New pat, fantastic path today! It’s to the right of the little bridge at the bottom of the power line in Whitemud Creek. I’ve walked part of the trail, but in the winter, the steep drops were too much for my boots (and my heart), so I always stopped about a quarter of the way through. Now, though still harrowing in places, and crossed by several fallen trees, I made it all the way. Now I’ve got a great new addition to my catalogue of off-trail walks. Thanks to my niece, who is a stellar trail-blazer in every respect, we followed the path to 23rd Ave. The monkey trail resembled Elk Island Park with flat grassland on the right, and at other times, it felt like a mountain walk through pine and spruce. And very undulating, alternating between creek-hugging paths, with various sandy outcroppings visible at close range, to cliff-like vistas. Never one to shy away from a quick dip in the creek, the dog kept trying head down the slope, but changed her mind when we hollered at her, which was often.

Maggie weighs the options

The trail is both grassy, and root-laden. A thousand ways to trip in other words, but I managed to stay upright, which is good because I was with my niece, who had assured me that under no circumstances, would she ‘haul my ass out of Whitemud’ if I fell. For some reason, I have a certain reputation in my family. No idea why.

3:30PM/18C (feels much warmer)

A splendid, bee-loud walk on a hot, spring day. Maggie and I left in the morning to avoid the heat but it was already there at 10:30. Went through Westbrook into Whitemud Ravine, and then over to Snow Valley. Managed the one steep hill that is much easier to ascend than descend. A little scary in places, but I managed to stay upright. Maggie availed herself of every entry point into the creek, and was a soggy, happy mess after the first hour. I envy her. What a delightful way to cool off…if only fetid beaver water didn’t bother me!

At the top of one of the hills, Maggie stopped to stare at something in the woods. When I looked, I could see the dark back of a slightly rounded shape, but I couldn’t quite place it. Maybe a deer, but the back seemed too dark. I suppose the other possibilities are a moose, or a slow-moving hobo. It was too dense to get a good view, and as soon as I tried to move closer, the sound of breaking twigs made the thing, whatever it was, disappear. By that point, Maggie was half way down the path and impatient for me to follow. She has fleeting interests in such things. If it’s not going to feed her, walk her, fluff her pillow, or pet her, she could care less. Such a simple creature.

Got my first burn of the season. Just a little shoulder action, but enough to give evidence of the day. Lots of bugs outside now, especially fat bees. I don’t know what their food source is in this flowerless landscape, but my forehead seems to be an intriguing possibility. I wouldn’t expect them to bite me, but I seem to attract them like flies. Flies with striped fuzz and stingers. It’s OK, I don’t mind.

4:11PM/24C

Vigorous walk in Whitemud…up and down the trails that have opened up since the snow melt. Still mucky in places but passable, and lovely. Great views…steep hills. I’m missing my Mill Creek trails, however. The variation, the familiarity. I should be able to walk more in my old neck of the woods starting next week, as the keepers of the house and children are now back. Good timing…things are starting to green up.

Looked at my posts from last year. Hard to believe how changeable May is, but if all things go to plan…in a couple of weeks, everything will be green and pink. And I’ll be on holidays. Not sure what I’m more excited about. Oh wait. Time off. Always.

a magpie nest in a spruce

On my way to Whitemud there’s a spruce tree with a magpie nest tucked into the needles. Never seen anything like it, and what a great idea. If I were a bird, which wouldn’t be such a bad thing, I’d want a condo in a spruce. So cozy, and so hidden. In fact, it would have looked like dead branches, like part of the tree, if I hadn’t seen the magpie delivering the twigs.

1:30PM/12C

Woke up to snow today. Sod it.

Many hours later, no sign of the snow, but lots of water. A very pleasant walk into Whitemud and beyond. The trails were also snow-free but too wet in the interior to walk. Maggie, on the other hand, found it neither too wet, nor too muddy, and she wasn’t walking…she was leaping…into anything resembling a puddle. I swear there’s a four year old boy in that dog.

What water?

Conversely, when she snorts herself awake in the mornings, it’s not a four year old boy but an eighty year old man hiding beneath all that fur.

No signs of life in the woods, other than a couple of ducks on the creek, oblivious to the dog staring them down on the bank. Lots of geese in the air. Must be a flight path or something. There’s always geese in the air.

