On this, my last day of holidays (until July), I took the train downtown and then walked into Louise McKinney to view the rising North Saskatchewan River. It is high, and moving fast, but I’ve seen higher. Lots of debris in the water, and once again, the seagulls have been usurped from their island home until the waters recede. Nice to do these periodic check-ins while I’m temporarily relocated to the southeast. In this area of the river valley different things happen depending on the time of year, and this is when the river floods the shore. This is also the time when the trees in Rossdale start swingin’ with the worms. I don’t have to see one to know the green devil has returned, so no Rossdale until July.

The day started out sunny, and the walk to the train was sunny, but by the time I exited the Winspear, it was completely overcast. Not a bad day to walk, especially since I burned the hell out of my back yesterday, but I was worried it was going to rain. My luck held, and Mill Creek Ravine was serene, beautiful and dry. Not another soul about, other than the birds. Seems to be more Robins this year. Maybe my absence from the neighbourhood has made the magpie population drop. No one’s feeding them peanuts anymore. Stupid people.

12:38PM/17C

A corker of a day, as the Brits would say. Sunny and warm after a couple of days of gloom and rain. Rain is great, but a blue sky is instantly cheering.

Maggie and I went up to the wetlands. It’s smallish, and was probably built to assuage the inevitable depression arising out of living in the suburban nightmare that is the neighbourhood west of Whitemud Ravine. Well, I think it’s a nightmare. Some people might enjoy those three-story mcmansions situated next to a power plant (and about one foot on either side of each other) but it’s not my cup of skinny mocha latte. Nevertheless, the water feature is gorgeous, and it does the trick by attracting all kinds of unlikely birds to the area. It’s the only place in the city (that I know of) with resident red-wing black birds, who have a very distinctive voice. There were also many other bird songs that I couldn’t distinguish, and a couple of ptarmigans (I think) that we inadvertently scared out of the bush. Sorry guys. We tried to step lightly.

This tiny wetland is a birder’s dream, and a dog’s frustration. I wouldn’t let Maggie take a dive into the reed and vegetation-filled water. Didn’t want to disturb the birds, or have to peel green slime from her fur, which would have been even more disturbing. She seemed content to smell the grass while I snapped shots of the water and listened to the beautiful, lilting bird song.

Another perfect walk.

2:30PM/19C

A 90 minute afternoon walk with the dog, under the clouds and sun in Whitemud. Had the place to myself, which is always cheering. Not that I mind people, per se, it just makes it easier for Maggie. I was downtown this morning, but opted to stay above ground rather than end my errands with a stroll through Louise McKinney and Mill Creek. I’ll be in the area on Wednesday, and I wanted to make time for the dog. So, after lunch we wandered around Whitemud for about an hour, and then back through the power line. I think if Maggie could have taken a cab, she would have done so, rather than walk the last fifteen minutes down the street to home. It’s a boring stretch, especially after all the peemail has been read. Age is definitely catching up with that dog.

My trip to Mill Creek last week really drove home the fact that as much as I like Whitemud Ravine, it’s just not as pretty as Mill Creek Ravine. Whitemud is bigger and wider, as is the creek, and it’s more isolated from traffic, but Mill Creek has way more variation, and many more little bridges. It’s compact and gorgeous, like a Mars Bar.

3:30PM/20C

It fills me with rage, but there is nothing I can do about it. As Tracy Morgan (30 Rock) says-it’s happening people. The beautiful Cloverdale pedestrian bridge over the North Saskatchewan River is going to be destroyed to make way for a newer bridge which will accommodate the southeast line of the LRT. After many information sessions, I am still not convinced that cutting through the river valley is the most expedient and least expensive route for the train. I have written about this at length in OTHER POSTS, so I’ll refrain from further kicks to this dying horse, but I refuse to get on board with the project, or the City’s disingenuous efforts to ‘include’ the public in their decision-making process.

In the Edmonton Journal article on June 1, Elise Stolte presented the Transportation Department’s design ideas for the new bridge, under the heading ‘What Do You Think?’ I think it doesn’t matter what I think, or anyone thinks, especially the people who use that bridge, and the river valley trail system (the so-called ‘gem’ of the city) every day.

