I’ve noticed quite a few poplar trees sporting yellow leaves in the river valley. One near 99 St is entirely yellow, but I think it shuffled off this mortal coil a few weeks ago. Just couldn’t take any more airport controversy, I guess.

The sun is setting before 9:00 now, and I’ve noticed that I’m waking up in the dark, or trying to wake up in the dark. In the middle of winter, it’s the light I miss, not the warmth. Having said that, it was a a bit chilly today, or at least the first part of the day. I don as little outerwear as possible in the morning, because I have to carry it home in my backpack in the afternoon, along with all the other shit I’ve brought. There are times when I’m sure my backpack is going to explode. It’s an unsavoury thought, having to crawl around in the woods, picking up tupperware lids, bits of leftover sandwich, an uneaten apple which permanently occupies the bottom of my backpack , my ‘day’ bra (as opposed to the sports model I wear for hikes), half-finished bottles of gin, and all the bits and pieces it takes to get me through a day of work. It’s worth shivering in the morning, trust me.

Saw a guy riding a Segway on the Cloverdale Pedestrian Bridge this afternoon. I thought it was a scooter scooting up behind me. Nope, just some guy in a helmet, standing at a dopey angle on a motorized dolly. There is no way to look cool on a Segway. David Bowie would not look cool. Clint Eastwood (circa Dirty Harry) would not look cool. Barack Obama would not look cool. And those are the coolest dudes around. Not that looking cool is a requisite for modes of transportation, but there is absolutely nothing sexy about those things. They are the PT Cruisers of two-wheeled vehicles.

Just sayin’

Other than the first scattering of autumn leaves and a dork on a Segway, it was a relatively bland walk home, via the downtown/McKinney route. Warm, but not hot. A slight orangey haze in the sky. Made it door to door in about 60 minutes, 55 of which I hardly remember at all.

5:58 PM/20C

Sunrise: 6:18 AM  Sunset: 8:57 PM

The theme of today’s walk? Bulldogs. Also, pitbulls, the dogs with Riddler grins. Gotta wonder…is there a legalize weed event going on somewhere in the river valley? Doesn’t that international inhalathon take place on April 20th? Maybe it’s just a coincidence. I have noticed that some days one type of dog prevails over another, but it did seem weird to see all those stout little creatures on the trails. And their dogs.

It’s coolish today, but still managed to work up a sweat running up various staircases encountered along the way through Mill Creek. Even though I often take the same general route, especially if I’m starting from home and not work, it’s easy to switch it up with different monkey-paths, staircases, and add-on trails. I rarely get bored, but I do find this part of summer in the river valley to be uneventful, in the sense that everything is at its peak. Nothing is noticeably growing or dying. There is no discovery, only enjoyment and acknowledgement, which is just fine. I am, however, looking forward to fall, just because change in the river valley is always exciting. Seasonal change, that is, not change as a result of drought, fire, or pig-headed, hypocritical city councils hell-bent on building a LRT system through the river valley. Pretty coloured leaves and flocks of migrating birds. Now that’s good change.

2:35 PM/19C

Awesome walk in Whitemud Park, near Fort Edmonton. Some light rain sprinkles at the start, and lovely cool temperatures, but bright sun by the end.

Went in search of the new suspension bridge, but somehow managed to miss it. Not sure how you miss a bridge, but there was a dead end at the western edge of the trail, with some construction equipment and no-entry signs, so I’m guessing the bridge is visible from the other side. Figures. Nevertheless, the trail is nice, but not unlike other river-adjacent paths in the city. The thing that distinguishes the Whitemud trail is its proximity to Fort Edmonton Park. It’s not everyday you hear the chugging of a locomotive in the middle of the bush. At one point, it was so loud I was envisioning death by steam engine, which would be a unique way to die, especially in this era. However, no sudden dives into the woods required, as the train rolled by on its tracks, located safely just inside the park. Big puffs of steam cutting through the birches, and that very distinctive smell of the train, so evocative of visits to Fort Edmonton when I was a kid.

Along for the walk today was Maggie (my best dog pal), and Maggie’s mom, who also happens to be my sister.

