A Soft Landing

Posted on July 9, 2013 under Storytelling with one comment

Can you imagine a piece of the universe more fit for princes and kings …” – from Song for the Mira by “Allister MacGillivray

It is only a short stroll from “The Main” to arrive on the doorstep of paradise. Cross the railroad tracks, turn right, park your car and take a deep breath. It is hard to believe that something so wonderful is so close to town and easily accessible. Welcome to the Antigonish Landing.
Tidal waters from the ocean backfill into the confluence of the West River, Brierly Brook and Wright’s River. I believe they call this an estuary. We used to call it a place to drink on weekend nights. It is much, much more than a walking trail. Yes, it is a place to get your heart rate up but it is also a place to get your mind to slow down.
You see a lot of people at The Landing. There’s an early morning crew that enjoy the crispness and chill of that time of the day. Many people spend their lunch hours there. And many like to go there and shake off the woes and frustrations of a day at work. When the university is in session, it is not uncommon to watch romance unfold under the watchful eyes of the eagles that nest in the area.
If you are a naturalist there’s plenty to see, hear and smell. Local birders are often seen wielding their binoculars. On any given day you might encounter turtles, snakes or beavers. If you are moving slowly enough, you might spot butterflies in all their magnificence and notice the many varieties of wild flowers.
Besides the walkers there are bikers and lots and lots of runners. And canoeists. And, apparently, this is canine heaven as well for the many dog owners who frequent the trail. In all my years, I have never once encountered dog poop at The Landing. These animals are either very well trained … or their owners are. And speaking of fecal matter, the main reason that we can even spend time at the Landing is the foresight of former Mayor, Collie Herman, whose vision created the sewage treatment plant on the doorstep of this sanctuary. My kids affectionately refer to it as the Poop Plant.
There are times of the year that the Landing just won’t let you in. In early spring, the combination of rain and thawing ice creates lakes where the trail should be. In winter the path becomes a rough and rutted skating rink.
The Highland Games 5 miler wends its way through the Landing every July. It is always unbearably hot but Scots are a robust lot. I guess the promise of the beer tent at the conclusion of the race is all it takes to get 300 or more hearty “soles” to toe the mark.
When I walk or run through this trail I’m often found humming that old Eagles classic “Peaceful Easy Feeling”. I’m not the most spiritual guy in the world but whenever I need a soft landing from life’s trials and tribulations, I know just where to go.

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