When I was a young boy, a thrilling day trip out was riding on a red double decker London bus. The big city! The excitement at seeing the sights! When the bus reached the final stop on a route, the bus conductor would call out:
“End of the line – all change please!”
All change please! I adore that call, and it has stayed with me over the years, echoing in my head whenever we’ve opted to move somewhere new. (I’m less keen on end of the line, hoping not to be there quite yet…)
River banks revealedWell – and I’ve been on about this for a while now – I think that winter is fast approaching the end of the line for this year. What a disappointment…but then I realized I had to undergo something of an attitude change to this incoming, and sooner than anticipated, seasonal shift. Time to stop writing as the environmental pessimist, and get en route to destination glass half full. Time to be enthusiastic about the arrival of spring, and regain some anticipation and excitement. Be more like the bespectacled little boy pressing his nose against the window, soaking up the incredible wide world from the top deck.
Incredible wide worldHow and why did this mental makeover come about? I was sat on a cabin deck last weekend, feeling faintly down about the morning spent snowboarding through poor snow due to the warm conditions, when I had to give myself a richly deserved kick in the pants. Talk about personal invisible Western problems. A morning at Louise, then afternoon sunshine on a deck looking out at the Rockies, and being unable to appreciate how fortunate I was? Not on, old boy. Reality check and attitude change please.
Coniferous greenInstead of whining and wailing about the lack of snow, I got off my butt and we took a little wander along the creek and down to the river. So much to enjoy! Coniferous green in full sunshine, with the trees shaking off winter whiteout. The gurgling of the creek rising up through gaps in the thinning ice.
SparkleThe shining, bright, almost painful sparkle of reflected sun on the river.
Gurgling creekIt was an absolute pleasure to be out in the early spring sunshine, inhaling the resin aromas from warming tree trunks. A highlight? Hoping to catch sight of the American dipper once again, and there he was, on the far bank. What a pleasant short hike, and easily as thrilling as a boyhood bus ride in the big city. Of course there is much to be concerned about, but it’s equally important to enjoy soaking up the incredible wide world, show some appreciation, changes and all.
Warm and resiny – spring timeWe finished the day by sharing a bottle of stout from a craft brewery here in Calgary. The Wild Rose is producing a series of limited releases, and this Flemish stout was a pretty good way to sign off on old winter and welcome new spring. It was deep and dark, as a winter beer should be, but brewed with cherries and wild raspberries that gave a suitably sharp and tart note – allowing us to anticipate the warmer months ahead? Maybe…glass half full, PlaidCamper, half full!
Deep, dark, and slightly tart (so was the beer)All change please! Thanks for reading, I always appreciate you taking the time to visit here. As ever, please feel free to share a story or leave a comment.
I am a would be outdoorsman - that is if I had more time, skills and knowledge. When I can, I love being outdoors, just camping, hiking, snowboarding, xc skiing, snowshoeing, paddling a canoe or trying something new. What I lack in ability, I make up for in enthusiasm and having a go. I'd never really survive for long out there in the wild, but I enjoy pretending I could if I had to...
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15 thoughts on “End of the line – all change!”
I really I enjoy reading your stories, “all change please” took me in somewhere too… Beautiful photographs, Thank you, have a nice weekend, Love, nia
I really loved this post, pc–a lot of wisdom and joy here in your words. I could almost hear the gurgling creek and smell the resiny tree trunks. There is nothing so powerful as an attitude change, and you captured it perfectly here. Your photos and vistas, as always, were stunning. Have a great weekend enjoying the new season and continued art of all change please.
What a wonderful post. I agree, sometimes I find myself wallowing in woes but then have to shake myself out if it as I really am blessed. It’s so good to be able to appreciate nature and beauty and by the look of it you have plenty of that around you. Beautiful photos.
Thanks for your kind words, much appreciated! Yup, I was definitely guilty of wallowing in woes (great phrase there) and quite happy to wake up to myself and my surroundings.
Thanks again, and have a great weekend!
Enjoyed your great introduction and the story of your journey “to destination glass half full.” Wonderful photographs, especially enjoyed Highlight and the beer.
I’m very happy you enjoyed this one! Aiming for “glass half full” as often as possible – more in the journey sense than beer sense, although if the beer is decent…
Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend!
A really fine post, PC. It’s the end of the line, perhaps, for winter (disapppointing and otherwise) but all change, please, for a fresh new season. Indeed. Such beauty in your mountain locale, but best approached with opened mind and sharpened senses (your glass half-full perspective). You’ve nailed it again!
As for the American dipper, it should be the national bird of rivertop country. And the Flemish Stout, poetically captured in your photo, should be a strong contender for national rivertop beer!
Thank you, Walt, I’m happy you enjoyed this one – and couldn’t agree more with your national bird of rivertop country! As for beer contenders, the Flemish Stout is a possibility, but we’d best not be hasty in naming a rivertop beer – there just might be some overlooked and undiscovered ones, be a pity to declare too soon…
Enjoy your weekend!
OldPlaidCamper 
I really I enjoy reading your stories, “all change please” took me in somewhere too… Beautiful photographs, Thank you, have a nice weekend, Love, nia
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Very happy you enjoyed this little trip! Thank you, Nia, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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I really loved this post, pc–a lot of wisdom and joy here in your words. I could almost hear the gurgling creek and smell the resiny tree trunks. There is nothing so powerful as an attitude change, and you captured it perfectly here. Your photos and vistas, as always, were stunning. Have a great weekend enjoying the new season and continued art of all change please.
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Thanks, Jet! It was a weekend for the senses (and a kick in the pants), and I’m delighted I could share it with you.
Have a great weekend!
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Great post PC, I love the photo of the tree trunk- wonderful texture…
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Thank you, Calgary Girl – very happy you enjoyed this one. Have a great weekend!
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What a wonderful post. I agree, sometimes I find myself wallowing in woes but then have to shake myself out if it as I really am blessed. It’s so good to be able to appreciate nature and beauty and by the look of it you have plenty of that around you. Beautiful photos.
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Thanks for your kind words, much appreciated! Yup, I was definitely guilty of wallowing in woes (great phrase there) and quite happy to wake up to myself and my surroundings.
Thanks again, and have a great weekend!
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My absolute pleasure. Enjoy yours as well.
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Enjoyed your great introduction and the story of your journey “to destination glass half full.” Wonderful photographs, especially enjoyed Highlight and the beer.
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I’m very happy you enjoyed this one! Aiming for “glass half full” as often as possible – more in the journey sense than beer sense, although if the beer is decent…
Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend!
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A really fine post, PC. It’s the end of the line, perhaps, for winter (disapppointing and otherwise) but all change, please, for a fresh new season. Indeed. Such beauty in your mountain locale, but best approached with opened mind and sharpened senses (your glass half-full perspective). You’ve nailed it again!
As for the American dipper, it should be the national bird of rivertop country. And the Flemish Stout, poetically captured in your photo, should be a strong contender for national rivertop beer!
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Thank you, Walt, I’m happy you enjoyed this one – and couldn’t agree more with your national bird of rivertop country! As for beer contenders, the Flemish Stout is a possibility, but we’d best not be hasty in naming a rivertop beer – there just might be some overlooked and undiscovered ones, be a pity to declare too soon…
Enjoy your weekend!
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Love the bird! Also, now I really think I need a beer.
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Ha! I hope you’ve got a good one in the fridge!
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