City Parks

I think cities need a place where people can walk and play, and the great ones have amazing parks. San Francisco has just such a treasure with its Golden Gate Park, which I decided will be my walking destination this week while I am enjoying my annual spring break away from the snow.

The sun is peeking out this morning, for the first time since I arrived late Saturday night, but I never let weather stop me from doing things. How can I, as someone from the land of the ice and snow? Yesterday, I got caught in the middle of the park in the middle of a rain storm, but I didn't let that dampen my enthusiasm for what I was doing. You see, in the winter and early spring months, there is something truly magical about the Northern California landscape. The greenery is more than forty shades, and it is lush and fragrant. As you walk among the trees, there are knots in the wood and bark dangling almost poetically. And the flowers- to see such colour when you have spent months looking at the faded browns of the dead of winter garden you left behind, splashes of orange, pink, bursts or yellow and purple, well, it is just a feast for the eyes.

On my walk, just as the sky was turning ugly, I came up to a place called Prayerbrook Cross, and saw a waterfall. In a city park, a cascade of spring water fell before me in loud rushes, and I followed the current along the road until it brought me to a little lake within the park. There, ducks were feeding and the water had slowed to near stillness. As the rain came crashing down and I turned back towards the house, I was reminded of similar feelings of wonder and joyI've had in the many city parks and cemeteries I always make a point to visit when I am away from home. Tomorrow, I am going to head westward towards the ocean and visit the bison pen at that end of the park. Can't wait.