Tags
Alberta, Bow River, Calgary, Canada, life, living in the moment, nature, St. Patrick's Island, summer, Sundays, The Weir, Tourist in my own city, walk
My friend Helga and I set out on foot to check out the new and improved St. Patrick’s Island on Sunday afternoon.
We left her Inglewood home shortly after 1PM and headed to the Bow Pathway by the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.
We followed the pathway along the Bow River toward the Weir.
The Weir had been reconstructed to create a whitewater adventure for Kayakers, but unfortunately the 2013 flood undid all the hard work that was done for this project.
I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the new outlook that was built at the Weir though, and we climbed the stairs to admire the view.
It was a perfect day for a walk.
The lookout, mostly constructed with stone, includes comfortable benches and little nooks and crannies that I have no doubt delight and capture the imagination of children who visit.
The fast flowing river below and gentle cool breeze blowing through my hair on this 25c/77f day filled me with such a sense of contentment.
From the Weir we continued down the pathway until we reached 12th Street to cross the bridge to the zoo.
From there we continued east through the back parking lot to the entrance of St. Patrick’s Island.
To be honest, I wasn’t getting my hopes up. I was skeptical about the rebuild of St. Patrick’s Island. I was nervous that it might be turned into a concrete park.
But they did a good job!
From the tables at the entrance laid out with board games inviting people to sit and play, to the natural pathway along the river, to picnic tables, and playgrounds, hills to roll down, Zen-like resting spots, and a beautiful wading area where we stopped to cool our feet in the water; the City of Calgary did good!
We decided to cross the bridge into the East Village to grab a coffee at Sebastian’s in the Old Simmons building, but the line-up was insane.
So we settled for a glass of cold water and sat down by the river listening to the music coming from the Opera House rehearsal.
Then we headed back over the bridge to retrace our steps back to Inglewood. I estimate that our Sunday walk was an 8 km round trip; and it was totally worth it!
If you live in Calgary, I encourage you to go check it out!
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
What’s your favourite local spot to visit?
rachelcarrera said:
WOW! What a stunning place! 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
I know! Want a tour? ❤
Diana xo
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Minuscule Moments said:
Diana sounded like the perfect day to get fit and enjoy the sights. Thanks for sharing.
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dianasschwenk said:
It was indeed, Kath! ❤
Diana xo
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elizabeth2560 said:
Your neighborhood looks like a pleasant place to be.
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dianasschwenk said:
It has its plusses Elizabeth although I live up town and our walk was downtown in the east Village and in my friend’s neighbourhood in Inglewood. I do love living in the inner core Elizabeth. I was telling someone the other day that either I want to live right in the city or in a rural area on a nice chunk of land. I’m not a fan of the suburbs. ❤
Diana xo
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earthriderjudyberman said:
Diana … I love your photos and your description: “Zen-like resting spots, and a beautiful wading area where we stopped to cool our feet in the water.” I love water areas and know I would thoroughly enjoy traipsing about that area. Lovely! 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Judy, I would thoroughly enjoy showing you around in my city! ❤
Diana xo
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earthriderjudyberman said:
Hmmm. I do love Canada. Maybe some time after I retire in May. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
That would be wonderful Judy – better come in the summer, I’m not sure you’d like the winter! 😉
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earthriderjudyberman said:
Excellent point, Diana . I’m sure Canada’s winters are a lot like the ones we left in Central New York. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes, I bet they are, our are just longer I suppose…
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earthriderjudyberman said:
Diana … Snow has fallen in Central New York as early as October. One winter – the winter that wouldn’t die – it began in November 1995 and the last snowfall was on Mother’s Day, May 12, 1996. When I opened our drapes and saw the snow, my screams could be heard in the next county. The next year, however, the last snow was March 1997. 😉 We averaged 90 to 100+ inches of snow each year. What’s it like where you live?
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dianasschwenk said:
We get Chinooks so snow falls and can melt almost completely. It is dry here in the west, still we’ve have years with lots of snow. I’ve seen snow in every month of the year. Most typically we have snow by Halloween and it can stay until May. Besides the snow, it can get pretty darn cold here. A sign that it’s warming up, is usually the fact that it’s snowing!
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earthriderjudyberman said:
Is it like Alaska? We visited there about March 1996 and folks had their cars plugged into outdoor electric outlets. But it was not as frigid as Central New York. Someone said it’s like a desert – dryer. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
haha yeah we have block heaters and plug our cars in too. Humidity makes winter feel colder and it is dry here, but we get some high winds that make the cold bite and hurt your lungs when you breathe it in. In Montreal where it is humid, cold seemed to get right into the bones. Here if you dress appropriately and in layers, you can be quite comfortable outside most of the winter.
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earthriderjudyberman said:
Central New York winters, like Montreal’s, can also be humid and bitter cold. I’d be shaking, chilled to the bone as I waited for a bus. I quickly learned out to layer. 😉
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Jean said:
Each city where I’ve lived holds special places for different reasons and seasons of the year.
For Calgary, I do like the area around the Peace Bridge…by the way, they are going to have a permanent garden on the hill rise coming off the bridge from the North.
St. Paddy’s Bridge was long awaited. On the lst day opening, I ended up with 3 mosquito bites. So knowing me, I’ll find fall even lovelier. I love the Bloom sculpture. Someone complained it was shedding too much light at night. The person has to be realistic…it’s an urban park and needs some light for safety reasons. The bridge is not sufficiently lit up at night.
