Sprung
Monday, May 25, 2009
It is here. I rented a car this weekend to drive to Edmonton for my dad's 76th b-day. Great fun! I drove home yesterday and returned the car at 8:00 AM this morning. The rental place asked . . .
"Can we give you a lift to work?"
"No thanks," I said.
"It's no problem. We're headed down near the CBC anyways. It's nothing to drop you there."
"No thanks," I said again. "It's a fine morning for a walk."
I crossed 16th Ave. to the sleepy North Hill Shopping mall parking lot, moving past the mall towards the c-train line and 14th Street. A car slowed for me to cross the road at a corner, I gestured "thanks" to the driver, who nodded acknowledgement. My walk continued down the 14th hill, past the little Italian restaurant at the bottom. I turned off the main road and into the Hillhurst community, on sidewalks, past houses, birds chirping, bees flying. Getting warm, I removed my jacket. I crossed Kensington at 17th Street, and followed it to the CBC.
Yes, a fine morning for a walk.
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Comments (4)
Charles
Calgary
Good for you. Most people don't realize how easy and enjoyable walking can be. I've ventured off for 60 or 70 block walks at times, into downtown or wherever. Walking to work takes 90 minutes. It is a nice complement to bicycle commuting - a change of pace on days when you just don't feel like riding.
Posted May 26, 2009 05:14 AM
Sean Carter
rosscarrock
this is just the sort of thing that "motorists" simply dont understand or get to experience very regularly.
keep up the car-free living!
Posted May 26, 2009 02:25 PM
Brent
Calgary__Tuscany
I planned to ride my bike to work for several weeks, but there always seemed a reason that 'tomorrow' would not work.
Well I have biked to work twice this week, and plan to bike 3 times next week, and hopefully all the time following.
While I have a lengthy ride, from Tuscany (in the NW) to Ogden (SE of downtown), I found the ride very enjoyable. No traffic lights, and I am able to spend 95% of the ride on wonderful paths beside the Bow River.
It may take 90 minutes to travel one direction instead of the 45 minutes in a vehicle, but those are 90 minutes of exercise and stress free enjoyment of the beauty of nature in Calgary.
Posted May 28, 2009 07:51 PM
Amy Whitmore
Calgary
When the temps hit -12 and the ice collects, my wimpy self dumps my bike and walks to work. When I first moved here I used transit, but discovered that by leaving a mere 15 minutes earlier, I could save my ticket fare and get a brisk 3 mile walk in every morning.
What does that tell you, Calgary transit, about your service?
I'll try to contain my rant about busses not running once the temps hit -20 and my arthritis seizes my knees, but it's a beautiful spring day, the air is sweet, and I will simply thank Calgary transit for saving me lots of money.
Posted May 31, 2009 10:35 PM