mud

So, despite the six inches of snow we got yesterday, it's officially spring here. And what that means is that we have temps above freezing during the day, which melts some of the snow, and temps dipping below freezing at night, which refreezes the water on the walkways and roads, creating what is known as ice (for my Texan friends, this is the same stuff you put in your tea, only much more of it. And you have to walk/drive on it, instead of letting it melt in your drink, which is very hard to do).

The other thing about Edmonton spring is the mud. See, in Edmonton, all winter long, they have been putting sand on the roads to keep them from getting too slick. Every once in a while, a snowplow would come through and push the sand/snow mixture to the sides of the roads where it would pile up, obscuring the curbs and eliminating entire lanes of roads.

Commuting in Edmonton in springtime does not involve flowers and sunshine, but rather, having to make the split-second decision whether to run into the snowbank or risk having a deluge of muddy water sprayed upon you by the passing bus. It also means going out of your way to cross streets earlier, even getting off the bus three blocks early, in order to avoid that puddle. Some muddles are so big, I swear they have tides.


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In summary:

Edmonton in summer - the city is garbed in lush green. Festivals every weekend, the sun never sets. Glorious. You should come.

Edmonton in autumn - the city is crowned in leafy gold. The river valley is spectacular, hiking and biking are fantastic. Glorious. You should come.

Edmonton in the winter - the city is robed in glistening white. It's really, really cold. But the people are hardy, and the city is alive with music and theatre (and shopping, I confess). Glorious. You should come. Just wear layers.

Edmonton in spring time - you are drenched in muddy brown. Stay away. Better yet, can I come stay with you?