20 lanes of traffic and the Don Valley River from the Brickworks. But I could *see* it, and damned if I was going home without entering!

Now, the cliff was just a simple toboggan by the seat of my pants whilst praising the deities that I had remembered to bring gloves, so grabbing thornbushes to slow my descent didn't hurt too much. Unfortunately, took one of those thornbushes in the eye...ouch! For some reason my reflexes weren't up to par and it seems I didn't even shut my eyelids fast enough to avoid damage...so now have a small bloody stripe across the eyeball. Chicks dig scars, ergo they must also dig eyeball wounds, right?

NOW I get to the river, which lacks a footbridge in either direction.

Now, after unsuccessfully trying to build a makeshift raft out of oddly-convenient lumber (it didn't really "float", so failed as a raft on pretty much every count), I was faced with the fact I had only one choice...crossing the river on foot. (since I sure as hell didn't want to walk all the way back, then back up from Castle Frank) Of course, the temperature was -15C (5F), or -25C (-13F) with the windchill - so I was quite resolved that I needed dry clothes by the time I reached the other side...all horrible mental images aside, this meant that yes, well out of sight of any civilization (and well beyond the Freeway), I went across the river in my boxers and workshirt, holding my bag, pants, shoes and sweater above my head - then re-dressed quickly on the other side. Of course, the water is not really as shallow as it ever seems - damn that luck. About half-way across a thought crossed my mind...It's like my scrotum and my chest were in a pitched race to see which can restrict quickly and more painfully! Whichever side won, I definitely lost.

So in closing, to get to Brickworks, you go to the CASTLE FRANK subway station. Then the easiest way is to head for the Rosedale School of the Arts which is just across from one of the subway exits - head to their parking lot which is out back, go down the wooden stairs to the Parkway, walk along the parkway (left at the bottom of the stairs) for ten/twenty minutes till you reach Brickworks.