Took the day off, and just lucked out with the weather. I love the sun, but I’m getting tired of excessively hot hikes in the woods. As usual, Maggie availed herself of all the puddles, and was especially fond of the saskatoon berries, which she daintily plucked off the branches, one by one.

About half-way through the trail, a replica of an old Hudson’s Bay fur-trading boat is moored near the shore of the river. Kind of interesting, and yet another feature of Fort Edmonton Park. Haven’t been in years, or at least the last time an aged relative visited from out of province and was in want of some sort of amusement. Kinda feel like a trip to the Fort again, now that I’ve smelled steam engine. Steam engine good.

The Whitemud Park trail leads to the John Janzen Nature Centre, currently being renovated, and not scheduled to open again until next year. Wandered a bit in the wetlands area, but then found our way back to the trail. By that time, about 90 minutes into the walk, the weather had turned warm and humid, but the sky

was still wonderfully moody, suggesting another sprinkle or two, and perhaps a cozy afternoon with a book and a caffeinated, and ever so slightly frothy beverage.

A perfect walk, and a perfect day for a walk.

2:24 PM/16C

Wednesday: Me ‘n the mosquitoes had a great walk home. True, my gauge differs from mosquitoes in that I don’t require the blood of humans to fuel my walk, nor do I lay my eggs in standing pools of water, but we both enjoy the outdoors, and after the torrential downpour on Monday, I had lots of company on the trails.

The hail and the apparent 80mm of rain knocked down a heck of a lot of leaves from the trees, but the creek wasn’t noticeably higher. Still hot, humid and unequivocally, summer. Not much more to say…

6:10PM/24C

…it’s a beautiful day.

The other choice? Sunday Bloody Sunday. But this is Edmonton, not Belfast, and the British are our friends.

More than two hours in the sunshine, from one end of Mill Creek to the other, and points beyond. Everywhere, the sound of Caragana seeds cracking in the heat, launching themselves to the ground, and occasionally, my head. Creeks running low, the wildflowers high and loud with bees. Seagulls spiraling and squawking and circling an island on the North Saskatchewan, as two people and a dog invade their space. Folk songs in the air. Dust on the trails. A line-up at the water fountain in Henrietta Muir Park. A couple of Australians having their pictures taken on the Cloverdale Bridge. Bikes and strollers, running shoes and sandals. Wet dogs. Dry dogs. Mosquitoes collecting DNA samples.

Summer in the river valley.

And it couldn’t be nicer.

3:57 PM/24C

Walked through Whitemud Creek today. Turns out, it’s just as hot and humid in south-east Edmonton as it is in south-central. The good thing is that I was once again reunited with my favourite walking buddy, Maggie, although we were not alone in the ravine. Along with the usual crowd, there were a bazillion mosquitoes. Smashed a few that were engorged with my precious blood, so by the end of the walk, I looked like I’d been in a fight with a raccoon. Maggie didn’t seem quite as bothered by the mozzies; she was busy reading her pee-mail, and too engrossed in the comings and goings of the local dog population to be concerned with a few pesky insects. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to brush away the ones feasting on her nose and ears. I wish she’d extended the same courtesy to me, but whatever. I was glad for the company.

We did our usual route through the power line near Blue Quill, winding our way eventually into Whitemud Creek. In spite of the slight inversiony odour above ground, especially today, the woods smelled like blueberries. Maggie likes to avail herself of all available water: puddles, ponds, creeks…and the more stagnant the better, so on this hot day, she made three mad dashes into the creek. Can’t blame her, wish I could join her…sort of. The moment we stepped out the door her tongue was hanging down to her paws, but after the first dip, she revived.

Like Mill Creek, Whitemud has a bunch of wooden bridges crossing over the creek at various points. Unlike Mill Creek, the creek is wider, longer, and appears to have more than a few beavers in attendance. Spotted three large dams, but no beeves. Too early.

Made it most of the way to the north end, near Ski Valley, but turned around early because of the mosquitoes. Just under two hours. A good walk for all involved, especially the mosquitoes.

6:46 PM/27C