Wow, right in the open. And what’s up with those two looky-loos on the side?
One of those days where I wish my eyes were a camera, because it doesn’t matter how hard I try, I can’t capture how beautiful it is, mid-June, when everything is bursting with life. I mean, even the bugs are busy creating life, right out in the open, with two bonus onlookers!
So yeah, gorgeous, warm, and sunny. This was a solo walk, so I started from Victoria Park promenade, down into the golf course, along river valley road to MacKinnon Ravine, and then back up into Glenora/Oliver.
MacKinnon Ravine under a crazy beautiful sky
Along MacKinnon Ravine trailI can’t NOT take a photo of the fountain in Alexander Circle…. My favourite view from the MuseumI liked it so much, I took another photo!View from the Museum (on the west side)Paul Kane Park, a block from where I live. A red-winged blackbird has a nest in there, somewhere!
Beautiful solo walk in Whitemud Ravine this morning, starting at the Power Line (which is missing a huge swath of trees on the south side), and then into the ravine, up and around, back into the ravine, and then out at the other side of Westbrook.
Whitemud Ravine Creek from the first viewpoint
It’s been a long time since I’ve taken this route, which always reminds me of Maggie. The birdsong was magnificent, but the creek could use some rain.
Whitemud Creek from the ‘second’ bridgeOne of the many frog bogs, which could use some water. No frogs obvs.Life!Ubiquitous chipmunk on the viewing deck, above the boardwalk Bring on the rain!
Another amazeballs walk, this time on Autumn Eve around lunchtime. Always funny how when Autumn hits every year (this year, September 22), it’s already Peak Fall in Edmonton, followed in quick succession by the brown season and then snow. Nevertheless, it’s very beautiful and we’ve been getting great weather, but the ominous presence of winter looms.
A lunchtime walk on the trail above Victoria Park Golf CourseYou look pretty Victoria Park Golf CourseHigh Level BridgeThe rare species known as ‘red flowers’Ezio Faraone Park
A bit windy, but about 18C and very colourful. 10,222 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.
Good god I’ve done it again! I am writing this post about some peak spring walks on June 29, more than a month after the fact. I have got to stop doing this! Thankfully, I can back date it to the actual date of the walk.
This post combines two walks, May 24 and May 28. One was in Glenora with Tom, the other was a walk around the neighbourhood.
Thursday, May 28 (a lunch time walk): I’m not particularly girly-girl, but I do loves me some pink! Also yellow and green and purple. With bonus poplar fuzz!
Not sure if “pink paroxysm” is correct usage in this context but I am a fan of both alliteration and hyperbole so screw it.And of course, lilacs!A poplar-fuzzed dandelion
May 24: Wow, what a beautiful day! Glenora ➡️ Laurier Heights. Two hours, thirty-four minutes, and 16,954 steps with Tom. It was hot! 17C to start, 22C to end. Sadly, the Glenora fountain (in Alexander Circle) is not on, probably due to the massive City of Edmonton debt, like every other municipality in Canada.
A field of dandelions, just past the MacKinnon BridgeView of the river from the top of GlenoraSidewalk art, one of the many weird and beautiful things to come out of the covid lockdownlol
On the whole, this April has been very nice, with the exception of this weekend. It snowed Saturday and Sunday, worse in Calgary than here, but still, enough to whiten the ground and temporarily displace thoughts of spring. I was dog-sitting while Kate was in Calgary (driving in harrowing white-out road conditions) and Sharon and Vic were (and still are) in Scottsdale.
Stella of course loved the snow, but it was very cold and very windy, so in the afternoon we only walked for about 45 minutes, with two smaller walks Friday night and Saturday morning.
This post isn’t about the weekend, however, but Easter Monday, April 22 when my car was at the dealer getting its summer gear on and Stella and I had two hours to romp in Whitemud Ravine.
It was a beautiful walk! The ravine is snow/ice free and trails were open and wonderfully soft underfoot. Stella seemed very happy to have so much to smell, and she had her first dip of the year in the creek (along with two annoyed geese). The area where she had her swim, by the rickety boardwalk, has been cleared of trees and bushes. Apparently, both the boardwalk and the stairs will be replaced. I hope they do it in a timely fashion. Many trails in our river valley and ravines are in need of maintenance or repair, but so often, the areas are just blocked off.
The geese were NOT happy
During our walk, I was able to get a few chickadees to eat out of my hand, always so cheering. Unfortunately, it’s been so dry there were no frogs in the bog, parts of which was either frozen or dry. The rest of the walk was uneventful, although that final part through Westbrook I think was a bit hard on Stella. She seemed disappointed that none of the cars at the trail head were mine. The walk through the neighbourhood added an extra half hour, for a total of about two hours.
It was about 21C, I believe. We had one day in April that was 23C!
