This isn’t a walking post, just thought I’d share some photos of a bee (my favourite subject) from a dinner over at Sharon’s on a cold Sunday. We’re still having family dinners outside (because of ^%$#! Covid), and now that we’re approaching autumn, it’s getting colder. It’s OK though, and if we hadn’t been sitting outside, I wouldn’t have noticed a very tired and possibly close to death bee on the deck. Before I could get to her, she survived a near miss with Stella’s paw. I coaxed her onto a flowery serviette, and then delivered her to the nearest actual flower. She seemed a little revived, but who knows?
From the deck to the serviette…You’re nearly there!Yes!
Surprise! Another gorgeous after-work walk. 14,488 steps. 24C AND it’s a long weekend!! This will mostly be a photo post. It’s been a long week, and it’s always so rejuvenating to head out after work into the river valley, which is still sporting so much colour.
On my way…More purplely pleasure!Yellowy yarrow (I think)Thickly thistlely IThickly thistlely IIThe start of MacKinnon Ravine, looking eastMacKinnon Ravine, looking northLeaves ILeaves IILeaves III
Met a little friend on my after-work walk to Tom’s – a Spotted Tussock Caterpillar, also known as a Woolly Bear Caterpillar also known as a Tufted Teddy Bear Caterpillar! They are not uncommon, but it’s always nice to see one. They look like they would have nice personalities.
Victoria Hill Road area, on the stairs leading into the golf course
My camera, if I use the wide angle setting, can give really interesting effects, but it also distorts on the edge. Trying to get as much green in my photos as possible as we head into Fall. Once again it was windy but it got up to 21C. 11,773 steps.
We’ve had some coolish temperatures in the last couple of days and a few, yellow leaves are blowing around on the ground. I am not looking forward to Autumn. It’s beautiful, and in the thick of it, I love it, but it’s always too soon. Always. We never get a full August without some hint of autumn in the canopy. And once it starts, it’s so quick. As I have said before, September (along with May) is the most changeable month. It starts out summery, and by the end, it is almost past-peak fall.
Folks having fun on the golf course…A summer scene…
The day started off very grey and cold, but by the afternoon the sun was shining. I had planned on making some pies with a huge bag of Tom’s apples, but the draw of the summer afternoon was too strong.
Green!
It was very cheering to walk into the river valley via the Victoria Golf Course and be surrounded by deep, deep green and full, swaying foliage. There were lots of golfers and some physically distant activity happening on the grounds, with the sound of laughter wafting through the trees. It was all so…normal. Kind of a gift.
More riverHeading into MacKinnon Ravine
Once I was past the golf course, I walked along river road and then up into Glenora via the paved trail. It really felt like summer. I then met up with Tom and we walked back into Oliver via the museum, now a favourite route. I ended up with about 15,000 steps. The temperature never got above 18C, but that was OK. The good news? It’s still summer.
I give you, the creeping bell flower. I thought it was a bluebell.
Holy boob sweat! A gorgeous but very humid walk just after a brief rain storm this morning and before the next, apparently bigger storm this afternoon.
Victoria Park Road trail
Still can’t bring myself to leave as early as Tom (5:30 am). Just after 11 am, the temperature was about 22C but with the mugginess it seemed warmer, with the exception of an occasional ‘delicious’ breeze, to quote Marilyn Monroe.
Victoria Park Road trail IIHills of colour
Spotted several spotted Ladybug pupae (apparently) on the creeping bellflowers, which are (apparently) and invasive (but very pretty) wildflower species.
More pretty invasive species…
Overall just under two hours, 12,200 steps. Down the Victoria Park Road to River Road and then (eventually) up the super humid hill in MacKinnon Ravine. I walked over to 107 Ave so that I could take a longer, shadier route to the grocery store (City Market in Oliver Square), where once again I was disappointed by their produce.
Not a ladybug but a ladybug pupae (according to Sharon)
In spite of the humidity, I’m glad that the heat wave has broken, at least for today.
On the way to Terwillegar via the Fort Edmonton Footbridge
We’re in the middle of a gross heat wave. I mean, some like it hot…I like it moderate. Moderately cold, and moderately hot. About -5C in the winter, and 21C in the summer. With sun and blue sky.
June was very wet, as was most of July, but this last week the temperatures have hovered near 30C with unusually high levels of humidity. Ugh.
Today, the first day of a mini five-day holiday, Sharon, Stella and I visited the newish Terwillegar bridge via Fort Edmonton, our starting point (just off Fox Drive). Once we hit the footbridge we went left (instead of my usual right) to the river so Stella could have a swim, and then on to Terwillegar.
Stella with stick Beautiful, undulating wet sandSandbar below the Fort Edmonton Footbridge
We left at 9:00 am, but it was already warm and humid. The walk itself was brilliant. The sand bar where Stella had a swim in the river was surprisingly large considering the amount of rain we had prior to the heatwave. She had a blast. Wish I could have joined her.
Unbelievably gorgeousGorgeous views on both sides of the trail to TerwillegarGorgeous views IIGorgeous views III
The view on either side of the trail leading to the Terwillegar footbridge was spectacular. I’ve said this a thousand times, but we are so lucky to have all these trails and green space in the middle of the city.
Terwillegar Footbridge
The walk was about two hours in total, give or take many stops to let Stella play in the water and check her peemail. Will definitely go on this walk again…and again.
