As the waters recede

First, Calgary's mayor is more awesome than yours. Sleep is for wusses when your city is being flooded.

Second, Calgary is also awesome. Of the roughly 100,00 people displaced, only about 2,500 ended up in evacuation shelters. The rest found shelter with family, friends, perfect strangers offering shelter online. Now volunteer organizations are forming to clean up.

Third, the generosity and "come hell or high water" attitude that Calgarians have made me realize how much I love this city.

Fourth, our office building will be open tomorrow, but our director said to check email and prepare to return to work Tuesday. We've all been given VPN access and I tested mine, so if need be, I could work from home.

Fifth, it may need be that I have to work from home, because trains aren't going into downtown yet, and I very much doubt that I could find a parking space. :-)

Sixth, today, with the waters receding, I decided to go check out the nearest flood zone. This is Mallard Point at Fish Creek Park.

(And please note that I used a telephoto lens and stayed away from the water's edge. Today was not the day to be a mermaid).

The park is definitely still flooded, but you can see how far the water rose and has receded.




The sound of the water was loud as it rushed by. I kept a safe distance.


The road and parking lot were closed to the public.


Mud where the water had been. It was thick and sticky.


A utility pole in the water.




No need to worry about ice - this whole section was flooded.


Lots of people came out to look. Many people didn't think to bring bug spray and regretted it. (I sprayed myself with Off before arriving).


I've been in this area of the park once. It was shady and very lovely. :-(














The footbridge is still intact, but the bank and the pathways leading up to it have been washed away.




The other side doesn't look so bad.




Meanwhile, ants were being ants.




I really wish I had taken photos of this area before. But I didn't know ...


One lonely picnic table remains.


An artsy moment.


The water in this area didn't make it as far as the houses, but it came close. The houses in this neighbourhood were evacuated and the residents have been allowed to return.


The flattened grass on the other side of the road shows how close it came.








Pollen gathered quickly in the wet grass.




The walking path and bike path.




It was encouraging to see deer on the other side of the river, enjoying a summer day.






The city of Calgary on duty!