Summer is Saskatoon’s season – at least most of the time, when the weather is warm, relatively dry and everything is growing. Years ago I worked for a few weeks washing dishes at University Hospital and the staff cafeteria was on the top floor. When you looked down over the university and the city a sea of green met your eyes because all the trees hid the buildings. Saskatoon hasn’t got a lot of really tall structures, even yet, and I remember someone from Regina sneering about the lack of a “skyline.” I’d rather be compared to Berlin, which prides itself on its good air (Berliner luft) because it, too, is a city with a lot of green as well as a lot of natural water.
At this time of year the riverbank is a corridor of activity, with the Children’s Festival (now over), the Jazz Festival, a Taste of Saskatchewan, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, (all coming soon) as well as Canada geese walking around (and unfortunately leaving their droppings) or flying overhead. In fact summer is one long festival here and I know there are people who would never think of taking their summer holidays away from the city because there`s so much to do all over including the Exhibition, the Fringe Festival, and Folkfest (I could go on).
I have a few routes that I walk from my home, down Broadway Avenue and along the river, passing many blooming gardens. The very short route is to the University Bridge and across, then along the river on the other side and back up the Broadway Bridge. This takes me past any festivals going on as well as close to the red bus, where I may stop occasionally for an iced coffee, an ice cream cone or a “riverbank frank.” A slightly longer route meanders past the university, over the CPR Bridge and past the pelicans. They are spending more time than I recall on one of the islands. Perhaps the water is a little too high, nearly level at the weir, to make for very good fishing. I remember years ago the first time I traversed that bridge it made me a little weak in the knees, being so high up. I’m used to it now, and can even survive a train thundering by as I cross. My longest route is all the way to the 42nd Street Bridge, past a lot of open fields that, I think, belong to the University farm. In the fall you can see flocks of geese feeding out there. I like walking over the hanging pedestrian bridge, with traffic somewhat muted above. Lots of people are out walking or biking, depending on the time of day. There are occasional other animal sightings along the river as well -- a coyote, beaver, and once I watched a bald eagle floating along (this was at about 11 o’clock in the morning). I’ve also heard of people seeing cougars now and then, but I’m glad I never have.
Saskatoon and the riverbank are beautiful at all times of the year actually. Some people love the cross country skiing in various parks and on golf courses, and there’s the Meewasin Rink across from the Sheraton for outdoor skating. Although we don’t get quite the diversity as other provinces, fall is a blaze of colour. Winter can be both beautiful and challenging if you choose to walk in all temperatures and conditions. I`ve had to wade through snow drifts up to my knees after a storm and before the trail was ploughed. Even if it`s 30 degrees or more below zero, you can still warm up with a brisk walk.
