We left on our walk as usual, Juma leading the way. This morning, we were heading up to the Gord Harry Trail, a favorite and our most regular walk.
But as it was a much colder morning than we were used to this summer we decided to break our walk and go visit the stables to see if our new neighbour on the block, Duncan, a four-month-old foal, was still out. Recent warm weather has produced a veritable host of flies which irritate the ponies to the point of stressing them out and their owner, always concerned for their well-being, will monitor their time outside whilst ensuring they spend much time in their own stables where they receive at least a bit more protection. Thankfully this cooler weather is helping to give all the ponies more time outside.
Even my personal trainer suffers, especially on our afternoon walk, when I spend my time swatting flies from the tips of his ears, which on occasions get bloody from fly bites. On the good side nothing ever seems to stop him loving it every time we get out, he to walk, me to follow him and throw sticks for him to retrieve.
All the ponies are still out, although Duncan was uncooperative and kept hiding behind his mom, so a photo op wasn’t to be at that time. But, as we were there I asked if it was okay for me to carry on across their fields and through the woods to the ridge trail that runs between Lakeshore and the Gord Harry Trail. The answer of course, was ‘Yes’! Nice folk, these neighbours of ours.
It must be 12 months since we went that way and as soon as we set off across the fields Juma became Juma again and totally forgot his personal trainer duties, dashing here and there, picking up the most exciting smells that abounded.
Walking down the first field in the early morning sunshine with only the surrounding countryside to admire, then through to the next field, predominantly wetland, but this year drier than I ever recall, which made for easy walking.
Juma could never get enough of this and was here, there and everywhere, whilst always reappearing close to make sure he was at least trying to uphold his personal trainer duties. At last, behind the wetland area we reached the tree line and began our meander towards the ridge trail.
Easy walking, as it was so dry, maybe not quite so easy for an ageing geriatric, but very satisfying. It was a lovely wander and although I’m sure Juma was picking up so many smells of the woods’ varied inhabitants he wasn’t savvy enough to do it quietly, and any skills I might have had, moving quietly through the trees and undergrowth, are history. I think any wildlife is long gone before we see them. No matter really, because we know they are near and it’s a comfort to know we are maybe in the company of deer, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits and more, all of which we have caught glimpses of over the years of the walking we have enjoyed.
Having managed not to get lost, we arrived at the trail, and I found enough young trees to help me climb up to join it.
Up until a couple of years ago a local landowner used to keep it clear of the many fallen trees that are in the area. I guess like many of us a workload that used to seem so easy became just too much and in fact has left a natural cross-country obstacle course that is challenging enough to be fun.
Over tree falls, under tree falls, through long ground cover where the path is no longer clear, but to feel a part of it makes all worth it every trip up!
My personal trainer never fails to amaze me. The final 40 or 50 metres there was no clearly defined trail and Juma kept coming back until he saw me, then turning away again. When he finally disappeared for good it was only a couple of steps before I recognized the downhill just before we reached the Gord Harry Trail.
Sure enough, as I reached the bottom, there he was, sitting on the trail, looking down at me and waiting for me to catch up.
How can any day start better than that?
