Therefore, our intrepid hiker risks his waistline for you, dear reader
The month of April is a month of renewal, rebirth, and reawakening for dear sweet Mother Nature as snow melts and temperatures warm.
For hikers however; the month poses some real challenges because of muddy and rutted access roads, soaking wet trails and rivers and streams teeming with fast running water, not to mention having to carry snowshoes just in case there are areas in the woods with pockets of deep snow.
It is for these reasons we tend to do more local, urban hikes and walks, or else hike along the shoreline of the bays of Fundy, Shepody or Chignecto or the basins of Cumberland or Minas.
The immense tides in these bodies of water usually leave the shoreline devoid of ice and snow by the time April rolls around.
So, where did we go for our first weekend stroll of April?
Knowing that you are all probably incapable of functioning in your day-to-day lives until you find out, I will tell you.
We met in downtown Moncton in back of the now defunct Co-op store and went out to the riverfront trail, heading east toward Dieppe to visit the city's fabulous market.
It is a pleasant, well used trail with points of interest along the way, including Bore Park and 18th century Treitz Haus, Moncton's oldest building.
Next comes a statue of shipbuilder and Monton's first mayor, Joseph Salter.
One really amazing feature of the park is a long painted stripe along the concrete bleacher marking the amazing height to which the water rose during the Great Saxby Gale of October 4, 1864.
As we approach the walking bridge across Hall's Creek we come to Settler's Landing where there is a monument and plaque commemorating the arrival of the first permanent settlers of Moncton Township on June 3, 1766.
On the other side of the bridge we find a pavilion celebrating the TransCanada Trail where you will find, engraved in stone, the names of people who contributed to trail construction.
Just past the pavilion is a creatively done acknowledgement of "Le Grand Derangement" in 1755, with a special mention of the struggle and resistance of Acadians in our immediate area.
With all these interesting stops we are not building up much of a sweat, but not all of our outings are about a good workout (did I just write that?).
Some are just for fun, camaraderie, education and plain old fresh air.
With most of the historic distractions out of the way we continue on until we turn off the trail at the first opportunity and go up Virginia Ave. in Dieppe until we reach Acadie Avenue, then cross over to the Dieppe Market.
It would not be a visit to the very busy Dieppe Market without buying a crepe from Don and Gisele at the Crepe Maestro, not only for the delicious fruity, chocolatey concoction but also the witty banter that regularly takes place between vendor and client. Don can fling humorous comments with the best of them; no jokes, just off-the-cull funny.
Next up is La Fleur du Pommier for some veggies, then to Pasta Casalinga for some fresh pasta.
Crusising right along to David Bunnett Family Farm for a couple of organic grass-fed cuts of beef tenderloin.
I swear it is some of the tastiest beef I have ever savoured.
Next up is La Famille Gagnon for some chicken breasts that are incredibly lean and dense and taste 'like chicken used to taste,' that is, 'before the advent of forced feeding and growth hormones and such.
Well, some fish is required and fitting that bill is Joe Caissie Seafood where you will find salmon, lobster and many other varieties of fish, the origin of which will be explained to you along with any tips you may need on cooking the product.
I think these last comments capture the essence of local market shopping; it is friendly conversation and information, not hurried and no pressure, you get to know and trust the person from whom your are buying your food.
OK, it is time to move on to the Moncton Market, so we retrace our steps and get to the Moncton Market at about 12:45 PM and it too is packed with people.
Boy, we are lucky to have two fabulous markets in our area.
I go to both markets each week because there are certain things that I buy that are only available at one of the other.
At the Moncton Market I buy my bread from Nick the Dutch Baker; whole wheat flax and whole grain breads that are baked by Nick and his family of 12 children.
Nick's son Harry gets into the act and makes a great pizza with fat-free and sugar-free multi-grain crust...delicious.
If it's convenient prepared foods you want including full meals and soups well, Gaston's Prepared Foods fits the bill.
How about the most unbelievable cupcakes from Karen Silliker at the Cake Box, which I do not buy because I can not imagine biting into these works of art.
But I do buy her scones!
The chocolate ones are the best.
For a real tasty snack I hit the Wok and Roll (cheesy name but great stuff) for a snack pack of three potstickers, one springroll and a few noodles all with their own sauce...yum! yum!
Finally there is Tammy's Famous Breakfast Sandwiches which I allow myself to have on occasion (cheese bun, egg, cheese and bacon).
Remember; these food stalls are where I go, but there are many other choices for those not of like mind.
Food is not the only reason to go the market; there are artisans of every persuasion not to mention music, including the ultra-cool Jim Blewett who is accompanied by ... well you never know who it will be, but it is always entertaining.
I guess April is not such a bad month for us after all and starting it off with a stroll to the markets is, if not a rebirth, then certainly a renewal.
And for some, it is also an awakening to the treasures available in our community markets.
It sure is different; starting out with light packs and having them get heavier and heavier as the day goes on instead of the other way around.
When peole tell me that they have never been to either of the two markets I find it hard to believe, they really do not know what they are missing.
It is a wonderul experience and it only gets better the more often you go.
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