It will be very interesting how the park will be like with the ebb and flow of rising spring river waters from Bow /Elbow River.
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dianasschwenk said:
One day soon, I want to see that Bloom sculpture lit up!
I’ve never really liked the peace bridge Jean. I think it looks like an ugly artery and doesn’t blend in at all. I hear it’s falling apart already too. Not a good thing, considering how much it cost!
To each their own I guess. As always, thanks for stopping by Jean. ❤
Diana xo
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Jean said:
Yes, a challenge that bridge for maintenance. St. Paddy’s bridge was around the same price tag as Peace bridge. I’ve seen Bloom lit up once..and expect to see it more often lit up as we get longer nights to and from work.
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dianasschwenk said:
Man bridges are expensive!
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Wyrd Smythe said:
Loverly! And funny-weird to me, since I lived in Inglewood from 1967 to 1984. Of course, my Inglewood was in Southern California… one of Los Angeles’ famous “87 suburbs looking for an actual city.”
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dianasschwenk said:
I would not mind living in Southern California Smitty! ❤
Diana xo
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Wyrd Smythe said:
It’s gotten awfully crowded out there. You’d have to love sitting in traffic. I wouldn’t move back for love or money…
…
…well, wait,… how much love or money are we talking here? ❓
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dianasschwenk said:
Yup. Everybody’s got a price haha
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Deb Weyrich-Cody said:
A beautiful day Diana, thanks for sharing!: )
So, can you tell me if those yellow flowers in the first pic are Tansy? They’re a bug repelling herb and have gone absolutely berserk around here this year. (Hmm… I’ve also heard that it’s a particularly bad year for fleas ; )
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dianasschwenk said:
Sorry Deb, I have no idea what kind of flowers they are. I hear Marigolds are bug repelling though.
Stay clear of them fleas Deb and enjoy the rest of your summer! ❤
Diana xo
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Deb Weyrich-Cody said:
Fairly certain they’re Tansy.
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Tanacetum+vulgare
Lol, I sure wish I could tell the dogs (and poor Kitty): to stay away from the blasted fleas; but I’m gonna need some help… Have to go harvest me some Tansy; )
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dianasschwenk said:
You could be right there Deb – good luck with pets!
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Healing Grief said:
Looks like a great place to re-connect and relax by the water. I love places like this Diana. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
It’s a Oasis in the city Karen, for sure… ❤
Diana xo
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Val Boyko said:
It looks like they did a nice job … even although I haven’t seen the before pictures! What a great place to walk in the summer 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
I have never even been there before Val! Shame I didn’t take pictures on the island, guess I was caught up in the moment. Before and afters only in this post. Next time… ❤
Diana xo
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markbialczak said:
So glad you had a lovely day to explore the restoration, Diana. Powerful place you have there. Wind through your hair is a good thing! I remember. Not now for me no matter how breezy it may be. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Man, and I love summer Mark, more than words can express! You can feel the breeze through your beard, can’t you? 😉
Diana xo
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markbialczak said:
Oh, nice try for a save there. Yeah, breeze through my beard. OK, I’ll bite on that one, Schwenkie. ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
hehehe 😀
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Jennifer's Journal said:
There is the water again, Diana, filling you with contentment. 😉 Thanks for taking us along! ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
I LOVE water Jennifer! Thanks for coming along. ❤
Diana xo
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The Good Greatsby said:
It’s not often you hear of an island being new and improved. Many islands get lazy. My favorite local spot is the river walk along Shanghai’s Huangpu river. You can start with an incredible view of Shanghai’s waterfront skyscrapers and keep walking until you reach local fisherman and swampy fields.
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dianasschwenk said:
Haha – funny guy! Your fave spot sounds amazing! ❤
Diana xo
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Louise Gallagher said:
Beautiful!
Beaumont and I are planning on making that journey this weekend. We got as far as the Simmons building last time….
🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
It’s beautiful Louise, I really like what they did! Want some company? ❤
Diana xo
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Louise Gallagher said:
That would be awesome! I’m thinking Saturday — with a coffee at Phil and Sebastians… 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Sounds fun. I’ll contact you about details!
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Nurse Kelly said:
Lovely place, Diana with beautiful photos!
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dianasschwenk said:
It is Kelly, thank you! ❤
Diana xo
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Tracy Lee Karner said:
You almost succeeded in making me wish I lived in Calgary. But then I remembered. Those Winters!
My favorite local-to-New-England spot is The Fells. Woods, water, hills, garden, art, tranquility and seclusion. I just wrote a post about it, coincidentally. Jenny Pellet inspired me with her 5-pictures-5-stories almost-challenge. I needed to add a bit of humor to my morning and that did the trick.
X)
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Tracy Lee Karner said:
should have been XO, not X-parenthesis! ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
ha – I didn’t even notice that! No worries. xo
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dianasschwenk said:
Love that you capitalized Winter Tracey! 😉 I will have to check out your post after work! ❤
Diana xo
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Tracy Lee Karner said:
I’m too German. I tend to incorrectly capitalize any old noun in English out of Germanic habit. But this time, I did it out of emphatic severity. 😉 WINTER!!! Brrrrrr.
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dianasschwenk said:
I felt the chill my friend! 😀
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cyclingrandma said:
Looks like a great place and a lovely outing!
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dianasschwenk said:
The perfect way to spend a summer Sunday Lisa! ❤
Diana xo
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