An absolutely stunning walk home yesterday. I started walking at 5:00 pm so the sun was close to setting, spreading a golden glow over every leaf and branch. By the time I reached the ‘new’ trail below Ezio Faraone Park (just past a very windy High Level Bridge), it was incredible.
Too bad I didn’t have my real camera with me (she said, blaming her phone).
Clearly, the squirrel was posing, but I couldn’t really get a close up. The squirrel was disappointed. He knew he looked gorgeous and gilded in that light.
Probably my last walk along this route before Daylight Savings kicks in on the weekend. Maybe Thursday. Anyway, it felt like I was walking in gold all the way home.
I found a new path that runs below downtown via a trail that begins at 116 Street, ending at either Ezio Faraone Park by the High Level Bridge, or at the Glenora Club on River Road. I am SO happy about this. It means I can take the abysmal Groat Bridge out of the equation when walking home.
Victoria Trail, near 116 Street
I’ve seen the trail head before while walking up Victoria Trail, but hadn’t explored it until now. It’s beautiful and quiet, but I probably won’t be able to use it once it gets dark at 4:30. Until then, however, it will serve as my new and much improved commute home!
LRT bridge
Continuing along river road, I crossed the LRT Bridge and walked over to Walt Junior and discovered that the trail on the river side of the Epcor Plant has been reopened after YEARS of closure due to the construction of the bridge. This too is thrilling! This lovely little path which includes a sweet little wooden bridge leads right into Rossdale. For many years, it was one of my favourite paths, and it’s so much nicer than walking in traffic beside the baseball park (whatever name it’s going by these days.) In fact, both of these trails, one new, one old, will help to exclude traffic from my commutes, or at least minimize it. So glad I took this route today.
Heading to the Walterdale Bridge (Walt Junior)Walt Junior
It was a marathon, though. Two and a half hours. I probably could have shaved a half hour off if I had brought my bus pass. Once I emerged out of the river valley via the funicular, I still had another 20 blocks to walk, half of which was along busy Jasper Avenue, and the other half along the 102 Avenue “Oliver Bahn” – a much quieter and greener walk. I would have been more than happy to skip the first part. Still learning about my new neighbourhood!
Newly reopened path into Rossdale on south side of the Epcor plantLittle bridge near Rossdale
Well, I don’t want to overstate it. However, today – the first day of Canada’s legalization of Cannabis, summer returned. Blue sky, a temperature of 25C!! and some non-cloud clouds here and there as people everywhere seemed to be imbibing. It was a happy day. And a beautiful day. Not that I use, but it seemed to lift the mood of the country, or maybe it was just the weather.
Once the second dump of snow left in early October, it was like it took the rest of the leaves with it. What emerged was no longer peak fall, but full on, leafless fall. It too is beautiful, but like all the seasons this year, it seemed to come all of a sudden.
Walked home from work, down into the woods and then up to the Legislature grounds. Nothing spectacular…I unfortunately had to stay a bit late. But still, it has been a gorgeous October for the most part. About time, after the weather suck that was September.
