As opposed to yesterday, a great day for a walk. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy Saturday’s stroll through Mill Creek and Louise McKinney, but it was cloudy, and I was under-dressed for a wind that was overly enthusiastic. But back to today, perfect temperature, lovely blue sky, and not too wet. Maggie seemed extra happy wandering through the clover near Aspen Gardens, even though by that time, we had been out for more than an hour.

In the last few weeks, I haven’t walked as much as usual (which is not that much to begin with), and a lack of wilderness in my life always shows up first in my mood. For the sake of everyone around me, I need to get myself into the woods more often. Having the main access to Whitemud still closed doesn’t help, but a nice person at the City of Edmonton provided some assurance (but no deadline) for the eventual re-opening of the trail. It’s a main drainage area, which is why it was so badly affected by all the rain, and why it may be open sooner rather than later. Good.

My walk on Saturday followed a three-hour hair styling appointment. These bi-monthly visits are always a marathon, but  pleasant marathon, even though my stylist was in a pretty dark place health-wise yesterday, popping oxycodone and probably too gorked for such a long app’t. By the time I left, she was ready for a nap, and I was ready for a vigorous hike, but the chill in the air popped my bubble of anticipation. Stupid shorts. Stupid tank top. It was only about 11 degrees. Today, it’s much nicer, hot under the sun but not sufferingly so, like a few weeks ago. The humidity is way down. What a strange summer. Tons of butterflies fluttering in the air, almost to the point of being ethereal in spots. Maggie didn’t notice, she was too busy smelling the coyote that was supposedly stalking Whitemud Creek. Didn’t see any coyotes, but when she stopped to roll in something, I figured it wasn’t bluebells.

2:00PM/21C

I’m too hot (and/or lazy) to write a post today, although we did have a great walk at Terwilliger this morning. Therefore, as this is dragonboat racing weekend, and in lieu of the fact that the races have been relocated to Leduc because of the overflowing North Saskatchewan, a few of my observations of the Dragonboat Races from last year.

Also, a balloon drifting over the neighbourhood.

12:52PM/23C (will be 30…just like last year.)

Success! Found my way out of Aspen Gardens today, which made our walk about 90 minutes long instead of two hours. Once again, the dog and I hopped on the family Folk Fest bus in the morning, but this time we were dropped off at the trail head to Whitemud Creek in Westbrook.  Once Maggie figured out her mum wasn’t coming with us, she took off back toward the street, but the van had long since departed. I’m probably her second favourite person in the world, but a mum is a mum. Eventually…she stopped looking wistfully in the direction of the road.

There is good news about the bridge. Yesterday I went for a second walk with Maggie to the power line, and at the end of the path, not one but two port-a-potties! This can only mean one thing: workers. There was more fence as well, and some stakes in the ground. I’m very happy about this. It suggests that work is imminent on the ravine bank and the bridge. I guess this makes sense…there are giant power line towers very near to the ravine. If one goes, they all go.  I had assumed that there would be no work done this year, as the trail does not involve a disruption to car (as opposed to foot) traffic, so the city wouldn’t give a flying fuck. But fingers crossed, this extremely well-used trail is on somebody’s to-do list.

Noon/20C

Back in Mill Creek today. Abstaining from the Folk Fest yet again this year, but took advantage of a non-abstainer’s ride down to Rossdale. Had a fantastic walk through Louise McKinney and especially Mill Creek Ravine, which currently resembles a jungle, minus the monkeys (I think.) Unfortunately, walks in the ‘hood mean a 45 ride on various forms of transportation to get back home, and today it was even longer. Wreaks havoc with my post-walk vibe. Nevertheless, Mill Creek continues to weave a spell around me. My heart beats slower, my shoulders relax. My brain is emptied of pesky thoughts. The past shrinks and the future disappears. Just me, the trees, some very striking rust-coloured dragonflies, many, many birds, and the creek.

Oh, and this sign. Odd that someone would be carrying a can of spray paint around, but I guess you never know where opportunity will arise.

1:30PM/25C

It had its sweet, beautiful moments, but for the most part, today’s walk was an exercise in frustration. Still trying to find an alternate ‘long’ walk for Maggie and I, now that the Whitemud Creek entrance nearest to us has closed. Without using a car, the only possibility is a walk that is one third ravine, and two thirds white hot suburban sidewalk. Strolling through my old neighbourhood in Strathcona/Mill Creek yesterday, I was reminded how wonderfully shaded it is amongst all the elms and old-growth trees canopying the narrow streets. A walk along these cool, verdant paths is relaxing. A walk in my current neighbourhood often feels like I’m being hammered. I love the sun, but there is no relief.

However, we did get a long walk. Poor Maggie. She’s feeling glum, probably from the heat and the fact that four members of her pack are in Victoria this long weekend. Her tummy is clearly upset, because she threw up on someone’s exquisitely manicured lawn in Westbrook (just after she took a shit on it.) So, the walk wasn’t without it’s amusements, but the frequent stops for various evacuations both in Westbrook and especially in Whitemud Ravine meant we were swarmed by mosquitoes. I sprayed myself with noxious chemicals prior to the walk, but that didn’t stop the buggers from flying around me, if not actually landing. Maggie, on the other hand, was viciously attacked, but didn’t seem too bothered. I wiped her snout a few times to clear the mozzies from her face, which made her lick my hand with her barfy tongue.

When we turned toward the Aspen Gardens exit, the little bridge was encased in what looked like smoke, but was actually fog. I’d heard that there was fog about, but didn’t see any in the ravine until that very moment. In the sunlight, the fog appeared to be rolling gracefully out from under the bridge. It was very cool, and lovely in an oddly isolated, ethereal way. Tried to capture it on film, but I have no setting for ethereal.

The trail to Aspen Gardens is short but steep, and once we started ascending, Maggie was almost running. I think she felt energized by the extreme wetness of the path (it rained yet again last night), and by the puddles which were deep enough for a few slurps. Once we emerged from the ravine, I stayed right as per the instructions given to me last week when we got lost. Got lost again. Stupid. We ended up back in Westbrook, basically retracing our steps under a blazing sun. I apologized to Maggie but by this time she was as intent on getting the hell out of there as much as I was, not evening stopping for a pee. My grumpiness was alleviated by a few slices of Friday’s pizza and a cold beverage. I miss the shade. And I miss the old entrance to Whitemud.

12:30PM/23C

In my attempt to find a new route out of Whitemud Ravine today, I got lost in Aspen Gardens. Not a big deal, except that it was hot and humid, and I was afraid Maggie would stroke out before we found our way through the cul-de-sac lousy neighbourhood. Turns out, Maggie has a better sense of direction than me. After about 20 minutes of sun drenched dead-ends, when I wanted to go left, she veered right and refused to go with me. Dog is smart. Eventually things started to look familiar, and we ended up at Westbrook School. Second mistake of the day, we took a short-cut through the field. As of the last few days, the mosquitoes are back with a vengeance. They swarmed our blood-infused flesh, and there was nothing  to do but run. Once again, the dog showed good manners and did not laugh at my lack of grace. Not even a snicker. Later on, she rubbed her snout in the dew-moistened grass to stop the itch from what must have been at least a few bites.

The ravine was cool(ish) and still very wet. There’s been no reprieve from the rain. We get at least a little something every day, and some days it’s a deluge. Very unusual, but I suppose not unwelcome. I’d rather have too much rain than not enough.

1:00PM (two hours in the woods…and gardens), 24C