A walk in the park
OUTDOORS 91-year old Candy Clark shows no signs of slowing down
TRENTON, N.S. — At -3 C, with wind gusts over 50 kilometres per hour, the morning of Dec. 16 was not the kind of day that people look forward to being outside.
But 91-year-old Vesta Clark is not most people.
“These trails stretch out your toes, they move every muscle and ligament in your body except for your tongue; you have to flap that yourself,” said Clark laughing.
Clark rolls into the parking lot at Trenton Park, gathers her gear, which today was some good mittens and hat to complement her handy walking sticks, and hits the trails.
“I go every day unless there is some reason why I can’t. I was getting my car fixed so for the last two weeks I couldn’t, and I was going to walk here. I’m not that brave.”
Clark is better known for her nickname, Candy.
“The only people who know me as Vesta are the government,” she said laughing.
The name Candy came from her days working the canteen at the Academy Theatre in New Glasgow.
Today, Clark lives alone in Westville and drives her car — now repaired — to this place every single day.
“A lot of people think I’m nuts, going into the woods by myself. They ask, ‘aren’t you afraid of coyotes and ticks?’ Well people scare too easily, I think.”
Over the years, Clark has become a regular part of the scenery in Pictou County’s largest public green space, and has formed a connection with it that she wishes more people could have with nature.
“I wish they were able to walk through all of this and see what life is truly about,” said Clark, deftly stepping over roots and boulders on a steep downhill portion of the trail. “It’s about stopping and looking around, asking questions about what you see, why is this that way and why? I truly love it.”