Drove over this morning to Molly’s Mill Creek vet for a refill of her many pills, and then into the woods for an hour. As mentioned a few posts ago, curiously…Mill Creek is a week or two ahead of Whitemud in its’ progression though autumn. There are virtually no leaves left on the trees. Some bushes are still red, yellow and green, but the aspens are bereft of colour. It’s quite beautiful, actually. I love the muted tones, especially on an overcast, windy morning. Very atmospheric and Halloweeny.
Last part of my walk in Whitemud today, I came across a Pileated Woodpecker. Like that time in Mill Creek ten years ago (or so), this guy was oblivious to me, and calmly went about his business thumping and chipping away at a tree as I photographed. Sadly, I mean, tragically, I didn’t bring my camera, just my iPhone, which is a piss poor alternative for moments like this, especially on a sunny day. Even though he was only a few feet away from me, I couldn’t actually see what I was photographing. Eventually I stopped, and observed. The woods are beautiful, especially the often heard but rarely sighted pileated woodpecker. Taking a great photograph is important, but it’s more important to be still, and observe with my eye what is in front of me. When I was ready, I thanked him, and continued on my walk.
Wasn’t going to take photos today, but I couldn’t help myself. I drove Maggie and I to the trail at the end of Westbrook, and enjoyed a relatively short, but sensually spectacular walk in the woods, while the trees rained leaves down upon us. So beautiful.
Words fail this time of year. May and October. There is insufficient vocabulary. Walked through Blackmud Creek on a cool afternoon yesterday, taking in all the colour and scents.
A friendly meeting of the Whitemud and Blackmud Creeks
Too cool for shorts, but I wore them anyway. Wish I could show my exuberance like Maggie, nosing her way through the rotting leaves, hopping over tree roots and dipping her paws in pools of aptly named black mud. Then again, maybe not…
The network of trails off 23rd Ave are heavily root-bound and undulating, and to remain upright, it’s imperative that one be vigilant while traversing this incredibly beautiful area of the ravine. Not an easy thing to do when the view is so spectacular, and the ground underfoot so perilous. I did not embarrass myself, and even managed a little skip here and there over the roots. None of the trails in the northern section of Blackmud Creek are groomed. It’s all monkey trail, but well-trodden monkey trail. Many fellow walkers out with their dogs and cameras, enjoying a lovely autumn day.
Blackmud ravine is the only place I know of in the city that has an Oxbow. When rivers or creeks meander and are cut off from their course, an oxbow, or u-shaped protrusion is formed. Along Blackmud Creek at the bottom of a small but steep hill, a mini-lake suddenly comes into view, parallel to the trail, very black, and very still. Just another one of those inexplicably beautiful and surprising things that exist in the trails and ravines of Edmonton.
An oxbow in Blackmud CreekMore oxbowing….Oxbow reflection
