A perfectly lovely, albeit lengthy walk. About two and a half hours, the last fifteen of which I was jonesing for a cab. Sadly, none showed up.

Got off work a couple of hours early, so I continued on my quest to undo the intermittent sloth (and sickness) of late winter/early spring. Might be overdoing it a bit, but it’s been so splendid, weatherwise! Walked up to the legislature and then downtown to McKinney. Over the footbridge, I spotted some giant ice blocks floating down the river which had knocked themselves into an impromptu island, populated by a flock of squawking seagulls. In spite of my fatigue and ridiculously heavy backpack, I decided to take a slight detour to see if I could get a close-up shot of the glacial aviary. Turns out, my go-to path adjacent to the river was blocked by frost fence and sludge.

The fence was hardly a barrier (ahem), but the muck was pretty bad, and this being an unmanicured path, no one removes the detritus leftover from a harsh winter. It was almost impassable, in other words, but I managed to dip in a few feet and take a some shots. The gulls were very loud, probably missing their land island buried somewhere beneath the ice and water.

Really gotta find my summer clothes. I baked in my leggings and jacket, and probably looked a little dorky. As per usual.

4:30PM/16C

Could’ve used my shorts today, wherever they are, and a sleeveless t-shirt. Incredibly nice and warm. I was one of hundreds of bodies on the trails, which included butterflies fluttering about on the upper trail in Mill Creek. They are deep brown with a yellow fringe on their wings, and they always return to the same part of the trail in early spring. So early I often see them perched on the snow. All the gang is back, in fact: the spiders, ants, and all the little flying things that make the atmosphere seem summery even when there are still mounds of dirty snow just about everywhere. Can’t help but be grateful for their evocative presence.

There were many, many people in Louise McKinney Park enjoying the sun or a bit of exercise. Kinda flies in the face of those who think no one ventures into this little parkette unless there is a dragon boat race or some other major draw. Nope, today the draw was the warm weather, the chance to be close to the river, and the variety of trails in and around McKinney. The City is once again building something along the main trail. Not sure what, but there is an ugly little detour, and even the lowest part of the trail, which is both paved and unpaved, is partially blocked off. Hope it’s not another public washroom.

Lots of geese about, including one lone goose who looked rather lost in thought, if that’s possible. They seem  a mile

wide and an inch deep to me, but what do I know? I believe there are five geese living in Louise McKinney Park and vicinity. Also, countless ducks, none of whom appeared particularly thoughtful.

I looped back through Mill Creek, which still has some major muck going on, but not enough to warrant boots. Wonderfully fragrant in the heat of the afternoon. A bit of rain and we might just see some green.

3:00PM/15C

An early morning Good Friday walk in the woods. Excellent time to take a hike. The mud on the trails was still frozen so it was relatively muck-free, and completely, unutterably gorgeous. The robins and waxwings were singing, the sky was a luminous blue, and everything was indeed, good. Ice covered puddles with a thin crystalized film of ice provided many delicious opportunities to shatter and crack my way through the woods. Felt so energized I even did some stairs at the north end of Mill Creek. All the lower trails were passable, although the central area close to where the rooster roosts was entirely ice covered and most likely impossible to cross later on in the afternoon. Other parts of Mill Creek are quite dry and

almost dusty. Typical spring day.

The Glovewoods are blooming everywhere. Even ran across a very rare Glovewood tree with a big, fat blossom. Bushes and shrubs are much more common, but occasionally a tree will sprout a five-fingered bloom, but of course, only in the Spring. Spent about 90 minutes on the trails. Thank you Jesus for the day off. And Mr Fruit n’ Nut.

Noonish/3C

“I’m a joker, I’m a smoker, I’m a mid-afternoon at the Legislature toker…”

Well, I’m not, or at least not usually, but everyone around me is, including, I think, the dogs, the squirrels, and a few uncharacteristically friendly magpies occupying the soggy grounds of the provincial government Legislature on 4-20. International ‘get baked’ day, a celebration of hydroponics, hot pockets, and cannabis. Also, black hoodies, judging by the similarly attired crowds. I look forward to this day every year, and I go out of my way to make the Legislature part of my walk into the river valley. Unlike last year, I didn’t see anybody flying the freak flag, other than a couple of kids with their faces painted like marijuana plants. I was hoping to see Bongman again, but he was nowhere to be found. Not a surprise, there seemed to be many more people this year. Mostly young people, or at least those flexible enough to play hacky sack and sit cross-legged on wet grass.

I have no measurable experience with cannabis, but I do enjoy late-night snacking and the occasional public gathering. Nevertheless, in my running room jacket and backpack, bleeding uptight from every pore, I stuck out like a sore thumb. No matter, this crowd exudes nothing but herb-induced affability and a slight blue haze. The seat of government never smelled so sweet.

5:48PM/7C

That’s Romanticism…not romance, in spite of all the squawking in the bushes. Giant plates of ice have piled up along the shores of the North Saskatchewan River in a way that is reminiscent of the great German Romantic painting, The Polar Sea by Caspar David Friedrich. Unlike the great German Romantic painting, Sir William Parry’s wrecked ship was not amongst the sheets of cracked and dirty ice. A few seagulls, and a duck, but no 19th century sailing vessels.

The scene near the Low Level Bridge was much more spectacular yesterday, but of course, my camera was

not in my backpack. Today, under pressure from sun and undertow, the Romanticist Ice Jams have morphed into Impressionist Ice Chunks, which are not nearly as impressive, but then Romanticism always trumps Impressionism. Take that Monet and your stupid, stupid haystacks.

I’ve been trying to walk about 90 minutes every day. It’s a preemptive move on my part to negate effects of the looming Mr Fruit ‘n Nut weekend, otherwise known as Easter. My boots are killing me on the cement, but the unpaved paths in Mill Creek are still incredibly mucky. A pleasing, squelching sort of muck, I must say, but not fit for running shoes. I’d rather trash my three-year old boots than my new Sauconys. Maybe by the weekend I can retire my boots for the season or at least until the blizzard hits in mid-May.

Saw a fly sitting on a pile of gravel in the gutter. I found it oddly cheering. Spring is well and truly underway.

5:52PM/6C

…and sitting on a cement beam below the foot bridge at McKinney. She’s only visible between the slats of wood, so like last year, I had to squat down and shove the camera lens through the opening to get a picture. Was only able to take one shot and then my camera died. Adding to the spring-like atmosphere, a guy was playing his flute in the rose garden. No, this is not a euphemism…he had an actual flute and the music he was playing was kind of jazzy. Very, very nice. I wonder if the birds recognized, or even appreciated his songs. I sure did.

1:55PM/0C