Yesterday was nice.
It started snowing today in earnest, though, and is currently full blizzard time.
I waited a bit too long to go out for my ride. I'd planned on doing the 20Km figure-eight loop of the bridges... and getting to the south bridge was no problem - with the wind at my back... but by the time I'd turned to head back north it was REALLY coming down and a struggle to get back... called it a day doing only the southern half of the loop...
Here are some pictures, though...
Another week of what Tim say while out for rides...
I went out for a bit of a ride on Wednesday this past week. It was to do errands, but I took the "scenic" route, which was probably double the length it needed to be, if I was strictly just doing the errands.
AS i left it was grey and lightly drizzling. Spotted more beaver handiwork.
As i rode on that drizzle turned into little ice pellets... then the occasional snow flake...
the more snowflakes.
by the time I was heading home it was feeling like this might be the beginning of winter
(also, spotted a snowshoe hare, in winter colours!)
Friday, we had to be out early and get Keiran to the Children's Hospital for day surgery (it was a very minor procedure, nothing concerning) - which meant a panic rush to get winter bikes ready the night before.
Keiran and Amanda went in and I went for a ride.
I came back later in the morning to pick up Keiran, but had to wait a bit. It had actually gotten COLDER, since I was there earlier in the morning!
Eventually they came out and we rode on home. The Doctor had told them that in their 28 years of being a medial professional, this was the first time anyone had ridden on a bike to day surgery...
I was feeling lazy... and tired... and cold... on Saturday and didn't leave the house. Feeling a bit guilty about this, I went for a much longer ride on Sunday - like 40+Km!
Spotted on my ride earlier this afternoon.
I usually spot one once a year - or every other year - somewhere along the river valley. Usually it's closer to xmas. Twice it's been ON Xmas day!
Little bird flew up and started angrily chirping away at the eagle.
I'd like to think it's a brave, plucky little bird standing up to a fearsome predator trying to save it's family and friends....
But this is Saskatoon... so it's probably some NIMBY Karen Bird beaking off about how the Eagles presence is bringing down nest values in the neighbourhood...
Bridges. Snow.
A pair of iconic Saskatoon locales - the Bessborough Hotel and the Vimy Memorial.
This past week was Remembrance Day... I have pretty mixed feelings about the day...
The Vimy Memorial.
View from the top of the Chief Mistawasis Bridge.
Snow-covered rocks below Chief Mistawasis Bridge.
more birb.
A Gaggle of Geese
Swung out from the river valley to the Northeast Swale. Most of it is a lavely pathway to ride.
Less so here... there is a pathway there... under the snow - which had NOT been cleared... and partly melted... and then a lot of people walked along it... and then if froze again... which made for a very bumpy ride for a good section of it.
Despite fences and NO DOGs signs... a pair of women walked right past me, though the fence and into the Northeast Swale to walk their dogs...
back to the river - little bit of not-so-paved trail in the trees.
Maybe I should do these on a weekly basis, instead of a massive monthly photo dump...
Monday morning ride - so calm
made the river very still and smooth and made for some very clear reflections.
Ice starting to form on the water overnight.
Apparently dropping to -10°C....
and me, I was wearing shorts...
it may be time for pants soon... but NOT YET!!!
More reflections - south train bridge. Trees are now pretty much devoid of leaves and the landscape has turned into a grey-brown blur.
Downtown. Geese.
Downtown again. A bit closer. Fewer Geese.
Wednesday morning ride - apparently a beaver decided this trail needed more challenges.
SO MANY GEESE! There were HUNDREDS of them on the mid-river sandbars by the South bridges. (all the little dots going off into the distance!) .
I didn't get out for a ride until late afternoon on Thursday - it was worth the wait. by then it was +10°C and totally calm - again I encountered glass-smooth water - but this time with clear blue skies reflected in them. This is the Broadway Bridge, above.
Traffic Bridge (or Victoria Bridge, depending who you ask).
University Bridge.
trail with trees devoid of leaves.
The glass-smooth water only extended as far as the weir... beyond that... not so still. CPR (Canadian Pacific Railways) Bridge.
Had it been smooth north of the weir, I might have extended my ride to the new north bridge and try to get reflected shots of ALL the bridges...
As I got to the south end of my loop, I spotted a beaver out on the water
There are a lot of them around. Or evidence of a lot of them. I don't OFTEN see them out and about - but they are mainly nocturnal animals...
Grand Trunk Bridge (now owned by CNR - Canadian National Railways), seen from the Gordie Howe Bridge.
Gordie Howe Bridge.
Long shadows in the late afternoon. It was only 4:30pm... but already the sun was heading down.
Friday I did the loop of the bridges again - but a little earlier in the day.
Again, there were HUNDREDS of geese
AS I headed north on Spadina, something spooked them and the ALL took to flight!
Hundreds of them - taking off in all directions!
it was quite the sight.
So nice that Spadina is open again.
Saturday I took Keiran to Tap Dance - which they are doing again. Normally Amanda would take them, but Amanda was doing a Yoga workshop all weekend, so it fell to me. I had almost an hour to kill, and didn't want to just sit inside, because it was so nice out... but I also feel a little reluctant to go for a ride - as I could ride half an hour out... and then have a flat tire! (it's happened!) so I went to the park just south of the dance studio and rode around there for a bit...
While there I spotted a hare!
It was kind enough to sit still long enough for me to get my canera out and take a few pictures.
winter colours coming in...
