It was a beautiful day.  The girl was sitting at her computer, deciding on how to go about her day when she got a visitor… No words were necessary!

“Yes, my Zekie-Poo, we will go for our walk!” she told him and proceeded to get dressed.  Hmmm… it was a “balmy” -3°C (which warmed up considerably as they went along on their walk).  Knowing full well she would probably end up on her knees at one point or another to take a picture, or walk in knee-deep snow, the girl decided to put her snowpants on, no matter how warm it was. And her tuque (why, oh why did she only have a wool one?) And her scarf – no scratch that, her scarf was too long and hot, she would use her son’s that she had made for him as it was shorter (another mistake – just as warm).  Mitts were always required as her hands can’t handle the cold.

Off they went with no particular destination in mind and the girl was almost tempted to turn around and peel off some layers.  Ugh!  Why oh why did she do this to herself!  Take the hat off, no too cold; put the hat on, too hot; take the scarf off – where to put the damned thing?  Tie it on the leash. No, that was totally annoying to both Zeke and the girl.  Oh!  Around the outside of the coat? No, too short, kept sliding.  Bloody hell!  Ah!  In the Hood of the coat.  Out of the way and off the body!  Take the mitts off, starting to feel cold; put the mitts back on.  And so it went.  All the way to “Nina’s Park”!

“Oh?, What the heck is this?” questioned the girl… “Snowmen! No, Snowmice! Hmmm… Snowrabbits?”

Not sure…

Whatever they were, they stood in the middle of the park like Sentinels watching over the joint!

They chose to continue on to their walk to De Brouages Park with no intention other than to extend this time in this beautiful weather.  Once they arrived, they noted snowmen “bodies” all over the place.  Oh my! Had there been a bombing?  (She did have quite the imagination…)

Snowmen bodies

The girl sat and contemplated, looking around her and just enjoying the view, half wishing she had another with her to chat with.  Let’s face it, Zeke is not that talkative!

A place to rest

Looking at the little bridge crossing “her” river, she noted some trees that seemed to tell her:  “Go this way, have you figured out where your river goes yet?”

Go that way

To the river!

“Oh yes!” she cried.  “Let’s go, Zeke!”  And off they went!

Along the way, they noted the pretty details in the vinegar plant and oh! a slide for leprechauns!

Details

Slide for leprechauns

As they got closer to the river, the girl decided that maybe it would be best NOT to walk along it.  They had gone as far as they could last time…

My river

They walked alongside the pathway until they got to the spot where the girl had broken through the ice.  Looking around, she tried to find the exit of the viaduct by peeping over the fence.  Ah hah!

Exit

Found it!

They had to cross a street and look around to see where the river continued and finally found it!

The river

Proof

They walked along it, keeping a close eye on where it meandered.  Somewhere it had to pass UNDER the highway.  There!  Right next to the little strip mall!

Openings

Under the highway?

Alrighty then…. the girl’s hubby was almost right.  He thought it crossed over under a little further than it really did….  She couldn’t wait to tell him!

“So, Zeke. What think you? Should we wait for another trip to see just where this river finally joins the St.Lawrence?”

Huh?

She decided that the adventure would have to continue at another time.  They still had quite a ways to go before they returned home…

They walked along the bicycle path that runs parallel to the train tracks.  So nice that the City plows it for the walkers all through winter – where they can!

Rail road crossing

Along the rails

The girl had lived her whole life in this town – most of it in a house close enough to the tracks that every three to six months, the glasses had to be pushed back in the china cabinet as the house would shake so much they would start banging together!  What a memory that was….  That, and the fact that the train whistle would blow at all hours of the day and night.  Much to the townspeople’s chagrin.  After many years of complaints, a fence was finally installed all along the tracks.  Apparently this is the only thing that can be done to ensure they need not warn folks that trains are passing.

Gateways are installed along every crosswalk and are unlocked most of the day.

Gateway

They continued on their way, enjoying the sounds of the birds, some of which were sunning themselves on the wires and they even ran into two little girls.  “Hmmm…” she thought. “Wonder if they are playing hooky!!”  She then remembered that it was a pedagogical day for the French schools…

Takin’ in the rays

Playing hooky?

A most enjoyable walk, indeed!

They were looking forward to their next adventure!

In case you missed the first part of this story, click here

The end of the story is here