Welp, it really autumn’d this week. Still mostly green, but the uptick in red and yellow just in one week is astonishing. Also it was chilly, about 10C. Also it was cloudy, which gets a big boo from me. But still a nice late after-work walk in the usual places (Oliver, Museum, Glenora…).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Happy August! Early(ish) walk this morning, although not as early as Tom who left at 5:50 am. I tried, but needed another hour of sleep (and breakfast) so I left around 8:30 am.
I picked a now familiar walk down the stairs from Victoria promenade but this time I went all the way down to Victoria golf course, turned right on River Road and into MacKinnon Ravine.
It was already warm in the sun, but I stuck to the shade where possible. Thankfully the short, steep hill up to MacKinnon bridge was still entirely in shade. Two guys ahead of me were wearing large backpacks. I said hi but didn’t stop to ask if they were in training, or traveling (unlikely) or what they were up to with such a heavy load on a hot day. I’m glad to see that people on the trails are still friendly in spite of the distancing protocols.
Once across the bridge, I wound my way around Ravine Drive and Glenora. Close to the always magnificent Graenon heritage house, I spotted a bonus wasp nest. I got as close as I could to take a photo but it was absolutely buzzing with life so I kept my distance.
I decided to walk around the museum on the way home to bump up my steps, and then a sweaty walk the rest of the way home.
In total, about an hour and a half, 11,500+ steps. It was around 18C at 8:30 when I left. It’s now 22C on the way to 30C. Ugh. I will be happy to see the end of this heat wave.
That was some walk with Tom today. A few hundred steps short of 20,000, with a final uphill ‘sprint’ to Glenora. Last half hour my feet were sore, mostly because I need new running shoes. Overcast and very, very humid but also caterpillar-free!! The fuck-you worms are gone and we have reclaimed the university river valley and Rossdale area!
We walked from his place in Glenora, down the hill into MacKinnon Ravine, went east down river road to the Kinsmen and then into Rossdale. Back the same way. It was definitely a marathon!
About two and a half hours 9:30 am to noon. 18C