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.