Solo walk in MacKinnon Ravine. I wanted to see what the ratio was between ice and pavement. It’s about 90% pavement and 10% ice. For the ice part up the hill, I’m glad I brought my spikes.
Along River Road
I started along Victoria Promenade, and then down into the golf course. Most of the road was ice free, as was the entirety of River Road up until the last part of MacKinnon Ravine. Lots of deep puddles. Since I had my spikes on (I put them on half way) I walked along the adjacent path in the trees. A short but very pleasant diversion of the main trail.
The sky was amazing! Really unusual, streaky clouds. A great day for a walk.
More sky!The adjacent south trail along MacKinnon RavineThe fleeting display of spectacular cloudage now dissipated
For some reason, watching the Oilers lose is making my mind wander to this afternoon’s very pleasant walk with Tom throughout Glenora and Ravine Drive. Wearing my spring jacket, but my feet are really hurting in boots and micro-spikes. Another few days of this warm weather and I’ll be back in my running shoes.
Another pleasant, melty walk through the Museum grounds to Tom’s and then over to Numchok Wilai for some Thai take out. For a couple of vegetarians, their Massaman Beef is out of this &$!?# world!
Walked to an absolutely packed Hawrelak Park for a socially distanced but affectionately close weenie roast with Janna, Grace, Colleen, Lisa, and Kate. With the exception of Lisa (Colleen’s partner) and Barb, who was not there, these are the wonderful gals I spent my birthday with in Scottsdale in 2013.
The park was absolutely packed. I’m not sure if there was an event, but I think the combination of the warm weather, blue skies, and covid lockdown drove folks to the park, and particularly the lake (for skating). I’m glad I walked down there because there wasn’t a parking spot to be found.
This was taken from a video, which I can’t seem to upload
It was fantastic to see my friends again…in person. It takes a lot of coordination to share meals with people outside your bubble these days. Lots of separate containers, disinfectant and personal utensils, so thanks to Colleen and Lisa for the major set up, including the weenies and the fire.
The last couple of times I’ve been around a wood stove or bonfire, it starts out feeling great, but then later it’s like I’ve been in the backseat of a car with two heavy smokers (you know, like every car trip of my childhood). It takes 24 hours for me to lose that slightly sick feeling. I never used to be that sensitive to smoke, but I am now. Hopefully soon we will be able to gather indoors.
While my internet and TV are out, and before I go fully feral, here are some photos from my walk this morning with Sharon and Stella in Whitemud Creek Ravine (north).
It’s a wonderful trail, mostly flat, with great views of the curvy creek which has now turned a kind of sludgy green, although it’s still very much frozen. Mill Creek does that too. Not sure where that colour comes from. It’s actually a little more day-glo than my photos suggest.
Stella, refusing to pose again…
I’m no fan of grey skies, but the temperature was pleasant with no wind, so I will take it. I need to walk with Sharon and Stella when it’s sunny! We always seem to pick days that are overcast.
Random tiny birdhouses!Random tiny birdhouses (with googly eyeballs)!
The warm up begins…slowly. It was unbelievably cold for a couple of weeks so no real walks from the 5th to the 15th.
There is no filter on this photo along Ravine Drive. The sky was that blue!
I often stop here to listen to the birds while Tom carries on for another 20 minutes or so. When I come with him on his walks, I clock in around 13,000 steps but he likes a few more, so I stop here and he walks over the nearby Mackenzie Bridge. Because I wear micro-spikes, my feet can get really sore walking on cement and this walk from Glenora to the end of Ravine Drive involves a lot of cement thanks to responsible homeowners who clear their sidewalks and a lot of melting. He just wears hiking boots and seems fine. I guess I’m the unstable one in the relationship! Who woulda thought?
Sometimes he walks on the sidewalk and I walk next to him on the street, where there is still snow and ice close to the curb. That’s one of the tradeoffs of spikes. I stay upright (always a good thing), but the impact on my feet (if I’m on cement) is substantial.
Anyway, beautiful day for a walk after two weeks of sloth.
