Saturday: A Gentle Meander

I have a solid relationship with routine. I went to Wreck Beach, took in some rays and then did my usual walk along all the beaches. But this time, after yesterday's rigorous walk, I took the bus from 4th and Alma because Sunday is a righteous walk through Richmond.

Friday: Magnificence!

Today was spectacular. It was as good as life gets. I walked through town, leaving at 9:30 am and took the Seabus to North Van and walked from the terminal west to the Capilano River. Heaven! I walked up a fabulous trail—well groomed, not a difficult rise and spacious. It runs right beside the river much of the way.

At th e top of the trail I chose was the Capilano Dam. I haven't been there since I was a kid and it was just wonderful to be back on trails I remember with my first brat pack. I crossed the dam and walked down Capilano Canyon Drive to Edgemont and then east on Edgemont where I was able to surprise to friends who work there.

From there east along Queens to the Mosquito Creek canyon and down the trail in that canyon to Marine drive and back to the Seabus and home. I was on my feet until 3:30. It was an exquisite day topped off with a happy hour stroll with dear friend Kelly and then supper together. I can hardly wait for a nice glass of wine in the sun before we eat.

While walking in North Van along Marine Drive I had to stop at a cross walk and across the street were two classic Mormons. I was surprised they addressed me when I reached them, but they did. So I said, "LOVE the musical but not the faith. Have a good day." They were pleased I liked the musical.

The mouth of the Capilano river is where I began.

There were lots of places to pause.

 Are these not gorgeous greens?!

 Fat arms; lean legs.

 The trail rises up the canyon.

 Trail elegance.

Beautiful eh?

It really is a rain forest!

The reservoir.

The spillway.

Above & below is a little house on Cap Road that has neither driveway or entrance sidewalk. Hansel and Gretel live here.

Thursday: Day of Rest

Well, day of rot actually. I did nothing but domestic duties. Stay tuned for tomorrow the sun shines again.

Wednesday Without a Camera

I was SO sad that I forgot my camera on yesterday's walk because it was a fabulous walk. Main Street has become my favourite street. It has tons of character: there are a zillion little clothing boutiques by local designers. The window displays are really smart and there are a lot of restaurants. From one of my favourite stores "8th & Main" at Eighth Avenue all the way to 30th Avenue is just great.

Sign on Main: "More fruits inside."

When I spoke with my friend B. this morning, he asked me, "What do you do while you walk?" Today, I tried to catch myself in thought so that on Thursday I could answer the question. Here is what I learned .... I am addicted to stimulation; meditating to me is equivalent to eating broken glass.

I cannot eat, for example, unless the TV on and broadcasting something really engaging, or I am reading or with someone. And when I eat and read, it is the book that is right before me; the food is off to the side. Eating with a friend is best.

I must not only be stimulated, I must also be active. Reading puts me to sleep; writing is the active form of dealing with text, so I much prefer writing.

And "reflection" is an essential part of critical thinking and writing. As I have told students, as a writer I feel an hour of "reflecting" is essential for every hour at the keyboard. "Reflecting" is the process of reviewing information taken in and to me, it is a critical component of intelligence. That is why, for example, I think I did well at school. There were those kids who liked to answer in class, but I preferred to go home and think about the question and take time to formulate my answers.

Since retiring, therefore, walking has become my "reflection" time. But, just as with eating, I like to do two things at once so my "reflecting" is often interrupted by sensory stimulation. My senses come alive while walking. My skin seduces my soul with the warmth of the sun. I see stunning beauty in the flora and my acute sense of smell leads me like a Beagle.

Birdsong, Quebecois de la rue, music (a flutophone in the park, bagpipes at the beach, notes coming out of windows, buskers), the loud language of babies and toddlers, playground sound—there are so many wonderful sounds of life on the street that go unheard at home.

And sometimes, there are chance meetings that make me feel like times past when you belonged to a friendly community. Walking brings me in much warmer contact with strangers than public transportation and when I bump into friends or drop in at their houses or leave a note, I feel more alive. There are so many reasons to walk other than for good health.
 

Tuesday: I Never Tire of the Seawall

Serious walking calves!

Tuesday began with a LOT of marking. This term I have seventeen students and each week they have between one and three quite simple assignments and that means I have to write seventeen short essays every week. Teaching is nothing like it was when I was a student.

Marking today involves:

• reminding students of the assignment
• explaining the purpose of the assignment
• reminding students of the value of the assignment (its weight in final assessments)
• an explanation of the marking the criteria
• critical assessment of the submission
• the numerical mark

Plus students mark me at the end of the course and their evaluations are done without me in the class and they are submitted directly to my boss. 

Once all my marking was done. I was out the door to walk familiar territory: the seawall. I will never tire of it nor the smell of the sea. And I routinely see otters.

Monday: Canada Day

There are days when you just want to be alone and yesterday was one of those days for me. It was hot—so hot my antibiotic ointment has melted in its tube in my bathroom drawer. I bussed to the beach with a bunch of fresh cherries and had a nice short visit then walked home with the afternoon sun on my back taking in everybody celebrating Canada Day in the kind of weather everyone here prays for on a long weekend. It was 28°.

Sunday in the Park & With Chris A.

Sunday I was out the door early for a morning walk. It was delicious to be on the seawall and in the park when there were so few people up and at play. I wanted to walk early because the afternoon was dedicated to a surprise birthday party for my friend Chris who is in palliative care right now. It was HOT HOT HOT today. 

Who'd think of a shirt like this? Who'd make it? Who'd buy it? Who'd ear it? What kind of woman will walk with a man who wears a shirt like this? Is this funny? 

The summer f lowers are putting on a magnificent display. I love the structural digitalis plants.

Glorious colour.

Real blackberries are hard to find in the wild but I know were lots of little crops of them grow in the park. My eyes are tuned to them. They are slightly bitter and have the flavour of ten berries from the plant below.

Himalayan blackberries are everywhere. They are an invasive species that everyone thinks are just "blackberries." They are sweet and grow into mountainous bushes.

Iris.

Gunera leaves fascinate me. I put a $20 bill on this one so you might have an idea of the size.

Structure!

Camellia leaves shine like wax.

Hostas leaves look like wrinkled old men.

Acanthus is one of our older plants on earth and they are the inspiration for the design of the crown of Corinthian columns (below).

The Sylvia is without doubt the hotel with the most soul in Vancouver.

Mary-Lou and Chris.

The famous Bon Ton Diplom,at Cake. It is all butter and DELICIOUS but they spelled Chris's last name wrong. 

Our gang.