Reflection Walk #50, Yr 2 Fancher Creek and Canal Walk

Sights:  Dry/empty canals.  Canal walkways stopped and started.  Solar panels, wildlife, RVs, ‘dead’ shopping carts at the bottom of the canal, chickens, roosters, glimpses of farm life, water basins, and “bird ballets”.  The murmurations of the flocks of birds captivated walkers.  Decks built out over the canal, one with water spigot and electrical, lovely stretch of canal with roses, clean section of canal with sandy bottom, sign for volunteer canal clean up crew on 4th Saturday, mallard ducks in little bit of water, exotic bird unusual to see, mature trees, benches tucked under trees, roots/branches into artwork, graffiti along canal wall, houses on Clovis Ave with large trees, Sunnyside country club, kids playing outside, photo shoot of family along canal, jogger and dog, family setting up for wiiffle-ball tournament in large front yard, magnificent trees, different ages of trees reveals age of neighborhood, trees losing leaves revealed bird nests, painting over graffiti, well kept and then neglected areas of the canal walk, graffiti and carvings on the trees, cork trees, blue tent with someone living inside, signs of people living outside in overgrown areas along the canal.  Beer cans lined up on fence.  Landscaping/yard crews working with truck and trailers parked at curbs with yard equipment.  Large vegetable gardens planted in back and alongside of apartment complex.  New construction/development at Kings Canyon and Clovis Ave.

Walkers talked to Robin and her dad on their front walkway.  They told walkers about the moss in his front yard and how he brought it from Mississippi in a suitcase 30 years ago.  He’s lived in this house 55 years.  (see photos)

Walkers met Samantha who gave walkers persimmons, and told how her husband bought this land and built the development.

Walkers met Rick and Mike who were hanging out/living in the canal bed with their belongings and repairing a bike (see photos).

Smells:  breakfast cooking, nature, dry/dusty, wood new fence, oranges trees, roses, dryer sheets.

Sounds:  leaf blower, mower, train whistle in distance, birds, wildlife, very quickly moving from quiet then to roar of traffic, dogs barking, both small and large dogs at back gates or back fences, car alarm, music from car windows, music in front yard with man sweeping, woman speaking Hmong.  Sounds of a fountain/pool waterfall coming from a backyard.

These are our brothers and sisters in Fresno.  All of our lives and futures are tied together.