When the temperature reaches the high 20s at the end of September, you really have to go outside. So I put away my work and went for a walk around the lake.
The fall colours–yellow ash and elm and poplar trees–were lovely. Soon the trees will be bare.
I saw a couple of unusual things: a group riding through the park in a wagon pulled by a pair of Clydesdales, and Ralph Goodale, local Liberal MP and former cabinet minister, getting his photograph taken by the lake.
I’ve walked this route so many times, and I never expect to see anything new. But this time I did: in the lawn by the skateboard park, I found a patch of my favourite native prairie grass, blue grama. I was really surprised, because tame grasses tend to overwhelm and outcompete native ones.
What a great way to spend part of an afternoon. Even better, I met my friend Glenn for a beer afterwards. I do like a cold beer after a long walk!
Hey Ken
Glad to see you got out for a walk around the lake. It’s interesting, those local walks can feel so familiar, so… the same, and then you notice some subtle or not so subtle differences. Everything changes! Thanks for sharing your local walk. We did a walk around our lake yesterday and I too had thought I should bring the camera and catch the springing of spring. Alas, I remembered it when I was a kilometre or so into the walk. We were marvelling at the new buds and early leaves on tress that have been bare for months. There was a feeling as if the whole community was budding – picnics everywhere, people playing volley ball and frolicking, dogs leaping and licking, sap rising everywhere. So, as you begin to batten down the hatches for another gruelling prairie winter we are shaking off the shackles of winter. The common element was a cold beer at the end – perfect in either hemisphere.
It’s been good to hear from you as we all followed Geoff and Annemarie’s blog. What a journey they had. Our camino two years ago is fresh in our minds as we relive every stage. On this day we were walking in to Burgos. Two days ago it was the anniversary of that great night in Belorado. Here’s hoping for more shared stages in the future.
Buen camino
Neil and Sarah
Belorado changed my life! I’m not kidding–I probably wouldn’t have decided to go back to school except for the pilgrim blessing I went to that night.
The dinner was fantastic, too.
Hey, I know about you and a cold beer after a long walk! It’s been far too long since we shared that pleasure. Look forward to a time when we can. Nice to see you know your grass too!