May 6th: Whoa…what a cruddy morning. Over to Rossdale to feed a couple of kitties, yesterday and today. On Monday, the fog rolled into the river valley, so I decided to park at Southgate, and take the train downtown, rather than park in Mill Creek. Not a good idea to stroll through the woods in fog, especially at a time in the morning when no one else is around. Took the stairs from the MacDonald Hotel to Rossdale, and then back downtown via Louise McKinney. The sun, by late morning, had burned off the fog, so I could have walked into Mill Creek after all, but with my car at Southgate, I would have had to double back to catch the train, and my walk would have been hours long. Sticking to my original plan, I was happy to walk in the river valley in cold sunshine, even for half an hour.

Saw a Song Sparrow singing his/her heart out by the river. So beautiful! I was able to capture the bird mid-song without startling it. I thought he/she might have been a meadowlark, who like this bird sing with their heads thrown back, but I’m not even sure we have meadowlarks in Edmonton, and a birding friend later identified it as a Song Sparrow. There were also a ton of geese – sittin’ around, honking from the skies, waddling along the trail near the river. Years ago, there were just two geese who returned every year a month too early, laying their eggs on a pillar beneath the Cloverdale Pedestrian Bridge. I like to think these guys are all related.

This morning (May 7th), snow on the ground and even colder than yesterday. But…no fog, so a longer walk. Parked in my old neighbourhood in Mill Creek, and then walked down to Rossdale via the trail that runs along Scona Road.

It was brilliantly cold on my face. Fed the cats, and then headed over to Mill Creek Ravine. The landscape was washed out. Not another soul on the trail, but I did see crocuses in bloom at the Muttart, which were cheering. In Mill Creek, the morning snow had melted, and even though I could see buds on the trees, it did not seem like spring. The cold, sunless air was too miserly to yield the fragrances of burgeoning growth in the ravine. Quietly beautiful though, like a landscape in soft pencil. Piles of blankets and the occasional dirty mattress lay in piles along the trail – the gleanings of the weekend river valley cleanup. I didn’t participate, but will do so once I get back into the ‘hood. I hope the users of these items don’t miss them.

It started to snow again, little pellets of meanness, as I walked to my car. In total about 90 minutes of river, wood, and birdsong. I’ll take it.

Noon/2C

Incredibly gorgeous day. The hottest thus far this year at 22C! Spent the morning in the garden raking stuff, and the afternoon in Whitemud Creek doing stuff with Maggie. We drove over to Aspen Drive to avoid a long walk into the ravine, which tires her out. By the ravine, there was a sign saying it off limits due to flooding. Strange. As per usual, I ignored it. Between the second and third bridge, near the boardwalk, there was indeed signs of a flood. A big one. Along the creek, a fair amount of damage on the bank, and parts of the boardwalk were broken. Mill Creek often floods in the spring, but I’m not as familiar with the peculiarities of Whitemud. It’s just weird because I walked along the North Saskatchewan yesterday, and it wasn’t high. We had a lot of rain a week ago (30mm), but not enough to flood a creek, I would think. In any case, Maggie enjoyed the remaining pools of mucky water. Many, many times. First time to have a wet, smelly dog in a hot car. Also first time to use the AC, although I eventually opted for open windows to better circulate the stink.

Saw a couple of ducks (Common Goldeneyes) on the water, and tried to get a photo, but all of them were blurred. Stupid ducks. Stupid photographer. I think I also saw a beaver, but just his head. I’m sure the Whitemud beaver population are rather busy (as beavers, maybe) putting their homes back in order. Stupid flood.

Yesterday, I walked from the University to Rossdale and Louise McKinney Park. All is as per usual, which is to say, beautiful. With this warmth, and the constant birdsong, it’s discombobulating to look around and see unfoliated woods. Tomorrow is May. By the end of May, it will be a transformed landscape. Yum.

Quiet, unremarkable walk in Whitemud. It’s starting to smell like spring, and little buds are sprouting, but the paintbox is still full of umbers and siennas. The dog blends in with the landscape. If it wasn’t for her blue collar, I’d lose her in the brush. Not that she’s ever that far away from me.

12C/1:15PM

Lovely walk along the trail in Whitemud, just off Westbrook. Maggie seemed to enjoy the ride this time. Must be improving on my driving skills, or maybe she liked the tunes.

Next walk in the woods, no boots – back to running shoes. There’s very little snow and only a few patches of easily avoidable ice left on the trails, so it’s just not worth wearing my clunky hiking boots anymore. Other than the ubiquitous chickadees and a maddeningly just out of view pileated woodpecker, the woods were pretty quiet. People must be at home desecrating chocolate Easter bunnies (I did that yesterday, except it was a chicken.) The creek is completely open. Crazy how fast Friday’s 10cm of snow melted. Just two days, and it’s all gone.

Maggie has developed this thing about laying down in water. It started last year, maybe the year before. It seems to be getting worse, or depending on your perspective, funnier. Doesn’t matter if it’s shallow, or ice cold – she just nestles in. Must feel good on her bits and pieces. Or something. Who knows why dogs do anything? It probably doesn’t help that we all laugh when she does it, and take pictures. I’m glad I have a semi-permanent sheet in the backseat of the car.

13C/5:06PM

So. Much. Snow. This entire week has been up and down, but mostly down, temperature-wise. And the last few days snow has fallen, but just lightly. Last night, and this morning, heavy, heavy snow. About 10cm. It will soon melt, but for the next 24 hours – pure white misery.

Except.

The dog. She loves it. Took her for a walk along the east powerline, and she jumped and frolicked and snowplowed her way down the path, happy as a puppy. Despair gives way to joy. Snowballs. Wet boots. Great pools of water.

Actually, I’m not that sad about it. Really. We had some good walks last week, and the forecast is promising seasonal weather after the long weekend. This is the absolute worst part of spring in Edmonton. The true greening is not for another three or four weeks. Until then, variations on brown, and when it’s not brown, it’s white. As always, the monochromatic landscape is made infinitely more bearable when the sun is out and the sky is blue. At the moment, all day in fact, it’s been pure white on white.

3:21PM/0C

Short but vigorous walk through Whitemud north, once again, to look for the elusive Barred Owl. All we saw was melting ice, pools of water, and a wet labrador. Beautiful out though, and Maggie didn’t complain too much about the stairs, as there were a lot of them. We’re in the middle of a big melt, finally, but probably not the final. There’s always the May snowstorm to look forward to.

11:00 AM/10C (later)