A Walk in the Park

Ian and I went for a picnic and walk at Shubie Park yesterday. We had a great time, the weather was fantastic, probably around 20c and sunny. We walked 1.244 K. I used this tool to figure it out. We took a ton of pics. There was a story around every corner!

We started off with a picnic. We had some fresh multi grain French Bread, with butter, some Applewood Smoked Cheddar, some chicken breast, and some strawberries (that whole feast cost us a mere $6! I love me the Superstore Deli!) Here is the best pic I got of Ian during the picnic:



And here are our pasty white winter feet getting a bit of sun:



After that, we packed the picnic back in the car and hiked halfway around the park. Here is a view of the canal from one of the bridges:



Here is a duck wandering along the path, all alone:





He was quite a ways away from the water:




Stomping ants. (I don't know where this urge to kill ants comes from!)




Cute squirrel No. 1:




The helicopter that scared cute squirrel No. 1 away:




Some evidence of the Hurricane (at least I think so) you can still see some signs, even 5 years later.



Nova Scotia is basically a great big rock with a skiff of dirt over it. So rather than having deep roots that run down into the ground, trees send their roots through the dirt, spreading out all over the surface of the rock, clinging there for dear life. They are flexible and withstand the wind, they don't usually snap; rather they are torn right out of the ground. Here are some pictures of the tree roots winding their way along the ground:



The roots run under the path and heave it up in some places; the first time Travis and I came to this park, we broke a stroller wheel! The tree roots make nice homes for some kind of animals:




Cute Squirrel No. 2



Spring finally beginning:



Cute Chipmunk No. 1: We stood really still, and he came right up and touched Ian's shoe!

Some pigeons:

I took the picture because the one in the middle was kinda different looking. Unfortunately I did not get a pic of the drama that ensued moments later. We followed these three pigeons around a bend, and then we saw a squirrel (Crazy Squirrel No. 1, here forth known as CSN1) So we stood really still, because, after all that chipmunk came right up to us. The pigeons found a stash of corn somebody had left along the side of the trail and proceeded to eat it. The CSN1 made his way down the tree he was in, and onto a fallen log, where he started screaming and chattering madly at the pigeons. They paid him no heed, and continued eating. CSN1 came down from the log, skittered over to the pigeons, and sat there for a minute, then suddenly and without warning, he made a run for the pigeons, who flapped off in terror into the bushes, feathers everywhere! I don't think I ever saw Ian laugh so hard at anything!

We sat there again, because we could see the pigeons were making their way back towards the corn, and CSN1 was getting all worked up again, you could see the manic glint in his beady little eyes. Ian could barely contain himself, he was so excited (he loves chasing pigeons). Sadly, the drama was interrupted by a jogger who came along and scared the entire menagerie away.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic of CSN1, but rest assured, he looked like a regular squirrel. Not unlike the crazy neighbor who seems so nice but is chopping up hitchikers on the weekends.