<![CDATA[pedestrian - Pedestrian Blog]]>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:45:41 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Walk 150]]>Wed, 07 Aug 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-150
Popson Park
A walking meeting, more sitting than walking really, but we spent time by the river, found a very nice rock, and discussed plans for more walks.
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Length: 2 km
Companions: Annie
Date: 7 August, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 149]]>Sat, 13 Jul 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-149
Bertha Lake
Back in hiking land with hiking friends. A long steep trail up, a long steep trail down - we get to know the switchbacks really well. The glorious lake and views!
Location: Waterton Lakes National Park, AB
Length: 10 km
Companions: Troy, Annie, Greg
Date: 13 July, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 148]]>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-148
Kora
Circling the great stupa of Boudhanath, along with monks, nuns, Tibetans, Nepalis, westerners, easterners, northerners, southerners. All the mantras muttered, butter lamps lit, prostrations offered, prayer wheels spun, incense burned, hundreds or thousands of years of people doing walking meditation here, weaving tendrel with their footsteps, making the world a little more compassionate and wise. The sound of monastic horns and drums floats over the rooftops as the sun sets.
Location: Boudha, Nepal
Length: multiple circumambulations
Companions: everyone
Date: 13 June, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 147]]>Tue, 11 Jun 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-147
Boudha at night
It's cool at night, and there are familiar faces everywhere I walk in Boudha. At the stupa I meet friends from Mexico, Hong Kong, Poland, we stop to eat momos together, and share stories and hopes. We walk clockwise, together and apart, joining the street dogs who are always here.
Location: Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal
Length: 2 km
Companions: several
Date: 11 June, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 146]]>Fri, 31 May 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-146
Swayambhu to Tergar Osel Ling
Pilgrimage and sacred sites all over the place. There is so much I don't know about these ancient streets I'm walking on. Past that one air conditioned cafe. Around Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple. Through Buddha park, where golden statues of Padmasambhava, Shakyamuni and Chenrezig gaze across the crowded and noisy Ring Road. Across the Ring Road, somehow.  Up the windy road, up the pathway, up the stairs. Cheerful monks coming down say I'm almost there. Views expanding, Kathmandu creeping up the sides of the surrounding mountains. Up to the top of the hill, where Tergar Osel Ling monastery sits in unfinished splendour, the monks debating in the courtyard while students drink buffalo milk tea and contemplate the nature of mind.
Location: Kathmandu, Nepal
Length: 4 km
Companions: none
Date: 31 May, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 145]]>Sun, 07 Apr 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-145
Hamilton Beach
Beach walk from Burlington to Hamilton along the lake, with no shore in sight.
Location: Burlington, ON
Length: 3 km
Companions: Mom
Date: 7 April, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 144]]>Fri, 05 Apr 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-144
Monongahela River to Allegheny River
Downtown architecture, bridges, street art, ball game crowds, fake magnolia trees on the street corner where I will meet a dear old friend tomorrow.
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Length: 4 km
Companions: none
Date: 5 April, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 143]]>Sun, 24 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-143
Spring Snowshoe
Tracks in the snow leading to a coyote nest overlooking the river.  Waves of white cresting over the hills, partridge and deer keeping an eye on us, a small cold northerly breeze, happy to be out tromping through the spring snow.
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Length: 3 km
Companions: Tom & Troy
Date: 24 March, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 142]]>Tue, 12 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-142
Dog Run Walk
My local walk, in the sun, in the mud, out of breath, on the stairs, chatting with Christine and jumping Gus along the way. Why don't I do this neighbourhood walk every day?
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Length: 3 km
Companions: none
Date: 12 March, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 141]]>Sat, 06 Jan 2024 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-141
Walk in the Snow
First snow of this winter, up in the mountains at the end of the Akamina Parkway.  Snow falling straight down, quietly fluffing the ground and the burnt trees, still warm enough that streams are flowing.
Location: Waterton National Park, AB
Length: 3 km
Companions: Tom
Date: 6 January, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 140]]>Mon, 01 Jan 2024 23:53:03 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-140
Pavan New Year's Walk
First walk of the new year, visiting the river and the winter trees after some time away.
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Length: 3 km
Companions: Tom
Date: 1 January, 2024
]]><![CDATA[Walk 139]]>Tue, 12 Dec 2023 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-139
Night River
It's dark by the time work ends, and it's the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and if we want to walk we have to do it in the dark, which, as it turns out, is a pleasure.
Location: Lethbridge, AB
Length: 3 km
Companions: Troy
Date: 12 December, 2023
]]><![CDATA[Walk 138]]>Sat, 18 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-138
Salt Air City Forest
A long walking day full of wonders, mostly within smell and view of the ocean, but the most beautiful part was a quiet path through the rainforest.
Location: Vancouver, BC
Length: 12 km
Companions: Tom
Date: 18 November, 2023
]]><![CDATA[Walk 137]]>Sun, 08 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-137
Walk among Rocks
The view is expansive, the golden-leaved Cottonwood trees are stunning, the hoodoos keep their secrets.
Location: Writing on Stone Provincial Park
Length: 4 km
Companions: Heather & Daryle
Date: 8 October, 2023
]]><![CDATA[Walk 136]]>Sat, 30 Sep 2023 06:00:00 GMThttp://www.sandracowan.com/pedestrian-blog/walk-136
Gathering Walk
Collecting materials, images, ideas, perceptions...sitting in the bowl-shaped valley over the first hill beyond the hot water swamp where the spring first emerges from the ground, trying to connect to the ground, the hills, forest, grasses, sky, water, the creatures and stories that live here.
Location: Boulder, Montana
Length: 5 km
Companions: None
Date: 30 September, 2023
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