“The transportation department released images of six possible bridge structures prepared by consultants. They are not holding a competition. They will pick one option as a final recommendation to city council. That decision will be made by balancing the capital costs, expected ongoing maintenance costs and public opinion.”

When I say ‘beautiful’, it’s not that the existing bridge itself is beautiful, although it is designed in such a way to allow the maximum appreciation of the beauty that surrounds it. It’s a pedestrian bridge, so depending on the time of day, and season, it’s wooden boards squeak with a continual procession of walkers, runners, bikers, Sunday strollers, musicians, geese, and very often, visitors taking photos of themselves and the gorgeous Edmonton vistas this bridge affords. The bridge is part of a trail system that inconspicuously and rather serenely connects the lovely Louise McKinney Park to the southern side of the river. The LRT expansion in to the river valley will exact a terrible toll on this area, and the adjoining Henrietta Muir Park, the Muttart Conservatory grounds, the Edmonton Ski club, and Connor’s Hill-which runs parallel to the bucolic Mill Creek Ravine.

Who cares what the bridge looks like? Based on past history, it will be functional but ugly, and even more intrusive than the current LRT bridge extending from just below the High Level Bridge to the University. Maybe it’s not anger I feel. Maybe it’s sadness. Something near and dear is about to be harmed. Irreversibly.

Walked through Mill Creek Ravine today with a friend. Other than a pleasant excuse to go for a walk with a very pleasant fellow, the purpose of this noon-day stroll was to help him with a project, and my ‘job’ was to speak about Mill Creek. Why it’s my favourite walk in the city. Easy job, although I’m an uneasy speaker, and as I discovered, a breathless and sometimes incoherent one. I was being recorded, and it’s not easy to walk and speak at the same time. Correction, it’s damn hard to walk, speak and not sound asthmatic and/or cognitively challenged. Nevertheless, it was fun, and a total pleasure to talk about Mill Creek. It felt at times as if I was escorting someone through a gallery of fine art. Thursday in the Park With K.

Mill Creek Ravine was spectacularly beautiful today, as if it knew we were coming. On with the party pants in varying shades of green. It’s been a few months since I walked the southern section of the creek. As per usual at the end of May, it’s lush and shimmering with bird song. Hard to believe I’ve spent any time away.

No one ever asks me about my walks. To be asked, well, that was kind of  great. Because most of my impressions are internal (unless I write them down in this blog), it was an interesting exercise in verbalizing my experiences in the ravine. Of course, you never really know if someone is catching what you’re pitching, but K seemed happy with what he was hearing. And he can always edit out the huge number of ‘um’s’ and the occasional heaving breaths. I think I also said ‘amazing’ about 50 times, but I’ve forgiven my mouth for its lack of inventiveness. And anyway, it is amazing.

For all of the verbal anguish, it was a fine walk, through a beautiful piece of Edmonton, with a very good (and forgiving) friend. That is enough.

8:43PM/20C

A stupidly beautiful walk in Mill Creek this morning. Took the train downtown, and then made my way through a very colourful Louise McKinney Park to the holiest of holies, Mill Creek Ravine. As per usual, I’ve taken some time off to enjoy this part of spring. The lush part. Everything is blooming, including the pink apple trees, the lilacs, and even the dandelions. The air is a living thing, full of flowery fragrances and poplar fuzz, especially now that we’ve had a few days of solid rain. Unfortunately, I was overdressed. Should’ve worn shorts and a tank. It’s just 20, but the few clouds scattered here and there weren’t enough to shield the sun’s heat. I boiled in my black capris and t-shirt.

My favourite little bridge is closed for repairs. If I’m in the area, I always feel like I should cross it, like some kind of superstition. Or maybe a form of OCD, but the mildest sort. It doesn’t really matter if I don’t, but this particular bridge represents everything I love about Mill Creek. I’ve stood many times on it’s creaky wooden boards, listening to the water rushing, and sometimes trickling, over the rocks. It’s very meditative. Hope it reopens soon.

It’s odd. I feel like I’m betraying Maggie when I walk in the woods without her. Just Mill Creek, of course. I’d never go dogless in Whitemud. Nevertheless, walking on these trails feels like being home.

3:03PM/20C