Pearce Estates & Back to the Bs

It's not the time to put off looking for autumn colours for another day.  

It's go time right now!

The pathways throughout Pearce Estates afford an experience of being immersed in a bountiful of beautiful autumn shades!   Every tree that changes with the season has turned to some degree.  On this day the Siberian Larch Trees were at different stages of life and that look made for a magnificent sight.  It was quite a sight also to see dozens and dozens of Robins of various ages together in one place. I wondered were they from further north and migrating south together with this being a stop over!  They along with a few other species filled the air with sweet songs. Sigh after Sigh after Sigh after Sigh...at the beauty that filled my eyes...I headed on home feeling healed from any negative distractions.   

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Two days after my last visit here,  I was back to Bowness, Baker & Bowmont, this time so I could introduce a friend to the soft feel of the larch tree needles.  As I stated above, don't put off looking for autumn colours for another day!  What a difference two days makes!  As we say good-bye to September autumn filled the air, it covered the ground and it reminded me to "remember to breathe" every second and every sight!  

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Bowness Baker Bowmont Parks September 28, 2021

Deju Vu!  "I was not going to bother with a separate blog post of today's urban hike but then came to my senses as the worthiness is up there."  The views and the colours along the loop around Bowness Baker and Bowmont was top notch today!  There was the right amount of everything to make this a photographers dream day.  These end of September days this year have been gifts!  

I love the cloud formations that frame this tree!

view across to Baker Park which is where we are headed

a beautiful bouquet of colourful trees

those leaves on the ground have swish-appeal

a golden arch-shaped frame

a larch tree line up

an inviting looking trail to follow

walk this way or I should say skip this way

photo credit Happy Hiker

everything about this photograph appeals to my senses

a female Northern Flicker

getting lost in colour

to me it looks like the clouds are bursting out of the tree tops

When we arrived back at Bowness near the Bow River, 

I envisioned what this path will look like in two to three months... 

It is the Ice Trail where I skated last winter!

There is so much more autumn to see out there!

Stay Tuned!

🍁

Bottomlands to St George's Island September 27, 2021

My plan is to stay in the city this week and admire the local colour while adding kilometres to my virtual challenge.  I was not going to bother with a separate blog post of today's urban hike but then came to my senses as the worthiness is up there.  There are so many parks and paths to choose from where there would be autumn hues.  I opted to start at Bottomlands and work my way south and west.  What I saw today was exactly what I hoped to see!

view across the Bow River

My intentions were to focus on the shades but I got distracted when I heard birds singing.  I believe this Black-Capped Chickadee did not know I was right in front of him until he turned his head and looked me straight in the eye.  Then in less than a split second he was off! 

red to orange to gold to green

the morning light was ideal for capturing pretty pictures

I went back to that special spot where I was a few weeks back when the bird landed on my hand and snatched a seed. This time I admired them as they plucked their choice from the pile on the cement block.  Someone must have just placed these here.  This is a White-Breasted Nuthatch who checked me out before making his choice.  There were numerous Nuthatches and Chickadees taking their turn coming in for a snack. Watching them was great entertainment for about 30 minutes. 

wherever there was water, there were reflections

It was breezy which caused lots of leaves to fall.  

I had success with timing in catching falling leaves!

heading back to where I started my day

It is best to take advantage of these gorgeous days to get out there and admire the local colour.  As each day passes the colours will continue changing, and more leaves will fall.  I love autumn but I don't remember ever loving it as much as I have this year!  Maybe with the way our world has been, thinking has changed and some little things in life mean so much more!  🍁

St Francis Way Virtual Challenge Progress September 26, 2021

After this past week's get-away to Banff for larch hiking, plus some recent urban hiking, I am content with the progress so far on this virtual challenge.  I have decided to make a goal to reach by the end of this year and that is to have completed 2000kms from mountain and urban hiking/walking combined.  This is the first time ever for making a year-end goal of kilometres to cover.  After this morning's walk at Confluence Park, I have now completed 1603kms which means I have 397kms to go to reach my goal.  Like I have said before, these virtual challenges have been such a great motivator to get out there no matter what! I feel the benefits both physically and mentally.    

Our recent weather sure helps with just wanting to be out there!  Add the gorgeous autumn colours to that and wanting to walk out that front door comes easily.  These are a few of the views from this morning at Nose Creek.  

Since my last progress report, I have received two postcards!

The virtual views along St Francis Way have been quite nice too!  

Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi

This photo reminds me of when I hiked in the Italian Dolomites.

There has not been much in the way of water to virtually see, so I went a little off route to find some.

Parco Regionale del Lago Trasimeno

My original intention was for this challenge to take me to the end of the year but I already know, if life throws me no curve balls, I will cross the finish line long before December 31st.  Also, it was intended this would be my last virtual challenge, but only time will tell!  

Bow River Path, Banff National Park September 23, 2021

The goal this morning was to enjoy an easy stroll along the Bow River in Banff after checking out of my home away from away, then hit the highway back to Calgary. I opted to start from the Cave and Basin and walk towards Sundance Canyon.  It was a cool, crisp, quiet morning.  While there are no golden larch trees in this area, there were lots of autumn shades.  I will let the photographs tell the story!

My bird nerd friend pointed me in the correct direction with identifying this bird as a Golden-Crowned Kinglet! There was lots of bird activity in sections along this route.  They were the small birds that won't stay still and like to be in amongst the leaves on the trees.

The correct ID on this little bundle of brown is an American Tree Sparrow!

After a couple of hours strolling this pathway, I was ready to make my way back to the city.  While it is just short of a two hour drive from the city to Banff National Park, I can find places in this Park where it feels like I am a world away!  That's where it felt like I was these past few days!