"Oh my word!" Paula Deen

I have absolutely no idea why Paula Deen popped in to my head while out on this run. Maybe it's because I'm starving, could use something with butter on it, or maybe it's because Canadians are supposed to be polite and not swear. Well, this American was swearing up a storm.

Oh, it started off nice and pleasant enough. There is this really pleasant riverside park called Edworthy Park across the street. There is even a light controlled crosswalk right outside the hotel, and Canadian drivers even stop for you! How novel!

There is the Bow Valley Pathway running along the Bow River and on this side of the River, walkers/runners and bicycylists have separate paths. I know of a few people (Jaine!) who would really like that. At a bridge just downstream there is this quaint little cappucino cafe right next to the path. The WO&D sure doesn't have that!

I crossed the river and then the railroad tracks on the far bank. I saw signs for the Douglas Fir Trail and thought "Hmm, that sounds pleasant!" I did see the part about the trail following the cliffside, but of course didn't think much of it. Then I saw a trail headed up the hill. I thought to myself "Self, that looks like a good challenge to work off last night's excellent dinner". Well, about halfway up with quads burning I had to stop, but, what's this? Clouds of mosiquitoes you say? Ahhhhhh, I can't stop or else I'll be eaten alive and I don't want to run because I'll barf up last night's dinner. Ahhhhhh, I can't stand it! I'm sure if someone saw me, they would have had a great laugh because I settled in to this half jog/walk with flailing arms and legs trying to keep the mosquitoes off me. I'm sure it was a comical sight.

I get to the top of the hill/cliff and figure, hmm, I'll take the path less traveled. Wrong. It quickly deteriorates in to singletrack and then a quarter of a track before plunging downhill. At first the downhill was fun, a few caught falls, but then boom! down on my butt sliding downhill like Romancing the Stone (how's that for an obscure movie reference!). I'm sure I have a bruise and I know I'm muddy. To add insult to injury(ies), huh, so that's the Douglas Fir Trail? Seems I'd been on a social trail and not the established trail. The Douglas Fir Trail was nice at first (are you noticing a pattern here?) but then the stairs happened. Karen, I'm not slacking on you guys. It was like the garage stairs only farther apart. Oh, and still with the mosquitoes. *Grumble*

I found my way back up the cliff and then back down, this time without fall due to the stairs. I met back up with the Bow Valley Pathway and headed back. While I was up on top of the hill, I swear I heard an old fashioned steam train go by on the tracks below. I was too busy sucking wind and swatting mosquitoes to check and see if it really was. Hopefully someone around here will know about it.

I survived the return leg of the run. Along the way I saw this two dudes speedwalking. Like really fast speedwalking. There's just something wrong about speedwalking. If you're going to go that fast why don't you. just. run!? It's kind of like the guy I saw walking a cat on a leash in Boulder. What is wrong with you people?

Enough ranting. I'm getting cleaned up, going to try to find this diner I've heard about and then a museum and some Arcteryx hunting before heading west to Banff. OM out!