When the Chief Mistawasis Bridge was first opened in the fall of 2018, it was frustrating to see that the beauty of the South Saskatchewan River valley was hidden. I assume the city just looked for the cheapest design which is understandable but annoying nonetheless. Luckily, there’s enough on display to tip off photographers and nature lovers alike that this is an area to explore and this autumn, I finally did just that.
I had been to the Silverwood Dog Park in the past with another dog but I had only gone once since getting Bella. So, with dog and camera in tow, we headed down to the river. From the parking lot, it’s a decent descent down the valley with lots of trees of color to photograph. Thankfully, I was able to take Bella off leash so I didn’t have to worry so much about Bella pulling me when I was trying to take pictures.
Once we got to the river, it was hard to ignore just how low the river is right now. As I’ve mentioned in previous years, the river really seems to be in distress in the past decade. Even with more rain this year, it still seems awfully low for September. At least it was perfect for Bella who usually doesn’t like getting too close to the water.
One shot I wanted wasn’t possible from the river’s edge and wouldn’t have been that beautiful with the harsh afternoon light. But an opportunity did arise not long after. I had to chauffeur one of my parents to an early morning appointment and with an hour to kill, I headed back to the north bridge.
My biggest complaint about not only the bridge but of the whole McOrmond Drive/Central Avenue/North Commuter Bridge project is that despite going through natural spaces that are both beautiful and ecologically important, no effort was made for the public to enjoy these places. They made plenty of framework for future intersections but they’re mostly closed off making it difficult to stop and enjoy the scenery. This made my attempt to photograph the west side of the bank quite difficult. Thankfully, there are at least some trails that took me to where I wanted to go.
While some of the colors from the week before were already gone, there were still enough to snap some lovely pictures. Overall, I think this is a place I’m going to be revisiting a number of times. Beautiful and quiet spots are always my favorite!
On my way back to my parental chauffeuring duties, I did manage to sneak the vehicle in one of these nooks that are to become future intersections. Fall is not just gorgeous because of the trees. There is something magical about harvest time. Perhaps it’s just the prairie girl in me but seeing bails of hay dotted throughout a field at sunrise has a beauty of its own worth celebrating too.