Nothing much to say, other than man…what a beautiful day. Warm, sunny, and best of all, after arming myself with a can of OFF, very few mosquitoes. Oh yes, they were there, but they bounced off the chemical soup slathered on my arms and legs. No harm, no foul. Thank you Deet.

5:45PM/23C

Or very near. A great walk up 105st, through downtown and into McKinney but then…Mill Creek Ravine, where all the mosquitoes meet to eat, or so I discovered. And I learned something. Keep your mouth shut, because one flew into my mouth as I was snapping this picture. I have now armed myself with a can of F-Off.

Prior to this, the trip home was quiet and uneventful. A bit cool and overcast, but no rain. Yet. The deeply sweet scent of the grey-green Russian Olive trees that line the staircases in Louise McKinney Park is so strong it almost pulls you down the stairs, like a siren luring ships into the rocks. Or something like that. Must be all that blood loss…I need to take a nap.

6:10PM/16C

Rain these last two days but today, Sunday, it’s lovely. Occasionally overcast, but mostly bright and sun-filled. Unbelievably gorgeous smells wafting out of the river valley, and so lush. Hard to believe the land is still puffing out and greening up, but it is, and a couple of days of rain made everything leap forward. Terribly cold yesterday, and Friday. Hovering between 4 and 8, which incidentally, is the same temperature I experienced for 6 hours straight in my capris jammies last week at the Relay for Life. Not warm today, but humid enough to warrant a tank top and shorts. Did some stairs and a loop around north Mill Creek and McKinney. Still no leaf-roller caterpillars, but I haven’t been walking in the areas with the infestations, like Rossdale. Tomorrow, my first day back at work, I’ll look for worm-sign, or as Jurgen Prochnow says in Dune, verm-zine. With the exception of Friday and Saturday, my week of holidays has been grand. And two rain days to read, de-clutter my closets, and plant stuff in my flower pots is not such a bad thing. Glad to be back in the woods though…

1:20PM/16C

Another perfect day. Kept this walk to an hour…got stuff to do and my shoulders could use a little less up close and personal with the sun. Just a half loop around Mill Creek Ravine. Enough to feel rejuvenated but not exhausted. I think if I wasn’t a walker, I would still try to escape into the ravine just to get away from the construction noises on 99th and Scona Road. Even in the thickest part of the woods, the constant pounding can be heard, but happily, the birds drown out most of it. Lots of singing today, sweetening an already heartbreakingly lovely landscape.

Saw my first ever Pine Grosbeak, on my birdfeeder, not in the woods. Had no idea what it was…had to consult my local bird book. Unlike the orangy red breast of the Robin, the male Pine Grosbeak is scarlet red, from his tiny head to his tiny feet. Just the wings have a bit of brown and white. Really something. Glad I keep my binoculars by the chair. Man, I am starting to sound old. Thank god I don’t knit.

1:35PM/21C

Did the Emily Murphy/Hawrelak/Laurier trek twice today, which was about three hours in total. My dogs are a bit barky, but it was worth it. So beautiful outside, and the baby ducks in the lake at Hawrelak were so damn cute I deserve a medal for the restraint I exercised in not scooping the little duckies into my arms. And I would have if mum and dad duck hadn’t given me the stink eye. I don’t think they were too happy that their babies were paddling in the reedy water next to my feet. So fuzzy and friendly, I bet they would have enjoyed a hug. I know I would have.

The scenery at Hawrelak was bucolic to the extreme. Very few people at 10:30 in the morning, and the lake was calm and fowl-filled with several different kinds of ducks, including the inexplicably named blue-billed Ruddy Duck, many, many geese both in and out of the water, and seagulls. Amazing how docile the geese are, considering their ornery reputation. They just casually waddled out of the way as I wandered around the lake. Prior to this, I took the path between Emily Murphy and the Kinsmen, which was surprisingly dry. It’s often very humid along that trail, but the lack of rain has had its affect. Oddly enough, there were swarms of mosquitoes near the water, but they didn’t go after me. The other end of the walk at Laurier was uneventful. Extremely lush, sunny, but quiet. Even the dogs were few in number, although I did see a couple playing in the North Saskatchewan.

4:15PM/20C

A marathon two and a half hour walk today. Took the path that runs parallel to 98th Avenue, walked around McNally High School, stopped to pet a dachshund, over to the newly refurbished Dawson Bridge, and then into Riverdale. As I’ve mentioned a few times before, Riverdale is my second favourite neighbourhood in the city, next to Mill Creek (sorry, the godzilla water fountain tips it over the edge.) In the last few years, there has been a lot of development in Riverdale, in the form of giant condo complexes and massive houses. It’s still got that quiet, Mayberry feel about it, but the mix of old and new is tipping heavily toward the new. While the Dawson Bridge was undergoing a major de-rusting, I avoided that particular route. Compared to what it was, the new bridge looks spectacular. Good job, folks. The beams are sparkling, and coincidentally, the same colour as my toenails. Not sure about either choice, but I’m sure it made sense at the time.

Stopped on the footbridge to check out mother goose, but she was once again absent from her nest. Sure, a gal’s gotta eat, but I hope this isn’t a repeat of last year. Five eggs in total, which seems like a lot, but I’m not sure they’ll hatch. Last year, the eggs just disappeared all of a sudden, after the mother was gone for several days. I have a feeling the nest is being watched, which is probably a good thing. As cool as it is to observe this family of geese every year, I kinda wish someone would give Ms Goose and her eggs a ride to Hawrelak, where I think most of the geese in the city lay their eggs. At least the goslings would have a soft place to fall. On the other hand, maybe the peacefulness of Louise McKinney Park is preferable to Squawksville.

3:30PM/19C