Elk Island National Park was abuzz with activity on Wednesday.  The Parks Canada staff were cleaning, painting and restocking wood bins in anticipation of a busy long weekend.  The campers were rolling in early.  A couple of tents were set up today.

I took advantage of a morning off to hike the Lakeview Trail.  It's just a short loop but it provides a variety of hills, flats, ponds and beautiful lake views.

There were a few wet spots that warranted a pair of rubber boots.  My hiking boots did not meet the need so I had to detour into the trees.  

The beavers were busy building dams; raising the water level.  It is close to overflowing the trail in more than one area.

A bench at a lake lookout was my first stop.  I sat and admired the sights and sounds.  Duck, goose and blackbird calls filled the air.  Just as I was about to leave, I heard a sound that stood out above the rest.  It is my favorite wilderness call.  Nothing defines a lake or wilderness area like the sound of a loon.

I continued on my way and rounded a corner where I came face to tail with a hare.  It was so busy munching the tender grass and grooming that it did not hear me approach.  I watched for a number of minutes before it realized that I was there and 'hightailed' into the underbrush.

The trail meanders along Astotin Lake and then loops into a swampy area that contains towering spruce trees.  A number of them have toppled and now provide a bug buffet for the woodpeckers.

I passed by some decaying logs.  Bright, spongy moss blankets cover them.  Wild violets bloomed close by.  Marigolds were opening in a little marshy oasis that I found in the middle of the forest.

There is a trio of benches where hikers can stop and take in the natural beauty around them.  Butterflies flitted from new leaf to new leaf.  Birds called from the tree tops.  A light breeze made the aspen branches shiver. 

The last half of the trail follows the shore of a number of beaver ponds.  I could hear muskrats calling each other.  Ducks created gentle ripples in the water surface as they swam away from me.  The boreal chorus frogs sang their sweet songs.

I was the only person on the trail this morning; just me and Mother Nature.

I signed up to receive the aurora watch notifications from the University of Alberta.  Each night before bed, I check to see if an email came through.  If it's not there, I go to the website to see what the probability is to see the aurora borealis. 

Tonight I got the email and couldn't wait for it to get dark.  I'm sure the neighbors think I'm crazy when they see me huddled in the backyard on the deck; watching the sky.  Frankly, I don't care what they think because the light show this evening was worth staying up for.

I watched in awe as the green waves danced across the sky.  They moved slowly at first.  As night came on, the waves became more rapid and there were more purple hues.  They twirled and created beautiful patterns in the darkness.

As I watched the light show, I saw a falling star and wondered who else might be out there looking down at me from another part of the universe.  I felt so small.

I came to a conclusion this evening.  Who needs sleep?  There is too much action happening in the sky when my eyelids are shut.  I am mesmerized each time I watch the heavens.

A lot has happened in a week. I managed to try my new bike; taking it to a short trail at the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area for the maiden voyage.  It was so much fun that I had to decide whether to go around the loop once more or take the bike to Elk Island.  The day was beautiful and the trails were quiet so I ended up cycling another 12+kms at the national park.  What fun!

On May 6th, a spring snow storm blanketed the landscape.  There was only about 10cm of snow at home but at least three times that amount in town.  What a teaser!  I was tempted to dig out the skis just for the heck of it.

It didn't take long for the snow to melt, leaving some very green grass in its place.  Everything needed a good watering and it didn't matter if it was rain or melted snow.  The leaf buds popped on the aspens and birch trees, adding some bright green to the drab brown forest.

The yard has been roto-raked and the flower beds have been dug up.  The vegie seeds are planted in the raised beds and the barrel containers now hold some colorful annuals to decorate the front yard.

Forty five bags of mulch were added to the naturescaped front yard.  That was no easy feat as the shoulder injury from January is still haunting me but it sure made the yard look better.

While I was completing all the work in the yard, the forest creatures entertained me.  A pileated woodpecker teased me through the day; calling from the trees.  It wasn't until I took a break that it flew to a log on the forest floor just behind me and put on a show.  The garter snakes are awake from their winter naps.  Two of them slithered across the leaves at the back of the yard.  It was good that I had rubber boots on because I almost stepped on both.  Needless to say, we startled each other and there would have been a blood curdling scream if one of them found my pant leg.

On Sunday I had a close encounter with a young moose at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  I'm sure it recognized me from a previous visit.  It glanced our way briefly and not only did it continue browsing on the willows, but it came right out on the trail in front of us.

Yesterday morning I drove to Elk Island National Park for a hike.  The bison babies are entertaining all the visitors.  Most are less than a week old; many with dried up umbilical cords still attached.  Their legs are wobbly but they are feisty and trying to run with the herd.

I was the only person on the hiking trail so it was a great hike indeed.  The ducks quacked and the frogs sang.  The muskrats chased each other around in the pond and the sound of the woodpeckers resonated through the trees.  It was a glorious way to begin the day.  

Spring means allergy season but that won't stop me from getting out to watch all the wildlife in action.  In a few weeks, the underbrush along the trails will obscure the view and I won't be able to see between the trees.   I'll be hiding out inside when the temperature gets above 17C because I can't stand the heat.  Until then I'll be taking whatever opportunity comes along to enjoy the joys of spring in the great outdoors.

After coordinating three events in five days, a much needed outdoor day was on the agenda.  The sun was shining but the wind was chilly.  I didn't care.  I needed fresh air and solitude.

My road trip began at Elk Island National Park.  I didn't do any hiking; too many people at the park today.  My time was spent behind the wheel and behind my binoculars.

Every pond that I passed by had waterfowl swimming in it.  So many birds to identify and no bird guide!  I took as many photos as I could with the hope of identifying them at home.  What I did notice was the lack of water in some areas.  With the slow melt this spring, the water seeped into the ground instead of pooling.  A couple of areas that were active with beavers last year are dry this year.

After some time spent birdwatching, I headed home.  A coyote made its way through the ditch along the Yellowhead Highway.  It found a dead crow in the tall grass and used it like a dog toy.  The coyote grabbed the carcass and tossed it into the air a couple of times before leaving it in the grass.  When it lost interest in the crow, it climbed under the wire fence and entered the park.

The forecast indicated that it was to have rained today.  That did not happen so I had to water my perennials in the yard.  The grass is greening up but it definitely could use some rain.

The wind died down this evening so I went for a short hike at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre.  There was one other vehicle in the driveway but I did not cross paths with the driver.  It was only me and Mother Nature tonight.

A muskrat swam across the pond, creating gentle ripples in the water.  A goose landed with a splash.  The frogs were croaking and the squirrels were chattering.  A young bull moose stood in the swamp at the bottom of a ravine.  It must have known that I would do it no harm.  I stopped and it stopped as we eyed each other over.

The leaf buds have popped open and the young, bright green leaves are beginning to brighten the brown landscape.  The swamp grass is growing around the ponds.  Flooded areas of the trail are no longer under water but they are soft underfoot.

The hike was quiet and fresh and much needed.  I got back to the pond at the end of the driveway.  As I came around the corner I noticed someone unpacking some camera gear by her vehicle.  We met at the pond and began chatting.  Both of us needed some quiet time in nature.  As we exchanged stories about our love of nature and the need to get outside for rejuvenation, we also learned that we had more than that in common.  It turns out that her daughter and I work at the same place.  What a small world!

I've checked the forecast for tomorrow.  I bought a new bike almost three weeks ago and have not gone farther than the mailbox on it.  If it is not raining in the morning, that bike is getting initiated on the trails.