Shimmer of Green

Well, the reservoir is finally ice free... what with +22 C lately, I would think so! And there is a consistent shimmer of green that is starting to appear everywhere I look. I wouldn't go so far as to call them leaves yet... but they are coming. Riding my bike through the green shimmer makes me want to get my camera out to capture this tentative nudging of spring. The pussy willows who are in various stages of advancement. Some are still beautiful, others are already flowering. The tender blades of grass pushing their way up through last year's dry grass and leaves. The tree buds that are getting pudgier and pudgier, almost ready to burst. It's just on the edge of bursting forth... another week and we will be in full-blown spring! Although it is one the latest springs I can ever remember, it is also the one that is the most eagerly awaited!

Back in the Swing of Spring

Well, on the weekend, I finally got my bike out and took it to the local gas station to pump up its tires. And on Sunday I actually rode to Starbucks! No ice along the trail, although the reservoir is still mostly frozen. Although the Canada Geese are hopeful, as they are sitting on the ice in spots, waiting for it to thaw! I am sweaty. My butt is sore. My legs are jello. But it feels very good to be out and about and getting some exercise again! I'm hoping that it won't take too long to get my legs and lungs into shape again. I do need to adjust my routine a little bit though. I'm taking my backpack now instead of my shoulder bag, which means that I need to reorganzie what I need to bring. Make sure that I have what I need for these little expeditions.

Grit and Grime

It's spring! For sure... finally!!! I'm holding onto that, even if we do get some fresh snow. For now though, it sounds like spring, it smells like spring and it is spring! Complete with all the grime and grit that comes with it. Driving along the roads here, there are thick accumulations of winter sand along with bits and pieces of garbage. Everything that was hidden by the snow, is now being revealed. Lost hubcabs, wrappers of every description, bits and pieces of bumpers from fender-benders. The one thing that seems to be missing is the plastic bag.

In BC, there used to be tonnnes of plastic bags caught on chainlink fences, wrapped around bushes and trees. Anywhere you looked, you'd see an accumulation of plastic bags. Which is kind of disconcerting. But here... I haven't seen any! And I drive past several prime potential plastic bag hang outs... Places where the wind blows and where there are fences to catch the bags... but nothing. Either they are much better at cleaning up trash here... or we're slowing letting go of the plastic bags?? Wouldn't that be cool... if we could finally be moving beyond plastic bags into a different realm.

The street cleaners are going to be out in full force in the coming weeks, and soon all the grit and grime and bits of garbage will be swept up... Beyond that... this is a pretty garbage free place... Which makes me wonder again... are people here different than elsewhere? Are there more trash cans around? Or are we just using less disposables...