Crazy beautiful walk with Sharon and Stella in Whitemud Ravine (south) starting at the Westbrook trail head. As per usual, Stella wouldn’t pose, but also as per usual, affable company.
You can’t make me look at you
With lots of fairly steep ice-covered hills, spikes are absolutely necessary, at least for the near future. Even with them, it was a bit iffy, but I stayed upright. Always a good thing.
Even walking from one end of the trail to the other (ending at Rainbow Valley Road) it’s not quite 10,000 steps but they are quality steps, and the rest were easily made up just walking around the grocery store.
Nice, warm walk in Whitemud Ravine (south) this afternoon. We’ve had a beautiful September and October is starting off pretty nice too. 22C!
The entrance to Whitemud Ravine (via Westbrook) never fails to impress
I was in Whitemud Ravine (via Westbrook) by 1:50 so it was already packed, mostly with families. Walked from the far south end to Rainbow Valley Road. Slightly under an hour, mostly because I didn’t take Stella. She has a few issues with hills these days so I was just by myself. I associate that ravine with Maggie and Stella, so it’s always a bit weird to be without a dog.
Iconic viewpointBirch poplar groveWhitemud Creek Ravine trailEverywhere you look, prettiness
I would say we are slightly past peak fall, but it was still gorgeous. The creek was very low, we haven’t had a lot of rain lately. I was wearing capris but could have worn shorts. I haven’t put the fake tan goop on my legs for about two weeks, so it’s probably better to deal with the heat and cover my snowy white legs, which rarely tan on their own (but they do freckle).
View from the new bridge, which somehow has less of an elevation than the former stairsBeauty viewThe creek!The ‘slough’ he final bridge (next to Rainbow Valley Road)Facing east (at the end of Whitemud South)River of leaves
Whitemud Ravine. It was actually sunnier than the clouds would suggest.
It’s hard to believe I haven’t walked in Whitemud Ravine since the winter. I’m not even sure I walked there in the winter! I probably did. I can account for February and March (Scottsdale and then the injury) and April/early May (COVID-19 shutdown) but since mid-May, I’ve really had no excuse. In fact, my walking in the last month or so has really sucked. We’ve had lots of rain, and I’ve been busy at work (including working some weekends) but if walking is not a priority, it’s not going to happen. And it hasn’t been a priority, for some reason. When I have walked it’s been over to Tom’s or with Tom, in and around Glenora. Great walks, but not the woods.
Stella refuses to pose
It’s so clear that I feel most at home, most like myself, walking in the ravines and the river valley. There’s just something about the woods. I felt immediately better once Stella and I walked down into that ravine via Westbrook. It was also wonderful to be with her, and to be surrounded by green. Sharon and Vic are away on holidays to BC, so even though Kate walks her, she doesn’t take her into the woods. Stella loves it. Whenever I come over, she noses the door of my car. She knows.
Stella stops to smell the whatever
Whitemud Ravine is incredibly lush right now. We’ve had so much rain, everything is moist, overgrown and ridiculously green. This is also my first unpaved trail walk since the injury. Crazy that I haven’t done this yet, but I was worried about tripping on a tree root and hyper-extending my leg again. It was totally fine. I didn’t feel any strain. Stella goes up hills very slowly now, but that’s OK.
Hello slough!Slough too!
One thing that was different was the little construction project about half way through is now completed. Last year, they took out the rickety boardwalk bridge and the very rickety wooden stairs. Somehow, in a feat of wizardry, they put in a bridge that doesn’t seem to have an incline, but still ends up at the top of the hill, next to the little lookout that is always full of seed for birds, squirrels and chipmunks.
New bridge!
Stella and I made it to Rainbow Valley Road and back. It took a little more than an hour, but surprisingly, it only adds up to 7,600 steps. The good thing is that it’s up and down, so a good, occasionally strenuous walk. Stella really, really wanted to go into the creek, but it’s too high and fast right now. Maybe in a couple of weeks. I sprayed her with the hose when we got back.
Next best thing to jumping in the creek…
The walk was really rejuvenating. I’m having a hard time taking care of myself these days. Lots of anxiety, stress, poor sleeping. The ironic thing is that if I was walking more, I probably wouldn’t be experiencing those things, or at least not to the same degree. Not only does walking decrease stress and anxiety, it can also prevent it. At least in my experience. The world is kind of a dumpster fire at the moment, so the least I can I do is take myself for a daily walk. It worked for 20+ years. No reason why it couldn’t work again.
Sharon and gang went out to Elk Island on Sunday morning, and because I had stuff to do, I didn’t go with them and instead, walked in Whitemud Ravine sans dog around noon. I love walking with dogs, but it’s tough to take photos, especially with Stella who doesn’t really stand still. She’s got a lot of puppy curiosity, even though she’s six.
It was a pretty great walk, although hot. I walked through to the other end of the powerline, around the houses, and then into Whitemud Ravine, exiting at the Aspen Gardens trail head. About an hour plus.
Whitemud frog(less) bog
This morning, Sharon, Stella and I drove to Westbrook, and then walked in the ravine for an hour. Stella had a dip in the creek.
I should probably mention that I’ve been back at Sharon’s for a week while repairs to the ceiling and walls in my kitchen and master bathroom are completed. I’m calling it the #Sexwater2018 incident. The jacuzzi tub in the condo above me overflowed (it may have had two people in it at the time) and I had water pouring from my ceilings in the bathroom and kitchen. And so, several weeks later, I’m out while they do the repairs. I should be back tomorrow. I miss my place, especially as I have only been there for a little more than two months, but it’s been nice to spend some time walking with Stella again. She was away with Sharon in Scottsdale for all of February, and one of the last times I walked with her before I moved out, we both wiped out on the ice. There is no ice now, just green, pink and purple. And brown creek water.