Started to rain again on the way home. Very fresh and clean, but please, no more snow.

3:05PM/4C

It’s boiling hot out there. Not temperature-wise, surprisingly, but the sun is intense. It was all I could do to keep Maggie out of the  creek this morning.

A freshly dipped Maggie

Yesterday, I was not so successful. We had a two-hour walk, and half way through Maggie jumped into the creek…up to her neck. The water is running, so I figure it’s not as filthy as it is in the summer when the creek doesn’t move and the beavers are full-on beavering. She jumped in a few times actually, and was extremely pleased with her wet n’ dirty self. But just try spraying her with a hose. Dogs are so fickle. Had to wash her down with a cloth when we got home.

The grass is greening slowly, and lots of little things are shooting out of the ground, but it’s still predominately brown and grey in the ravine. This part of spring is so slow. It will be another month before spring truly flaunts itself. I can’t wait.

2:30PM/16C

Spectacularly nice evening. Kids are out…so…shoved some food down my throat and leashed up the dog for a quiet frolic in the woods. Turns out, lots of people had the same idea, so it wasn’t that quiet, but still very pleasant. The creek-hugging trail Maggie and I favour is muckified in parts, but walkable after a few sunny, snow-free days so we fooled around in there awhile, waiting for the columns of people venturing into Whitemud to pass. Twenty minutes later, the bottom of the ravine was empty again, but Maggie seemed reluctant to go up the hill. I think it had more to do with the previous six craps than her energy level. Sore bum, in other words. Nevertheless, once she got started, she scaled the hill bravely, looking quite lovely in the long shadows of dusk.

After about 90 minutes, we both agreed that this was a great thing to do after dinner.

7:30PM/11C

Sorry grass. On behalf of all Edmontonians (except Maggie) I apologize for the snow. On Friday, when it rained, you popped your head out of the wet, fragrant ground, your shiny blades blushing green in the warm spring showers. On Saturday and Sunday, your cheerful arrival was smothered by a sky full of menace. Please take comfort in the knowledge that our souls have also been crushed, and we stand with you in broken-hearted fellowship, and yet…ever optimistic that you will once again rise to the full, green splendour that is you…grass, in the spring.

(Maggie on the other hand, loves a fresh snowfall…especially on her snoutal area. Her message to the grass, and to all of us, is to suck it up. She couldn’t have been more joyful on her walk today.)

2:16PM/-3C

No walk today…

Two Angry Geese

Pretty eventful one & a half hour walk. Saw a bunch of angry geese (dog-haters, all of ‘em) on an open pond on the other side of Whitemud Creek. A yellow-winged blackbird in a pussy willow tree, which was probably a red-winged blackbird (+myopia.) Stole a bunch of pussy willows, thus scaring the yellow/red black bird from the tree. Further down the path, a gathering of ducks in the mostly unfrozen water, and possibly some grouse (see myopia.) Most surprisingly (for all of us), Maggie frenched a collie. Right on the lips. Maybe Maggie mistook the collie’s ass for the collie’s mouth. It happens.

2:09PM/3C

A tree near the building where I work, Friday morning

25 cm of snow yesterday (as opposed to last Sunday’s 15 cm) and now it’s almost gone. It was gobsmackingly lovely, but extremely hard to walk in, or see anything beyond a few feet. The top layer was snow, but the bottom was boot-soaking water. Yes, it was a VERY BAD hair day.

Bending over at the University...a familiar pose

Once it started to melt off the trees, it was like getting pelted by snowballs. Nevertheless, Maggie was excited to go out, and if my outerwear hadn’t been soaked, I would have taken her for a walk last night. No dice. So, we went this afternoon. Still lots of snow on the field, but it’s melting fast. Our favourite trail is too water-logged to go more than half way. By the time we got home, she was wet to the shoulders. I was wet merely to my shins.

Beautiful blue sky and the knee-weakening sound of recently returned migratory birds wafting through the warm air. Lots of geese around Whitemud Creek. Butterflies. Robins. Very calming. Even the cat was on the deck today, in the sun, and briefly, in the snow.

A bit o’ the chocolate bunny following the walk. A Good Friday. Very good.

Maggie on the day after the deluge

5:14PM/4C