As frequent readers of my column know, I like to walk for exercise and to give myself time to think.
On Sunday, I had already gone for two walks by about 11 a.m. when I decided to go out for another one. This time, though, I decided to try something different.
I have a few different routes that I use when I walk from my apartment, usually different lengths depending on the weather and how I’m feeling.
This time, I decided to walk along Tabor Boulevard to 15th Avenue, down 15th to Jarvis, and then back home.
It’s one of my usual routes, so I decided to do something I hadn’t done before. The other thing you need to know about my walking is that I sometimes like to walk fast, but I slow down again if I find I’m having to breathe through my mouth.
So Sunday morning, as I set out on my third walk of the day, I decided I was going to try to walk at a fast pace to start and see how far I could get before I had to slow down because I was starting to breathe through my mouth.
I was figuring I would make it most of the way down Tabor, and that would at least give me a benchmark for future walks. I set out at a very good pace and, for the first time on the three walks, saw other people out on the sidewalks.
I kept going at my faster pace, and found I was getting farther than I figured I would. I got to 15th Avenue, turned and headed down to Jarvis.
Turned onto Jarvis, still walking fast and breathing (relatively) easy.
As it turned out, I got almost all the way back home before I had to slow down. It was a very pleasant surprise.
I also saw something that may, in some respects, sum up what kind of a summer it has been in Prince George.
As I left on my walk, I heard the unmistakable sound of Canada geese honking. I looked up and saw a flock of them, flying reasonably low above me.
As I watched, they formed a rather ragged ‘V’, then headed off – north.
I don’t know if that means we’re getting a late spring or if these were just some very confused birds.