Summer Walks

I go for an early morning walk almost every day. This summer I’ve had a chance to talk my walks in four different Canadian cities.

           My husband’s family lives in Leamington, Ontario. It is right on the shores of Lake Erie. One of the pleasures of walking there is the opportunity to visit Leamington’s waterfront marina area and walk along the lake early in the morning.  Gulls circle overhead and the first ferryboat of the day to Pelee Island sounds its horn as it leaves the Leamington dock.  There are interesting plaques along the waterfront that tell the story of various ships that sank just off shore.

           The city of Leamington has also preserved a large section of Carolina Forest and you can wend your way through it on natural pebbled pathways. Its quiet and as you walk its easy to imagine what the area might have been like in the mid 1800’s just before the community welcomed its first settlers.  I tried the woodland walk one morning and encountered dozens of black bushy tailed squirrels, a deer and a beaver.

       A network of specially designated routes for walkers winds through Ottawa. The city has done a first class job of creating lovely, treed pathways along its rivers. We visited my son and his wife in Ottawa in late June and I encountered many hikers, joggers, bikers and roller bladers on my early morning walks along the Rideau River.  A huge swatch of wooded area has been retained along the riverbanks and one little boy who was biking past me with his father shouted, “Daddy. I feel like I’m in the deep, dark forest now.”  I took some great pictures of Canada geese and colorful ducks on the Rideau riverbank.

          Part of the pathway along the Rideau curves past more inhabited areas and I noticed how many apartments and homes sported Canadian flags and other red and white decorations as they prepared for Canada’s July 1 birthday.  All the flags on the government buildings though were flying at half-mast to mark the death of former governor general Romeo Le Blanc.

         My home base in Manitoba is my brother’s home in River Heights and I love my early morning walks in nearby Assiniboine Park. You would be surprised how many people are up early running, walking their dogs, cycling or doing yoga in the park. I enjoy the Citizens Hall of Fame. The bronze likenesses of those who have made outstanding contributions to the city of Winnipeg are on display there. I like to walk along and read about people like Carol Shields the writer, Leo Mol the sculptor or Bill Norrie, the former Winnipeg mayor. The Assiniboine Park has a special romantic family connection for me because it’s where my father proposed to my mother.

         Of course I enjoy my walks in Steinbach as well. The pathway around the community’s perimeter isn’t nearly as scenic as the ones in the other cities I’ve walked in this summer but you can go through AD Penner Park for a way and see some natural beauty.  I like to stand on the bridge across the creek, just behind the swimming pool early in the morning. It’s a warm, sunny place to mediate and reflect. Walking around Steinbach gives me the opportunity to note all the things that have changed since I walked here a year ago.

        I’ve had the chance in the last few years to go for walks in many places in the world. The walks I’ve been on this summer in my own country are as interesting and lovely as any of them.