Then Lucy and I went shopping

Running east along the north side of the creek west of Albert Street, I wondered why no one had a boat on the water. It's the damn climate, that's why. But on a day like today, with the colours and air chippy and fresh as a blown tin can, why not get out there, watch the leaf-play, follow one breath with another.

I stayed on the north side, packed gravel, rather than cross the bridge to a paved path at about Cameron Street. Past several possible exits to the north, I kept going right to the Albert Street bridge. There the path veered left behind some houses. I followed to a dead end, hard up against the bridge on one side, fence ahead and on the left, everything overgrown. After a moment of debate, I climbed a light standard and hoisted myself over the bridge railing onto the west sidewalk of Albert Street, looking as if I'd just climbed out of bed, I think.

I did see a couple of kayaks on the lake, a rushed sky, my own body running.