It is January....isn't it?

So I have decided that since I'm not really going on many adventures as of late, that instead I will post/blog about things that I feel like talking about. Some of you may or may not find it interesting, and well that's just you. I do it because I enjoy it, plus it’s a good way for me to discuss what I want, after all it is my blog. And I also just to share with those who are interested the abundance of random photos that I end of taking on a daily basis.

So now that I've had my little rant/venting session about why I've decided to do what I am doing, here's my second entry of the new year.

WHER THE HECK IS WINTER!!!! I mean seriously, it’s January 4th and its +14 outside. Now last I heard on the weather network about what winter was going to be like for Albertans was that it was going to be cold, and by cold I mean colder than usual. Well I think it’s almost safe to say that they were wrong!

“It is the soul that sees; the outward eyes
Present the object, but the Mind descries.
We see nothing till we truly understand it.”

- John Constable

Okay, so maybe I shouldn't complain too much. I mean due to our lack of snow I haven't had to put my brand new winter tires on my car, the same tires that I have had for about three years, and have only used for maybe two months.

Also, because of our weird winter weather, I haven't had to once again bear witness to Alberta drivers. I mean not all of them are bad, I will say that. But there is a handful of them that I swear should've learnt to drive in BC in what I refer to as REAL WINTERS!!

So I guess those comments can be seen as negatives turned positive :)

Another thing that I have enjoyed this "winter" if you can even call it that, (seriously if anyone has another name for this, please share) is that I am able to enjoy the outdoors without having to bundle up. Take today for example, around 09:40am, I decided to put my headphones in my ears and head out for a walk before the 100km/hr winds that we were told to expect made an appearance.

"Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must step up the stairs" - Vaclav Havel

I headed out onto University Drive W before turning down and making my way into the Coulees. Now some people who too were taking advantage of the nice weather, started giving me funny looks. However, although I do not know the exact reason as to why, it very well could have been any one of these;

1) The Vancouver Canucks hat I was wearing. Don't judge just because you are probably an Oiler or Flames fan. My fav team is 4th in the League!

2) The fact that it was 10am and school isn't in and I am a University student, so maybe I should be sleeping in or something > side note I was actually up at 8am to make stew.

And finally,

3) Due to the fact that I was in fact wearing SHORTS! That's right, it’s January 4th at 10am and I am outside going for a walk in shorts.

Whatever the reason these individuals were giving me funny looks, I choose to ignore them and continued on my way.

I encountered a few more people down in the coulees out jogging, however decided that I wanted to enjoy my walk alone, so I went off the beaten track. I walked alongside the Westside of Oldman River, taking in the cool breeze that accompanied me and the beautiful landscape that surrounded me. It was in fact the perfect day.

“To the complaint, 'There are no people in these photographs,' I respond, There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer.”    - Ansel Adams

I made my way to the bridge. The Lethbridge Viaduct, which is also commonly known as the High Level Bridge, was constructed between 1907–1909. I found a trail leading down to the bridge, and because there was no one around I decided to climb onto the bridge. Now this may or may not have been a smart idea had something happened. But seeing as I am safe and sound writing this, let's say it was a good idea.

"...words and pictures can work together to communicate more powerfully than either alone"

-William Albert Allard

From there I made my way down towards the Nature Reserve. I was unaware that Lethbridge had a Nature Reserve in the middle of the Coulees across from a golf course, but there it is. There I saw a few deer in the trees on the other side of the river, massive Canadian Geese, to which kind of looked like mutants due to their overly large size.

"[Photography] is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever . . . it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything"

-Aaron Siskind

By this time I realized that I had probably walked over 5km and found myself down by HWY 3. I really did not feel like going back on the trail to which I came, so instead I went up. There was a "trail" that came out at the top of the Coulees under the High Level Bridge. It was a bit of a hike, but I managed. Hey remember, I climbed a mountain! A little "hill" in the Coulees was by no means a match for me.

"I restore myself when I'm alone"
- Mariyln Monroe

"A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed"

-Ansel Adams

Finally I arrived back home just as the wind was starting to pick up.

If there is anything I learned from this spur of the moment "winter" walk into the Coulees it would be this;

1) Be sure to bring water! My bad I did not think I was going to be out that long (1.5hrs)

2) Remember to wear socks with your running shoes. My poor toes will hate me for a few days.

3) Have a snack or something before leaving. Breakfast being the most important meal of the day, might be good idea to have it before going for a walk.

4) Always bring a camera. Hehe I remembered this one, had my cell phone with me the whole time.

5) When you end up in the rich end of Lethbridge Westside, don't look suspicious. I swear I was just looking for the Hwy.

And finally,

6) Enjoy yourself.

I may complain that yes it’s the beginning of January and there is no snow, and that it defiantly does not feel like winter. It's like we skipped that season and have now ended up in an early spring.

However, the fact remains is that it is in fact JANUARY, and our actual winter could be around the corner waiting to bite us in the ass.

Do as I did and will continue to do, enjoy it while it lasts!

Cheers.