Saturday, January 05, 2013

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

The 'Wild Side' being a walk in the woods! 



I took the dog out for a long-overdue hike in a local conservation area today.  It's one of my favourite trails in our area ... the pup likes it too because he spends the entire time off-leash (along with a myriad of other dogs).  Here's Cody blending in with nature ...

 
The trail was good today.  Not too icy.  No deep snow. 

 
 
I've walked this trail when it's been solid ice ... treacherous There's a meandering creek that gurgles its way through the trees.  Cody loves water, and just the sound of it can send him round the bend.
 
 
So I kept a close eye on him where the trail runs beside the creek.  I don't trust his intelligence when he's near water.  My friend once witnessed a St. Bernard go through the ice on a creek similar to this one.  In his desperate attempt to save his dog, the dog's owner just about went under too.  The thought of losing my dog through the ice leaves me cold.  This is a fast-moving creek which freezes thick and solid in some areas, but is open rushing water in others.
 
 
 
 These woods hold many types of trees.  Alongside the swift-moving water are some ancient willows.  I used to tell my kids this was 'Grandmother Willow' from the 'Pocahontas' movie ...

 
She certainly looks the part ... just look at all that gnarly bark ... lots of deep green moss growing on her too.  If you wait long enough, her face emerges through this broken bark ...
 
 
There are quite a few old trees in these woods ...  along with
a few carcasses from long-ago bolts of lightening, or disease ....
 
 
Lots of variety in the landscape too.  From bulrushes and marsh grasses ...
 
 
 ... to orderly rows of pines ...
 
 
But this can also be a mysterious forest, and you won't want to lean against these trees for too long.  They might just swallow you up!!
 
 
A bit of metal doesn't seem to affect the growth of them in the least ...
 
 
After a couple of hours of traipsing our way through these beautiful woods, and through a bit of open field ...
 
 
... the sun was starting to dip ...
 
 
 
 I didn't want to be caught out there in the dark, so the pup and I gradually made our way back to the car park, but were happy to have enjoyed some fresh air, and lots of hilly, snowy, quiet walking ....
 
 
Thanks for stopping by!
 
Wendy & Cody
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

16 comments:

  1. What a beautiful, stunning walk! I feel cold just looking at these images! No snow yet for us, in fact it's been very mild over the last few days! Have a great Weekend! :) x

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    1. I'm glad I got the 'cold' image across! Today is even colder at -7C. Wendy

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  2. Hey Wendy, what a stunning place to go for a walk.....had to look twice to spot Cody, he certainly blends in well.
    I's funny reading about you tobboganning and over here we have 40+deg. and bushfires......
    Hope ou had an enjoyable weekend,

    Claire :}

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    1. Hi Claire, I just posted a comment on your blog about the cold here :) Stay cool, and I hope your poor chickens keep drinking! Wendy

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  3. Hi, Wendy, thanks for taking us with you and Cody...
    I love trees and have been known to hug a few! Your pictures are haunting and the landscape breath taking.
    Just rains and mild climates here,(strange weather)we could do with the crisp cold climates to clear a few bugs and germs, we are still suffering with! hehe. Take care of Cody, he is just lovely!
    Sending kind thoughts, Maria x

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    1. Hi Maria, I'm glad to know you share a love of trees ... I love the silouettes in the wintertime. Wendy

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  4. I had to look twice to find Cody too! The babbling brook sounds wonderful, and yes, scary in the winter. I saw my dog go through the ice when I was a child. She survived the incident, but it was a chilling thing to see. I have been deeply mistrustful of ice (on bodies of water) ever since.

    Such majestic trees! Gorgeous.

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    1. Yes, the ice can be so deceiving ... your poor dog to have gone through! As soon as I hear that "crack!" - even if the ice is just settling - I'm off!! Wendy

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  5. Sounds like a lovely walk. I still don't trust my dog to run loose in the woods. She is part beagle and when she picks up those scents...oh boy. I used to have a black lab and I could definitely see her hitting the water even in winter. My little dog now doesn't even like to step into water. Funny.

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    1. I wouldn't trust a beagle to stay with me either, but I'm glad our dog is of the 'velcro' variety so that I don't have him straining on the leash the entire time in the woods. Wendy

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  6. Gorgeous photos. And fantastic Pocahontas tree :)

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    1. Hello, and welcome to my blog! Yes, the willow is amazing ... you can compare its size to my dog beside it (sort of hard to see him, but he's about knee high on the right). I should really post a colour photo to show all the mossy goodness :) Wendy

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  7. I loved walking along with you. Thank you so much

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    1. Thanks for visiting Linda, it was a pleasure to share my day :) Wendy

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  8. What gorgeous set of photos! My Dolly would love adventures there. Looks like the perfect place to fill your lungs and clear out the cobwebs from 2012! Thank you for sharing :) Hazel x

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    1. You could spend an entire day in these woods ... lots of exploring! I'm glad you enjoyed the pics :) Wendy

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