Don't bat an eyelash if you see these gawky gals on the river
"Well, hellooooo, ladies!"
That's how you greet a couple of unexpected visitors while you're out for a walk along the Bow River on a glorious spring afternoon.
Such was the case this past Saturday, when I joined my friend Amanda for a short visit and a stroll along Canmore's wooded path system.
Neither of us was in the mood for a big hike, a long bike ride or anything really requiring much effort at all. We had decided to 'up the ante' on simply meeting for coffee, and go for a walk with coffee in hand, instead.
If you live in the city, a short walk in the wilderness is usually something you have to plan in advance. You're likely to grab a map, plan where you're going, and jump in the car for the drive there. At the very least, you have to set aside a few hours.
In Canmore, a walk in the woods is something you might not even have planned, but….there you are.
Our little walk started from a local coffee shop, where we departed, coffee in hand, for a trail along the Bow River. Just a few minutes later, we stepped off the pavement and onto a well-worn trail leading to the riverside, away from cars, streets, houses, noise and other signs of human habitation. (Except for a few joggers, families out for a stroll, and children on mountain bikes, that is.)
The Town of Canmore's "urban" (such as it is) trail system can keep a walker busy for half a day, and a mountain biking family amused for at least a few hours. Or, if you're looking to catch up with a friend, you can take 10 minutes to all day - the choice is yours.
My friend Amanda, Toronto city girl though she has been, is comfortable in the bush. Before long she'd led us off the trail and heading in the general direction of the river, crossing a forest floor just coming alive with all the signs of spring. I'm outdoorsy enough to never fear getting lost that close to town. If you can hear the river, it's a sure sign that you'll be able to find a way back to the beaten path.
There's a very special place just off the Town trail called the Larch Islands. These slightly marshy islands in the Bow River are home, I have heard, to an abundance of wildflower species, plus birds and animals that find cover there.
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The end of our short walk, maybe 10 minutes, found us on the other side of the Larch Islands, on a quiet corner of the Bow River well away from people and pets out for their daily exercise. It was a perfect spot to sit down on the sun-warmed grass, have a chat, and watch as Amanda's two dogs enjoyed having a drink at the river's edge.
The view from that very spot has to be much the same as it was 1,000 years before - just flowing river, evergreens and grass, new, fuzzy growth on deciduous trees, and mountains in every direction. It is shocking, even to someone who has lived here for a decent length of time, that there are places in the very heart of the town where nature can be enjoyed in absolutely unspoiled perfection.
As if that were not enough, there came a moment when we knew we were not alone.
Wading towards us in the river's shallows, just a few metres away, came two young elk cows, their noses to the wind in greeting, it seemed. As soon as they knew they had been spotted, they stopped and quietly watched us as we quietly watched them. A minute or two passed, and they continued on their way.
"Hellooooo, ladies!" we called. They barely batted their exceedingly long eyelashes at us with that greeting.
Just two girls out for a walk.
- Shari Bishop Bowes, Editor, SolaraLife
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