Tag Archives: Edmonton’s river valley

About damn time…

It’s been too warm for the river to completely freeze over

It’s been a minute since we went for a walk. Tom was feeling poorly for awhile, so we didn’t walk anywhere, and work was quite busy. So finally today in the late afternoon we went for our usual walk, and it was beautiful. Sunny and 6C. In fact, the last couple of weeks have been very nice. We got a dump of snow the first week of November starting on the 1st (like clockwork) and really nothing since. It’s still fairly white outside, but the main streets are completely clear and there isn’t much depth on the ground. If only it would stay that way.

Tom of the Ravine

Harvest Moon

Harvest Moon (partial) over MacKinnon Ravine

October 6 and 7 photos from a couple of late afternoon walks. On Friday (Oct 7), we left after 5:30, had dinner at Vi’s for Pies, and walked home in the dark. Along the way, a partial harvest moon! It was much bigger in person. Beautiful, warm, October walks along the turquoise river.

Even zoomed in, the moon was much bigger with the naked eye
Bluuuueee river
Tom contemplates life, the universe and everything

September Roundup

Coyote along ravine drive (Sept 25)

September isn’t over yet, but I’ve gone on more than a few unremarkable remarkable walks — the usual, in other words, around Grovenor, Glenora, Ravine Drive and MacKinnon Ravine. And in between, summer turned to fall. I’m longing to get back in the woods, but these walks are good enough.

The river, looking west (Sept 25)

We’re headed into a mini-heatwave and a long weekend, so hopefully some ravine walks are in my future. Today, it looked like autumn but felt like summer.

MacKinnon Ravine, looking east (Sept 25)
MacKinnon Ravine, looking west (Sept 25)
Canoes on the river (Sept 21)
Surprisingly, not alien pods but horse chestnuts… (Sept 21)
Tom of the Ravine (Sept 21)





Smoky and Hot

MacKinnon Ravine under a smoky morning sun

Another early morning walk (before the 32C heat kicks in and the Blue Jays game starts), but not too early (about 7:30 am). Beautiful and a bit smoky from the fire in Jasper. During our 90+ minute walk, the temperature went from 15C to 21C. 10,000+ steps.

Morning dew on a spider web
Wild rose in repose

Upriiiiight

Not really sunset, but an evening sun (around 7 pm) over MacKinnon Bridge looking west

Hard to know if this should be under the heading of: a day in the life of Donna or; you can’t write this stuff.

Tom and I were out for an evening walk, and I tripped. Didn’t hurt myself too much, a slightly scraped hand, broken sunglasses, a sore boob. The usual. The funny part was that an hour prior, I had put on some fake tan stuff on my legs. As we were walking, I said to Tom, “this is great because I just put some self tanner on my legs so I need to stay upright.” Actually, more like, …upriiiiiiggghhttahhh. Literally, I tripped as that word came out of my mouth.

I usually trip once a year. I guess considering the number of walks I go on and the amount of territory I cover, it’s not a surprise that I trip every now and then, but I do seem to trip more than others. The other thing is that I always fall forward, other than that spectacular fall backward on black ice in 2020. I think I need to work on my core strength.

Tom o’er MacKinnon Bridge

Other than that, a really beautiful evening walk. 23C. Doesn’t seem quite as humid.

Other side of the MacKinnon Bridge, looking east
A familiar sight, and sound. The fountain in Alexander Circle, Glenora.

Perfect Summer Day

Whitemud Creek meets the river

Gorgeous late afternoon walk with Tom through Whitemud Ravine North from Rainbow Valley Road to the river. We left at 3:30 to beat the heat and for the most part, it was not too bad (in the shade). Not even that hot compared to last year’s sweltering summer.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been in this part of Whitemud. For one thing, I was avoiding the green leafroller caterpillar infestation of June, and also, I have less time for walks like this, at least during the week. It was supposed to be my ‘Donna solo walk day’, but since we were going to Sharon’s, I invited him along and we both had a great time.

The old utility bridge in Whitemud Ravine north

Although the creek seemed low in places, the foliage was full on jungle. All the rain we got in May/June helped. We could use some rain again.

Whitemud Ravine Creek looking rather sun-browned and bubbly
Curvy
Paddling away…

24C/3:45-5:30 pm.