Turns out, I missed the anniversary of this blog. First Post, April 2nd, 2010. Of course, I’ve been writing in a walking journal since 1995, about 16 years, which may explain why the occasion failed to register. Also, I’ve been sick, so not much has caught my attention of late, other than the distorted half-sounds crackling through my head, and as mentioned in the last post, the weasel shoved into my right ear.

In re-reading the first post, spring was much more advanced during the same period in 2010, which comes as no surprise. But, the air is warm, and the sun is out, and by next week, it will probably look the same. Just wetter.

A 50 minute walk after work today, through Kinsmen and Skunk Hollow. I keep hearing robins, but so far their red breasts have eluded me. Such a beautiful song they have, so distinctly robinesque. I should have taken a longer route today, but I just couldn’t wait to get home, dose myself with Sudafed, and lay flat. Half an hour later, I feel bit clearer, and I’m glad I walked. It’s the only thing keeping me sane. Ish.

Happy anniversary to this blog, and to Kevin for suggesting it. Walking in the woods is one of my greatest pleasures in life. And writing about it comes a close second.

5:22PM/7C

I’m writing this day after a lovely, blue walk in the river valley. Continuing to be under the weather, so I went home early yesterday. In spite of feeling like I had a weasel shoved into my right ear, I walked for a long time, almost two hours. The weasel never left my side.

The sounds were muffled, and the pressure made my head feel like it was going to pop off my shoulders, but so far, my balance is not affected, and anyway, a walk in the warm air and bright sunshine seemed like the right thing to do. At the very least, saying hello to the geese under the LRT bridge, dodging puddles on every sidewalk, and extricating myself from deep holes in the soft snow proved to be a nice little distraction from my ear woes. Can’t say that my head (or ears) felt better after my stroll through the woods, but my spirit did. Laid flat for the rest of the afternoon. And evening. And morning.

3:00PM/7C (yesterday)

Thank God Almighty. It happened about 3:30PM. Streams of sunlight pouring through the windows. Everyone in my office moved toward the light in unison, like a group of plane crash casualties heading for the hereafter. Later, as I began my walk, I hesitated to turn east, with my back to the sun, in case it disappeared. What a glorious afternoon.

Conversely, the consensus at work this morning was that everyone was tired. A common enough sentiment in an office, but truly, the gloom has gotten everyone down. I’ve been managing longer walks the last few days, about an hour each, which has been good for my battered, unexercised soul. Lovely squelching sounds along the paths, not so lovely gravel in my boots. My entire inner dialogue on the way home was, ‘the sun!‘ followed by ‘man I have a lot of rocks in my boots I should stop now.‘ I didn’t. I kept walking. And walking.

5:50PM/2C

Perhaps that’s a bit of an overstatement. The Bohemian Waxwings were definitely flocking, and singing, but I require verification that they were in any way, rhapsodic. It’s just not that kind of day. Edmonton receives 2,299 hours of sunshine per year, making it one of the sunniest, if not the sunniest cities in Canada. It’s what keeps us from becoming homicidal maniacs during winter. However, not only is the melt on hold, the sun seems reluctant to show it’s bright face. Endless days of gloom. Have I set the scene yet? It was a useful walk, and maybe even an enjoyable one, but as for visuals, I’ve seen better. I love a winterscape more than just about anything else, but c’mon. A change of scenery would be most welcome.

Because we’ve had a few days of delicious warmth, there is exposed ice everywhere, especially on the sidewalks. The river valley is still OK, but I was not surprised to see a chunk of central Mill Creek closed due to flooding. Weirdly, the water is open in many places. It’s been hovering around -5C for about a week, so this seems unlikely. In any case, it was nice to hear some gurgling. Lots of friendly doggage on the trails too, which is always cheering.

With my infrequent walking of late, I’ve noticed that I’m seizing up like cashew. I mean, I’m walking, but not walking walking. Not my usual marathons. My body liked the exercise, I think, and now it’s rebelling. I don’t know what it is. I’ve been under the weather, literally and figuratively, for months. Hopefully some blue sky and sunshine will help. Early spring is a slog. It was ever thus, at least in these parts.

1:45PM/-5C

Another gloomy, chilly day. As I walked home, snow pelting my eyeballs, I wondered about this ‘spring’ season people are talking about. Is it a myth, a neo-citran induced hallucinatory fantasy, or an outright lie? The almost constant snow over the last few days kinda takes the fun out of walking, and living, really, but I am ever hopeful. I’ve heard rumours that it will be warming up, and sunning up starting tomorrow. If this proves to be true, I will be a: surprised, and b: happy. Very, very happy. I will also walk longer than I did today. A bit of errand-running and then a short walk along a puddle-lousy Whyte Avenue. Not enough.

A friend sent me this image of a snowman her daughters built in their yard on the weekend. Nice to know people still have a sense of humour, even if the snowmen don’t.

5:08PM/-3C

That. Was an ugly day.

Happy second day of spring! You’d never know it, although I finally saw actual geese today, freezing their feathered arses off in the water below the Walterdale Bridge. My walk was short, brutish and nasty. Fifty minutes of blowing wind, tiny slaps of snow, and a landscape the colour of a tumour.

Quite a change from last week, and in fact, the reports are showing bleak skies and cold temperatures for the next three or four days. It’s a challenge to keep walking. It’s a challenge to keep breathing. But, I have to persevere, we all have to persevere. If geese can lower their nether regions into the black, frigid water of the North Saskatchewan, I can handle a few more days of ugly.

5:10 PM/-1C (really? really? Feels like -45C)