There’s a big park on the south side of this city, built around an artificial lake. Or maybe two lakes, depending on how you look at it, since the lake is divided in two halves by a bridge, and the two halves are quite distinct. The smaller side is used for boat races, and on a sunny day October day like this, it has many people walking around it. The larger side is a bird sanctuary and fewer people take the time to walk around it. I don’t know why–maybe because it’s a longer walk. In any case, today we walked around both sides–a 12 kilometre loop from home and back.
I’ve walked this path many times. When I first started thinking about walking the Camino, I had a hard time getting around both sides of the lake. Later, when I was more fit, I would walk the big loop twice. Since I’ve walked this path so many times, I didn’t think I’d see anything new today, but I did. Several things, actually. The fall colours surprised me–I hadn’t thought about how much the park changes in autumn.
Also, beavers have been active, cutting down a tree near the university and damaging another so badly that it won’t survive. I know there are beavers living in the creek but it’s been a while since I’ve seen their handiwork up close.
A few weeks ago, First Nations University sponsored an event where teams raced each other to put up teepees. The poles have been left standing near their building. Yes, I should have taken this picture with the sun behind me. I don’t know what I was thinking.
Most surprising of all was the discovery of a footpath that runs along the north side of the bird sanctuary. I had no idea it was there. It runs behind the Science Centre, through a forested picnic area. There’s a sign that describes it as a winter footpath, but people are using it in other seasons, too.
Who knew that a route I’ve taken so many times before would still have new things to show me? I guess that you never know what you’re going to see if you just keep your eyes open.