City Walk 2018 (From the Jaws of Defeat)

Stats

Completion Distance: 67 km

Steps: 92,000

Walkers at Departure: Mike, David, Bri, Liz, Anthony, Shannon

Support Team: Leora, Eric, Gary, Vin, Jodi, Dillon, James, Appa

Walkers at Finish Line: Mike, Liz

Departure was textbook this year. Everyone arrived at Bri and David’s and we were outside within a minute of our exit time. I have to give a huge shout out to their espresso machine (and whoever oversaw it’s machinations). There was a large and beautiful latte waiting for me as I stepped through the door. Not leaving from my house was a bit of a sacrifice, but the coffee made it an easy pill to swallow.

As it so often is, 4:30-6 am is strikingly beautiful at this time of year. Spirits were high and we all enjoyed the joyous, silent, glow of the morning sun as it nudged aside night’s clouds to the east.*

*Note to Wendy: I would say the clouds were most definitely NOT scudding. Much more of a lazy drift.

Fate, it seemed, was waiting around every corner with a sledgehammer to bash our knee caps. The extended forecast coming into the week looked bleak and filled with rain. By the time the day arrived there was only 30% chance for 1mm. In the end, we had a 5 minute sprinkle that did nothing more than frighten us into renewed vigour.

Anthony was not so lucky. And by not lucky, I mean that he has me for an uncle. Within 30 minutes of departure I managed to send him up a huge dirt pile that was waiting to be turned into the next piece of the Rosewood subdivision. He and David and I all congratulated ourselves from the top (while gasping and barely able to speak) as the women chided us from below—Really, “chided” is a bit strong. More like attempted to completely ignore our childish antics. I think we could all agree to settle on the term “Hero Worship” and call it a day. Anyway, as we stepped, slid, and jumped down, there was a sleight error in one of Anthony’s “controlled” landings which lead to a hard knock and scrape to the side of his knee. It caused no small degree of discomfort and acquired some swelling as the morning progressed. Eventually, over lunch, Gary declare him fit to continue, but foresaw possible complications before too long. Bah! What do fathers (or surgeons) know, anyway.

The first big surprise of the day was Bri calling her parents at 6am and asking her mom to make a pot of coffee for our group of Questers. The second surprise was when the request was not followed by dial tone. And the third surprise was this awesome sign on her parent’s door as we walked up an hour later.

Now, the sign was great and all, but it was the spread that was truly outstanding!

Seriously, it was just like we had dropped in on Tom Bombadil ...and Goldberry was waiting! *

*Anthony, just read the damn things.  It isn’t that long. Also, the movies wouldn’t help you with this one ;)

We reluctantly left traveller’s paradise behind and continued. We had trouble with pacing and I was beginning to worry about finishing before dark.

So, to recap, we rocked out of Brighton, nearly lost Anthony (or at least his knee) as we romped around Rosewood,  had a quick snack as we skipped under Stonebridge, and then putted past The Willows. We then we lost the first of our company on the door step of the German Cultural Centre. Shannon had intended to come for a short 5km walk. She felt emboldened before we left and committed to 10km. But it was with a 20km odyssey under her belt that she reluctantly departed. Very well done!

The five remaining walkers all had designs on completing the walk this year and we made a pact to increase our pacing. This lasted as we crossed the river and rounded Montgomery and came to a screeching and hungry stop for lunch in Parkridge.

While the lunch and company were both delicious, the wind gusting to 60 km/hr was problematic for our plastic dishes. 

I will take the time here to restate just how grateful I am for all the help I receive on this silly mission of mine—of ours. The city walk has persisted as a way to inject adventure into my life. In doing so, it has also shaped a community of people. Some who want to experience their own adventure and some who just like to bolster the adventurous spirit within the people they love. Some may also do it because they couldn’t gracefully say “no” ;) 

I can’t say enough times how much I enjoy walking with and for you and how the implicit love given to support and share in the work of the day make it worth doing over and over. Thank you.

We set out again, after lunch, with fresh hugs, socks, and newly applied moleskin/bandages.

I really do love the edge of the city. It can look like a giant growing organism of civilization—like this shell of a neighbourhood waiting for its organs and blood to begin the work of daily human existence...

...Or, it can look like the edge of a prairie paradise.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Appa, David and Bri’s beloved dog joined us for a portion of the journey. You can spot him in the photo above and to the left of the frame. As our first non-human city walker, I think he made a reasonable showing for his species and he definitely lifted our spirits... at least as much as he lifted his leg (which was a lot).

When Appa was ready to go, so too were Bri and David. Tummy thorns were the undoing of poor, short-legged Appa, and blisters the undoing of his long-shanked companions.

Spirits were briefly high for the remaining walkers. But, Liz, Anthony and I soon suffered flagging enthusiasm as we rounded the airport. The gravel roads are not fun to walk on, the views are some of the least pleasant of the entire day, and it was becoming all too clear that we would be walking long into tomorrow. In an act of selfless heroism, Anthony left while he still had some energy. A careful self-examination lead him to know that he could not make the entire distance and he didn’t want to hinder the progress of the group. A very mature end to his first serious attempt.

Liz and I traversed 71st street, passing the time by discussing what parts of our bodies hurt most and discussing who was the biggest burden at this point. As a gentleman, I shall not illuminate that conversation here. I’m sure Liz will show the same restraint on Facebook <sigh>.

We didn’t have long to irritate one another. A fortunate early evening run in with the North Commuter Bridge changed everything. From the vantage of the abandoned worksite, it was exciting to see how close it was to completion and to imagine how much time it would save if only we were to sneak across. Being of sound judgement, this we definitely did not do. Nor did we shave 2-3 hours off our time... And yet, it seemed no time at all until we walked all the way down Spadina, crossed the river at the Circle Drive bridge and walked all the way back to the place we could see just across the unfinished bridge containing no security or even signs forbidding what would certainly be a simple crossing.

Then there was a beautiful sunset, followed by tired and increasingly giddy conversation. I have to say, I was quite certain that Liz would not complete the walk, but she was inspired and constant in her jovial conversation.

Then she did make it!!!

What?

That’s right. A strangely short 67 km?* An alarmingly long 18 hours! And Liz becomes the second person to complete Saskatoon City Walk (on her first try). She joins Henry Drake as the 2nd farthest distance travelled. Congratulations, Liz. Congrats to all the people (and pets) that contributed to another (barely) successful circumnavigation of the city of Saskatoon.

*Henry, if only you had been with us this year. I’d love to add a 3rd finisher to the list of  “The Greats.” Next year. Next year.

Photos can be found somewhere in the cloud...