River Road Trail
A good long catch-up walk on a grey afternoon. If we wanted to, we could walk all the way to Hamilton on this trail. Location: River Road Trail, Brantford, Ontario Length: 6 km Companions: Laura & Sadie Date: 22 April, 2022
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Rough Quarter
Hard to find this coulee, unless you really know where you're going. It is almost silent here, and warm, and sculptural. It feels old. Location: not too far from Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta Length: 2 km Companions: Tom Date: 26 March, 2022 Meditation bluff, Lethbridge
The best after work walk, with river and dog. Location: Meditation Bluff, Pavan Park, Lethbridge Length: 3 km Companions: Troy & Rose Date: 22 March, 2022 Neighbourhood dog run, Lethbridge The west wind is relentless. It doesn't stop for a breath. We have to walk in the wind here, because this is just how it is. It is windy. Makes for some nice skies sometimes, and the Chinook arch to the west. Location: Scenic Avenue dog run, Lethbridge, Alberta
Length: 2 km Companions: Mary & Rose Date: 17 March, 2022 Isla de Espiritu Santo, Mexico Fierce wind and surf prevented us from kayaking down-island today, so we took a walk up the rocky canyon towards the middle of the island. The trees, bushes, cactus, birds, lizards, rocks, archaeological artifacts, spirits, and sites all have names and stories, and the feral goats looked down at us from a high cliff. Location: Canyon near Mesteno Bay, Isla de Espiritu Santo, BCS, Mexico
Length: 3 km Companions: Antonio, Chino, Tom, Heather, Daryle, et al. Date: 8 March, 2022 Pavan Park, Lethbridge It warmed up to -10 C, so today was good day for a walk after the cold, cold days. Pheasant and deer were feeding side-by-side in a sheltered meadow. The river is freezing over again, and it's hard to remember how the trees looked with leaves. Location: Pavan Park, Lethbridge, Alberta
Length: 3 km Companions: Troy Date: 23 February, 2022 Cypress Hills Walk on Snowshoes In the hills above Elkwater, the snow is deep enough for snowshoes and hot chocolate. We are protected from the wind here in the tall forest and hillsides, but the trees creak as they lean into the wind up high. We always keep an eye out for cougars here, although they will see us long before we see them. Location: Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta
Length: 3 km Companions: Tom Date:5 February, 2022 Komorebi Walk*, South Saskatchewan River Komorebi is a Japanese word for the way light filters through trees. Memories of sun and shade, a thousand gestures of green leaves, and the feel of shady woods in the summer. Here, in the middle of winter: the leaves are dead and down, the sky is overcast, and the trees are bare bones. But there is light in the snow, the river, the grey sky, and walking while paying attention to trees and light is a way to find beauty everywhere. * I am grateful to walk at a distance with Walking the Land land arts collective, who were walking in Gloucestershire and elsewhere in the world today - Komorebi Walk is their First Friday Walk prompt.
Location: Along the South Saskatchewan River, Medicine Hat, Alberta Length: 3 km Companions: none Date: 4 February, 2022 South Coulee Walk A warm January day, and quiet. Walking with grasses and rocks and ghosts and sky. The absence of wind is remarkable. Location: Farm coulee, Southern Alberta
Length: 2 km Companions: Tom Date: 22 January, 2022 Boardwalk, Marsh and Bridle Trails Boxing day after the second pandemic Christmas, and just happy to be together for a muddy walk. The chickadees, ducks, and squirrels are all looking for their share of the feast. Darkness sinks into the valley before we get back to the car. Location: Grindstone Marsh Trail, RBG, Burlington, Ontario
Length: 4 km Companions: Tom, Anna, Isabel Date: 26 December, 2021 Georgian Bay trail Our favourite walk to our favourite spot. This time we wore swimsuits and stopped to float in the inlet and lay like seals on the rocks. The most peaceful place I know. Location: Secret bay behind Edge Island, Georgian Bay, Ontario
Length: 4 km Companions: Isabel & Anna Date: 24 August, 2021 Burlington, Ontario Summer walk with my father and his walker, three driveways down, three driveways back. Location: Burlington, Ontario
Length: 3 driveways Companions: Dad Date: 15 August, 2021 Brantford, Ontario A long walk through town on a hot day; iced coffee at the Blue Dog, dreaming of our lives in the 100 year old mansions, down along the Grand River, and back home in a thunder shower. So much green, so much love. Location: Old neighbourhoods of Brantford, Ontario
Length: 8 km Companions: Anna & Isabel Date: 13 August, 2021 Maligne Canyon, Jasper Deep canyon walk in the mountains, but the most remarkable thing is this was my first trip away since pre-pandemic days. So grateful to explore, see friends, be introduced to new terrain, and for the black bear sightings. Location: Maligne Canyon, Jasper National Park, Alberta
Length: 6 km Companions: Dithering Harold & Tom Date: 19 June 2021 |
Author
Sandra Cowan likes to walk on trails, paths, and city streets. She is based in southern Alberta, Canada, a visitor in the land of the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy). Archives
April 2023
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