My walk today was a confusion of the senses. The temperature started out cool, but ended in sweaty, summery heat. Glad I wore my shorts, even though it’s been awhile since my legs have seen any colour. Not a problem for me, but you know, it’s not fun for my fellow river valley enthusiasts. Mill Creek looks like a post-explosion landscape. Splashes of red, yellow and green debris, bordered by grey, defoliated branches. The quiet creek, and a near empty trail,

pierced by the waterfall-like crunch of feet on leaf-strewn paths. Something happened down here. Autumn, just past it’s peak.

The drastically changed landscape occurred in the blink of an eye. Two weeks ago, it was mostly green, and now, in spite of the warmth, winter seems so much nearer. I can see the November trees pushing through, taking over. Parts of the river valley, previously hidden by thick green foliage, are slowly being revealed. The searing light of an eye-level, winter sun. Bah! It’s all good. September to December are my favourite months.

2:40PM/19C

Yeah, I’ve been lazy about writing, but the colour-saturated visuals in the river valley are currently kicking the ass out of any feeble attempt of mine to describe the landscape. Sure, there’s ‘pretty’ and ‘beautiful’, and if I’m truly inspired, ‘really pretty’, and ‘really beautiful’, but overall, my words are a disappointment, and my camera skills are basic at best. Thanks alot autumn, for being indescribable.

In the waning days of September, the temperature has turned mild. A hard rain yesterday morning gave way to a ferociously blue sky in the late afternoon. It was back today, and against that deep blue backdrop, the yellow trees appeared luminous. Straight out of the tube, as they say in the painting biz. In fact, the entire river valley looks like a painter’s palette, before the mixing and muting of the colours. It is really pretty. That’s it. That’s all I have to say.

5:45 PM/17C

Yet another lovely walk in the river valley. Not only was it hot (27C), it was also very noisy wading through the leaves. Astonishing really, considering fall just started last week. A few frosty mornings, some wind and voilà! Seems there is no autumn in Edmonton without the wind. In the short term, awesome piles of leaves on the ground. In the long term, and I mean in a week, bare trees. I love the naked part of fall too, but the scenery right now is just breathtaking.

Last year, it was so warm in September, the first frost was delayed until October, and by that time, the green leaves

just threw themselves to the ground out of sheer frustration that they never got a final change of clothes. Maybe this explains why autumn this year seems so yellow, and so beautiful.

A routine, 90 minute walk through Rossdale, the Muttart, and Mill Creek Ravine. In spite of the heat, the air was anything but oppressive. The sun is was at a lower angle, not beating on my head as in midsummer, and the shady areas were considerably cooler. Also, I’ve lost every bit of tan that I possessed, so I’m much more reflective. And I don’t mean thoughtful.

It’s supposed to be very windy tomorrow, so the raining of leaves will continue. Peak fall at its peak.

6:05 PM/27C

Immortal Autumn

I speak this poem now with grave and level voice

In praise of autumn, of the far-horn-winding fall.

I praise the flower-barren fields, the clouds, the tall

Unanswering branches where the wind makes sullen noise.

Now

No more the foreign sun does meddle at our earth,

Enforce the green and bring the fallow land to birth,

Nor winter yet weigh all with silence the pine bough,

But now in autumn with the black and outcast crows

Share we the spacious world: the whispering year is gone:

There is more room to live now: the once secret dawn

Comes late by daylight and the dark unguarded goes.

Between the mutinous brave burning the leaves

And winter’s covering of our hearts with his deep snow

We are alone: there are no evening birds: we know

The naked moon: the tame stars circle at our eaves.

It is the human season. On this sterile air

Do words outcarry breath: the sounds goes on and on.

I hear a dead man’s cry from autumn long since gone.

I cry to you beyond upon this bitter air.

Archibald MacLeish

Why a poem? Because I’ve run out of ways to say beautiful.

3:35 PM/16C

A spectacular and warm autumn day. Leaves falling on my head, crunching underfoot. Cameras and dog leashes swinging from hands. Old men, young boys. Mothers and joggers. Friendly little girls, and even friendlier sheepdogs. Chickadees, squirrels, and flies. Every living creature, two, three and four-legged, out enjoying this beautiful day.

Two hour walk from one end of Mill Creek to the other, and every inch was drop dead gorgeous.

3:46 PM/27C

Hard to know which photo to choose, or even which beautiful autumn scene to photograph. It’s gorgeous everywhere. Not quite peak fall, there’s still a lot of green, but close. It happens very fast here in the north. We’re one wind storm away from defoliated trees and leaf-strewn trails. There is really nothing about fall that isn’t a thrill for the senses.

Wore my tank top for the first time in more than a week. The sun stayed behind the clouds for most of the walk, but it was warm enough to think it might still be summer, if it wasn’t for the panorama of yellow. Two seasons in one day. I’ll take it.

5:54 PM/18C