Every day Poppy and I walk along the bank of the Rideau River. There are inevitably birds singing, especially redwing blackbirds who we see every day. We walk across the Minto Bridges, taking the long way around both ways because Poppy is afraid of the other bridge. She is overwhelmed by the construction and the cars zooming past and the people/bikes/strollers/runners. So we avoid that stress and take the easy way round. We stroll through parks with playgrounds and community members gathered to clean up the community space and care for the garden beds. I find it charming and reassuring. I find many people here friendly and I enjoy smiling and saying hello to the other dog walkers and those who are commuting to work on foot.
Once we cross the series of frilly white bridges we enter ‘dog heaven’ where Poppy runs off leash, swims in the river, plays with the other dogs and sniffs butts (that is not the grossest thing she does. Dogs. Ugh). We walk on the tiny paths that run right along the edge of the river bank and Poppy runs in and out of the water while I remind her not to drink it and watch the swallows dance on the boundary where the sky meets the river. It makes me understand why people write stories about birds and fishes falling in love with one another; like a reflection of themselves in another world.
Today I banged my head on a tree branch while walking those teensy paths and looking down. It sent a jolt of pain down my neck and I almost cried. Instead I held onto the monkey bars and dangled for a while. I also tested out a swing (love a good swing) for a moment or two.
I was looking down because while walking that path I heard a crunch that sounded just like a sea shell. I looked down curiously and was surprised to see that I had stepped on the top half of a crayfish shell and I wondered if there are crayfish living in the Rideau River?
BRB, I’ve gotta go look that up!
UPDATE: The internet told me that the Rideau is ‘filled with crayfish’! Who knew! Well, maybe everyone but me. Haha.