I suppose I should be angry, and perhaps that will come, but all I feel is sadness. Just attended the workshop for the Southeast LRT extension at the Old Timer’s Cabin. The meeting tonight was for the Downtown to Strathearn route. I was going to say ‘proposed’ route, but in spite of the the presenters pallid efforts to assure us that the routes are not yet ‘set in stone’, it’s clear that the public consultation portion of the planning process is a joke. There was less than 40 people at the meeting, but the folks who did attend were well-informed, if not somewhat resigned.

We were divided into three tables, each table representing the area of most concern to us. I was at the Downtown to Muttart table, with four other people and a ‘facilitator.’ The first sign that things were looking grim was the huge map spread out on the table. It named all the roads and neighbourhoods in the vicinity, including Cloverdale, Riverdale, and various other points of interest, but in the area of Louise McKinney Park, nothing. Just a big, green space with a fat line running through the eastern edge, the fat line being the LRT of course, punching through the hill. The facilitator had a easel with a large pad of paper (no doubt headed for a large shredder)  for our suggestions and concerns, and my first one was that they at least mention Louise McKinney on the damn map. Also, Henrietta Muir Park on the other side of the river. Both parks, and the park area around the Muttart will be greatly impacted by the LRT, and not for the better.

And speaking of the bridge, the current plan is to build an elevated track on top of the existing Cloverdale pedestrian bridge, closing off the open roof, and changing it to the point where it is an entirely different kind of bridge. An LRT bridge. Yes, people will be able to cross it, eventually, and how well it will be integrated into the river valley is up to debate. Not a real debate, of course. And anyway, how well can you integrate a giant metal pig screeching through parkland? You can’t.

The Cloverdale is not the only bridge in the way of the LRT. The bridge over 98th is gone, and so is the one that connects Muttart to Millcreek (crossing over Connor’s Hill.)  New bridges will be built, once again to accommodate the needs of the LRT. However, because construction is likely to be concurrent rather than sequential, accessibility to the river valley trails in this area for at least a couple of years is not guaranteed, and judging by the expression on the facilitator’s face, not something that has even been considered.

It seems that the river valley, and those who use it, are just not relevant concerns for City Council or the LRT extension planning team. The bid for Expo 2017, to quote a like-minded attendee at the workshop, is what’s driving the LRT extension, the specific routes chosen (regardless of viable alternatives), and the speed with which the plan is being executed.

Disgusting.

This is not the last blog on the subject.

On a more positive note, when I exited the Old Timer’s Cabin at around 9:00, it had just rained, and the air was cool and head-swimmingly fragrant. The sky was still dark, and with the sun setting behind us, the trees in the river valley were luminously green. After all the hot air today, it was a simply gorgeous end.

30C today, but currently 18C/11:05PM

It’s not ‘honey, get the Fargo DVD‘ hot…yet...but it’s close. Tomorrow. That’ll be the scorcher. Today was manageable, even pleasant, but two or three degrees too hot for me. Not crazy about sweating. I prefer my ‘glow’ to come from within. However, even though it’s only been a few days since I walked my usual paths, the change in foliage is dramatic. It’s getting thick. And pink. And green. I love the shininess of recently unfurled poplar leaves, and the aromatic presence of apple, mayday, and Russian olive blossoms wafting through the air.

Glad I took the Rossdale path. I was going to take the downtown route but the MacDonald Hotel stairs have crime-scene tape blocking them off, due to a dead guy found on the middle deck last night. Can’t say I’m surprised. There are often no-goodniks loitering about on the stairs, and the bus stop at the top of the hill is a nightmare. But…the stairs are a great workout, even if they make me walk funny the next day.

OK, that’s it. I’m too hot. I’ll save Fargo for tomorrow, but tonight  I think a chilly, rainy X-files episode will be a most welcome distraction from the heat.

6:03PM/26C

No big walk today…just a stroll around the ‘hood. It’s a beautiful day, but my shoulders are still fluorescent and it’s too hot to wear anything but a tank top (and shorts.) Also, I have to buy some new sunscreen. Also, I have stuff to do. Like sit in front of my computer. And oh yeah, explore the possibilities of the new love of my life, Nutella. Other than ‘off a spoon‘, my favourite way to enjoy this hazelnutasm in a jar is to spread it on double-churned dark chocolate ice cream. So good. I anticipate a very long, loving, and untroubled relationship.

1:17 PM/24C

Later on in the evening, went hunting for the rumoured owls in Whitemud Creek, and found three of them! I have NEVER seen an owl in the wild before, and it wasn’t just any old owl, it was the Great Horned Owl. And, we also saw two Great Horned Owl babies. As my niece explained to me, the tufts of feathers on its head are neither ears, nor horns, but merely…tufts of feathers. Uh..thanks, but I think they’re eyebrows.

The owl was sitting very high up on a tree. Through my binoculars, I could clearly see the owl staring straight at me with it’s yellow eyes. I felt kind of honoured to be noticed amongst all the people and squirrels. They must have heat-seeking eyesight. The burn on my shoulders from earlier today is still radiating great plumes of super-heated air. I feel combustible. And happy. I saw an owl!  Also, beavers.

9:02 PM/20C

My friend and I decided to check out the Devonian Gardens to see what was sprouting. Not much. It’s beautiful and serene, especially in the Japanese garden, but there wasn’t much going on but squabbling geese and brittle grass. Found a beetle on his back, all sixteen arms flailing in panic, and so I flipped him over. Figured my good deed was deserving of a double scoop of ice cream, which it was, and so we did.

The ‘wetlands’ trail really needs to be renamed. Perhaps the ‘notsowetlands’, or the ‘notwetatall’ lands. The boardwalk stretches across dead reeds and old cattails. The only water is a pond far off in the distance.

The last time I was at the Devonian was in December for the Luminaria walk. All the trails were lit up by small votive candles. It was -25, but there were bonfires with hot cider on tap, which made the hour survivable.   It hardly seems like the same place today.

Had my friend drop me off at Laurier, and somewhere in between Laurier and my home (about an hour and 15), I got burnt to a crisp. My sunscreen expired in April 2009. On the bright side, and there was plenty of bright, I have now received a year’s worth of vitamin D in one day!

Ouch.

3:47 PM/24C

Who’s a lovely day? Who’s a lovely day? You are! You’re a lovely day! Truly. All warm and pretty and sweet-smelling. Now the impatience begins. I’m happy with the progress of the green thus far, but I’m greedy. I want more. I want lush.

The great thing about this time of year in Edmonton is that once spring really begins (in May), it’s fast. Just like autumn. We spend a lot of time loitering about in the inbetween states of  post-autumn and post-winter, both of which are brown, brown, and…uh… brown. When the first yellow leaf falls from a poplar tree, you know that thousands will follow in a matter of weeks. And then we wait, and wait for the snow to break up the dreary geometry of leafless trees and desolate landscapes. The snow melts, and the brown returns. But…a few months later, after the ubiquitous May snowfall, and much swearing, the Mayday trees finally pop their perfumed buds, and you know, ya just know, lush is just around the corner.

5:58 PM/21C