So much for ‘artistic’ shots of the ravine. I tried to take a picture of the dappled shadows on the trail and ended up with a photograph of Maggie’s armpit and elbow, although I’m not sure if dogs actually have elbows. She probably thought I was bending down to give her a snack, and when she licked my face, I snapped a picture. Ah well. It’s not the first time she’s insinuated herself into one of my photographs.

In spite of the wind, and the noise from the wind, it was a lovely day for a long walk in Whitemud Ravine. I was not alone in these thoughts; everyone (and their dog) was out for a stroll through the woods on this last day of the long weekend, the only one with reasonable weather.

With the wind and the rain, and only one walk, I got in a lot of reading this weekend, and the dog napped like a champion. A solid way to spend a few days off, I think.

3;42PM/19C

…or at least, signs of them. Haven’t seen any actual beeves for a while, but the evidence is everywhere, whether it’s the ubiquitous gnawed stumps, or yet another dam on Whitemud Creek. No beavers in Mill Creek as far as I know, because the creek is too narrow for serious beaver action. In some places, I could dam the creek by putting one foot in the water.

A rare evening walk. Very beautiful and quiet in the woods.

8:25PM/18C

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