Nose Hill June 1, 2020

Before baking cookies, before two hours of cross-stitching, before doing laundry, before making a chicken pasta bake, before drying off my back deck, I spent three hours up on Nose Hill bright and early this morning filling my body mind and soul with all that is good!  I came away in a much better place than when I arrived there!  It's not yet wild flower time but it's as green as green can be.  

view as I stepped out of my car

 stuck to the dirt trails

 not even a tiny ripple

 so close but yet so far, the mountains are

Laycock Park from Confluence April 26, 2020

My intentions have been to stay away from city parks and pathways on Saturdays and Sundays to avoid the crowds that venture to them on these days.  When I woke this morning and checked to see what kind of morning it was going to be, I knew I needed to be out there.  Just go early while others are savouring a sleep-in Sunday.  I was gifted sweet treasures today that made being out at the crack of dawn worth it. 

On my "out & about" list was Laycock Park which is in my old stomping grounds neighbourhood.  It has been years since I laid foot or tire track in that Park and I read where developments and upgrades had taken place.  I could get there sans vehicle via Confluence Park.  I first enjoyed Confluence then headed on south to Laycock.  The sun was already up by the time I made it into the forest. 

the golden glow of early morning

only some trees in the forest took on the morning glow

I headed on down into the park bottom to hit the trail that leads to Laycock Park.

The morning was shaping up beautifully.  I noticed a few other people off in different directions who were far enough away that there was no need to even think about physical distancing.  They were probably thinking the same as me, beat the rush.

I passed on bringing my big camera today in favour of my taking my kayaking/running camera.  Because I no longer run and have not been kayaking, I forgot I even had this camera.  I am liking what it is producing.  

The golden glow is gone, the wind picked up and the puffy fluffy clouds are forming.  

I was intrigued how the clouds in this photograph looked like extensions of the branches.  

As I entered into Laycock Park, the area took on a whole different look than where I just was.  No coyotes down in this Park as they remain up on the Hill, this was the only wildlife I saw today.  It was not going anywhere soon and just watched me do my thing.

Back in the day I used to picnic here.

A few things did look different around here from when I frequented the place, yet there were areas where it looked like construction was taking place.  I found out later those areas have been like that for quite some time as the city must have run out of money or interest in finishing up the job.  There were grassy areas as seen in this photo that were nice to stroll around.

This little painted stone was placed in a rock bed.  I believe someone else might be missing their out of the city adventures.  I see a tent with an open door, a fire and the birds flying high above.  We will be out there again one day.  For now, let's be thankful we have the City Parks to escape to.

I was not expecting to spot my first crocus of the season today.  I will be heading back here as it appeared there was potential for more to pop up.  They are late sprouting this year with winter like conditions only going by the way side last week.  When I saw it I sighed!  I now knew today was going to be OK!

It was an 11 km walk this morning.  

Fish Creek Park April 20, 2020

I met my friend in front of her home for our planned few hours of hiking throughout a section of Fish Creek Park.  Before starting we confirmed the rules of proper distancing and as this section of the Park is her stomping grounds she advised me about being careful at corners and to shoulder check now and then.  We did the descent to the Park and entered it at Votier's Flats.  

Very soon into our hike, I realized shorts and short sleeve shirt would have been sufficient.  This was turning into a beautiful day with high double digits on the plus side, bright blue in the sky and some of those wispy white clouds that I like so much.

 crossing to the other side

 The Bow River is fast flowing and dark from being churned up.  

 a tree with a new lease on life 

We found a protected area to sit and snack and spent a half hour or so chatting about anything and everything.  We enjoyed the warmth from the sun and the sound of the birds' songs.   We were away from the beaten path so away from the other walkers, runners and bikers who were out & about.

 We watched him as he watched us snack.

The ground we covered ranged from paved to dirt.  For most of our hike we were on the paved path which today was free of snow, ice, mud, water.  It took some off trail maneuvering along sections of the dirt paths so we could stay dry and clean.

 pointing to her Mother-in-Law at a donation memorial

It was time for a climb which would be up the path along the edge in the middle of the photo.  

