Tag Archives: MacKinnon Ravine

Why am I walking mid-afternoon?

MacKinnon Ravine

A mid-week, mid-afternoon walk with Tom. What’s wrong with this picture? Oh right.

On January 12, I got laid off from a job that I really love. A job, in some ways, I had waited for my whole life. I love writing, and it was such a pleasure and privilege to tell the stories of the Faculty of Arts. I am in a state of shock, but the state of the university is dire and we all knew cuts were coming. I just didn’t think they were coming for me. (I guess I shouldn’t have been so naïve.) I don’t know what’s next, but I hope it gives me the kind of creative joy that this job did. I will really miss the fantastic folks I worked with and alongside, but I guess in some ways that blow is lessened (a tiny bit) because we are all working remotely anyway, and most are friends on Facebook.

Today, two days later, a much needed walk with Tom. Undeniably beautiful, even if my brain was a little fucked up. OK, a lot fucked up.

2C, 12,000+ steps.

Holy Coyote!

Hi doggy!

AMAZING walk today with Tom. Aside from the usual niceness, we spotted a coyote, just below the MacKinnon Bridge. There was a family (with a stroller) about to walk into its path. I yelled down but I think they’d already spotted it and backed up.

The coyote was watching them closely, but turned the other way once it got to the top of the hill. He looked really beautiful and fluffy, but possibly moulting? A friend suggested mange. I hope not. I contacted the U of A Coyote Project just to get their thoughts.

UPDATE: I contacted the very nice Colleen St. Clair at the Edmonton Urban Coyote Project and she said this: “My colleagues at Animal Damage Control agree that those are shoulder mites on the shoulders, which coyotes seem to get from dogs. They weren’t sure about that black patch on the tail. It might just be black fur, but it might also be the start of mange.” Poor coyote. He looked very healthy and alert, other than the fur.

Always love spotting wildlife, especially when I can grab a photo or two. Also saw a leaf that looked like a tree and another example of the rare Glovewood Tree (in bloom), but not as spectacular as the coyote!

The rare Glovewood Tree (in bloom).
This leaf looked like a tree to me, maybe from whence it came?

12,000+ steps, about 2C.

January 1, 2021

Bunched up ice on the river

So here we are. A new year. 2021. It’s nice out. That’s enough for now.

There are still parts of the river that aren’t frozen over.

I walked for just under two hours. Into the river valley via the golf course through Victoria park, River road, MacKinnon Ravine, Glenora, museum and home. Funny, when I got to the museum, the sky was already dusking with that wintry pink/orange horizon. It was only about 2:30 pm. The sun is setting around 4:24 but when the sun is that low, sunset is always close.

In MacKinnon Ravine. One of those days that was blue sky or cloudy, depending on the direction.
Take care of your a Buddha and your Buddha will take care of you.
Sunset at 2:30?
Killer view (neighbourhood adjacent to the museum)

We’ve had pretty nice weather and virtually no snow for most of December. The grass is really starting to show on the south side of things, including the museum grounds.

From the museum grounds…not lots of snow
A pagoda in snow

11,456 steps. About -2C.

Christmas Day Walk

What you can’t see is all the sparkle in the snow and snowmen

Gorgeous Christmas Day walk with Tom in and around Glenora, Ravine Drive, MacKinnon Bridge, and Laurier Heights.

It was supposed to be cloudy and below zero, but it was bright, sparkly and just the right balance of festively nippy and sun-warmed. Altogether beautiful, in other words. Many people out walking, lots of friendly ‘Merry Christmas’ exchanges. It was very cheering, especially considering that I spent my entire Christmas without my family. Just Tom and me.

The Alberta covid restrictions meant that I couldn’t get together with my family as per usual, and by usual I mean, every year of my life. So even though Tom stayed over, I opened presents (from my family) by myself in the morning and made Christmas dinner by myself, just for Tom and I.

A view from Ravine Drive that never disappoints….

I am grateful for that relationship, but Tom isn’t very Christmassy. He indulged me by watching A Christmas Carol, Charlie Brown Christmas, and It’s a Wonderful Life, but it’s not the same as being with family, with all our shared histories. The bright spot was an hour and a half Zoom call in the morning, and the walk in the afternoon.

1C and sunny. 12,193 steps

A Mild December

Heading into the far south edge of Glenora

Went for a gorgeous lunch time walk through Glenora with Tom under blue skies. The clouds were very nicely shaped and rather friendly. At noon it was 6C but it went up to 11C!

A vertical version of the first photo…

We’ve definitely had some cold days, but December (so far) has been pretty mild. Right now, the sidewalks and streets have no snow. I’m sure that will change.

More cool skies from the MacKinnon bridge
I definitely see a bunny sitting in that tree…

Lunchtime Walk

Friedrichian landscape

Beautiful lunch time walk today with Tom. I drove over and we walked his usual route from Glenora to MacKinnon Ravine and Laurier.

Tom, along Ravine Drive
From MacKinnon Ravine

I could only go so far because I had to go back to work, but Tom carried on for another couple of hours. I went down into MacKinnon Ravine and was met with a damp, empty trail. It was a bit eerie. Once I got to the open part of the trail next to the river, there were more people.

More Friedrichian landscape…

The colour in the sky today, even though it was overcast, was quite Friedrichian – greys and yellows. Some blue sky but mostly a mottled grey.

The trail going up to Glenora

13C, about 90 minutes.