This isn’t a walking post, just thought I’d share some photos of a bee (my favourite subject) from a dinner over at Sharon’s on a cold Sunday. We’re still having family dinners outside (because of ^%$#! Covid), and now that we’re approaching autumn, it’s getting colder. It’s OK though, and if we hadn’t been sitting outside, I wouldn’t have noticed a very tired and possibly close to death bee on the deck. Before I could get to her, she survived a near miss with Stella’s paw. I coaxed her onto a flowery serviette, and then delivered her to the nearest actual flower. She seemed a little revived, but who knows?
From the deck to the serviette…You’re nearly there!Yes!
I’m writing this a couple of weeks after the walk, so can’t really remember specifics from the walk, other than this leaf, and it was a Saturday of a long weekend. Clearly autumn is starting to exert itself. 14,021 steps, apparently.
Surprise! Another gorgeous after-work walk. 14,488 steps. 24C AND it’s a long weekend!! This will mostly be a photo post. It’s been a long week, and it’s always so rejuvenating to head out after work into the river valley, which is still sporting so much colour.
On my way…More purplely pleasure!Yellowy yarrow (I think)Thickly thistlely IThickly thistlely IIThe start of MacKinnon Ravine, looking eastMacKinnon Ravine, looking northLeaves ILeaves IILeaves III
Met a little friend on my after-work walk to Tom’s – a Spotted Tussock Caterpillar, also known as a Woolly Bear Caterpillar also known as a Tufted Teddy Bear Caterpillar! They are not uncommon, but it’s always nice to see one. They look like they would have nice personalities.
Victoria Hill Road area, on the stairs leading into the golf course
My camera, if I use the wide angle setting, can give really interesting effects, but it also distorts on the edge. Trying to get as much green in my photos as possible as we head into Fall. Once again it was windy but it got up to 21C. 11,773 steps.
We’ve had some coolish temperatures in the last couple of days and a few, yellow leaves are blowing around on the ground. I am not looking forward to Autumn. It’s beautiful, and in the thick of it, I love it, but it’s always too soon. Always. We never get a full August without some hint of autumn in the canopy. And once it starts, it’s so quick. As I have said before, September (along with May) is the most changeable month. It starts out summery, and by the end, it is almost past-peak fall.
Folks having fun on the golf course…A summer scene…
The day started off very grey and cold, but by the afternoon the sun was shining. I had planned on making some pies with a huge bag of Tom’s apples, but the draw of the summer afternoon was too strong.
Green!
It was very cheering to walk into the river valley via the Victoria Golf Course and be surrounded by deep, deep green and full, swaying foliage. There were lots of golfers and some physically distant activity happening on the grounds, with the sound of laughter wafting through the trees. It was all so…normal. Kind of a gift.
More riverHeading into MacKinnon Ravine
Once I was past the golf course, I walked along river road and then up into Glenora via the paved trail. It really felt like summer. I then met up with Tom and we walked back into Oliver via the museum, now a favourite route. I ended up with about 15,000 steps. The temperature never got above 18C, but that was OK. The good news? It’s still summer.
Had lots to do today, but it was such a sunny, beautiful Sunday I had to find the time for a brief walk (about 50 minutes) in Mill Creek Ravine.
Mill Creek Ravine from the paved path heading south
First, I went to Canadian Tire to pick up a table for my work computer and two monitors that I finally brought home. I now have a proper office in my spare room, since I expect to be working remotely at least until January. Both my dining room table (my temporary desk) and my mac laptop (my small, elderly computer) have breathed a sigh of relief.
One of the many bridges in Mill Creek Ravine
Mill Creek was, of course, magnificent. I walked on the paved path to the south edge along 72nd to see if the trail into the ravine had been re-opened (it’s been closed since last year), but they still haven’t repaired the bridge. Not sure what’s wrong, probably erosion. I could have made my way down the makeshift path in the woods nearby, but I’m still not 100% confident about my hamstring. If I should re-injure it in any of the myriad ways I could walking down a steep, rooty hill, who knows what damage I would do? So I turned back and walked down into the Mill Creek Pool area, crossing the bridge and into the lower, non-paved trail. I still got a good share of bridges and creek views walking back north.
babble, babble, babble
Later that afternoon, Tom and I went over to Sharon and Vic’s for a backyard barbeque. I know garden flowers are not the usual type of photo I post here, but they are so beautiful, why not?
Until next time, Mill Creek…
Can’t remember the temperature, but it was about 22C.