This whole area was new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed all the new sights.  

 along the path

 along the path

We exited Fish Creek Park in a different area from where we entered.  We had a couple of kilometers left that was through residential to get back to my friend's place.  As we arrived at the foot of her driveway she looked down and said "oh a heart"!   I needed to capture that heart.  I like to think it had to have meant something seeing it as we ended our few hours of hiking, talking and pouring out our hearts for how we feel about the world happenings these days.  

This was the route we took today showing only the portion of Fish Creek Park that we covered.

Carburn Park to Fish Creek Park April 19, 2020

This year could be a record year for me for the number of Urban Hikes I complete and the number of kilometres I cover on the urban paths and trails.  Today I headed back to Carburn Park and instead of hiking around that area, I immediately aimed in the direction of Fish Creek Park to cover a little more ground there.  We were in for a beautiful day so I went as usual for an early start.  I knew later everyone and his dog and bike would be on this pathway system.  

I arrived at the Carburn Park parking lot just as the sun was coming up and the glow was forming on the tree tops.  The deer were walking about and a lone goose sat on the ice covered pond.

 looking towards the east

 then glancing westward

I veered off the paved path in favour of being on the dirt trails as much as possible.  

It gets you closer to the river and this is what I saw.  

A beaver!  Oh Canada!

I was here a couple of weeks ago and the ground was covered in ice and snow.  

It's looking like spring to me today.

As I entered the Fish Creek Park area, I noticed painted stones on the sides of the path.  I made this collage of the stones I took photos off.  There were many more but I would make no hiking progress if I snapped shots of them all.  They were uplifting!  You could tell they were painted by a wide age range and level of experience.  It looks like someone took the "U" and the "R" from the bottom right set of stones.

It was a frosty morning and frostier in Fish Creek Park than it was in Carburn Park.  

frost + reflection + browns = spring

 reflection in the Bow River at Fish Creek Park

 a lone coyote

There were lots of people fishing in the Bow River.  It is world renowned for this sport.  It would be all locals fishing today.  The two people exited their boat and were fly fishing while standing in the river.

The pathway system was getting busy with a couple of kilometers left to complete on the way back.  The bikers were out along with runners, families, dog walkers, couples and soloists.  We are fortunate to have this pathway system in the city which is open to everyone directly from their neighbourhoods or via parking lots at city parks.  Access to Fish Creek Provincial Park is off limits from it's parking lots.

This is the route I covered today which amounted to 13kms.

Nose Hill Sunrise April 16, 2020

When all is said and done with the world's recent happenings, I should be able to find my way around Nose Hill Environmental Park blindfolded.  I cannot express enough how thankful I am to have this place to escape to.  As each day passes I appreciate it more and more, yet as each day passes I need to be "out & about" earlier and earlier if I want to catch the sunrise.  I could tell it was going to be a pretty one as I walked out my front door this morning.  

I arrived at the parking lot to see one other vehicle off in the far corner but no one was in sight.  Gosh, I thought I hit the trail early.  I booted it up the hill, down into the valley, up another hill then back down to the rocky setting where I could sit and wait for this day to begin.

...and hello Thursday!  

I tried in the past to use the crocus carving in the trail marker as a frame for one thing or another.  

This morning I tried to frame the sun and this is what I got.  

It took many tries and finally success! 

I carried on along the dirt path making sure to keep checking over my shoulder to see what was happening with the sunrise.  The path was pure ice in sections.  Usually I would do a detour to avoid it but I used it to my advantage and slowly slide across it for this view.  

What a distraction it has been already trying to catch the sun peaking through openings. 

How about this!  Once again it took many, many tries and then success.

I was curious as to what "Nose Hill Lake" would look like after the past week or so of warm then cold warm then cold days.  I was delighted to see sections clear of snow, it's a true sign of spring.  The sun was still low enough to cast a glow on the trees.

"Nose Hill Lake"

another view of "Nose Hill Lake"

There are so many of these structures through out Nose Hill Park now.  

This one was new to me.  

Once again I tried many times to catch the sun shining through.  

It was still early in the Park.  I saw more deer than I did people.  

I completed a gigantic loop and it was time to drop down the last hill to my car.  The sun was higher, the sky was bluer, the temperature was warmer and I prayed our world would get better!  I know the days that I start in the way this one starter make for better days for me! I wish for you better days too!