Down Country Paths. #4

As I look out the window the sun is shining beautifully, the lake is calm, just like a mirror. It is reflecting the trees and rocks along the shore so perfectly that it is hard to tell where the shoreline begins and the water begins. A perfectly wonderful start to the day. I am sitting in my car and have stopped by a small lake to enjoy this beautiful summer sight. It is 5am.

There is such a chorus of birds singing that it is hard to imagine, or describe. One of my favorite summer singers was out this morning, the Hermit Thrush. I really enjoy their flute like song, nothing quite like it. Then I drive down this trail for a ways hoping to get closer to another location. A high hill overlooking a swampy area. Very suddenly my trail comes to an end, but I turn off to the side and park under some pine trees for now.

Down by my river.

From here I walk up to the top of the hill. Hopefully. I often wonder why a trail like this is even here. It does not go anywhere or to anything. It just stops, not even a turn around spot. However, it was easy to drive around the trees to turn the car around. Then I noticed something and walked over to take a look. It was a foundation of a building, or what was left of it.

Trees were growing inside that foundation, so I figured it went back at least to the 1920s, maybe older. It was about 30 by 50 feet, rather large for a house in the middle of nowhere. But it had a purpose for something. I might have to come back some day and check around further. It could have been an old logging camp, though it would be an odd location for one.

Golden Wax Cap mushroom.

Oh well, back to my climb. It is a steep climb really, but the view from up there should be great and I always wanted to check it out. So today is the day. From below I knew this hill would be steep, but I did not think it would mean actual climbing, I just thought steep walking would do it. However, part of it was climbing. It was not hard though, there were a lot of good spots to hold on and keep my feet on solid rock steps. Kind of. Anyway, by 5:30am I was on top looking out across the landscape.

What a view from there. I could see for miles (or km if you prefer). There were other high hills around too, but still, the view was impressive. Too bad I did not have a camera at the time. Sigh. There were fewer birds singing up here on the hill, but there was a Hermit Thrush singing here as well, plus several other species of birds like the White-throated Sparrow, Mourning Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler.

Another view of the river.

There was even a robin singing from a tall spruce tree. There were mostly jack pine on this hill and not much underbrush which was nice. I sat and enjoyed the view and listening to the birds. It was just a beautiful morning. However, I decided not to go down the way I came up, I figured that might be a little difficult. It looked easier another way, even though it might take longer.

However, it looked safer. So, after staying there for a while I proceeded back to my car. Going down this other way was much better, except one spot. There it was kind of steep and I had no choice but to go down that way. So I started down and it was not so bad after all. That is, until my foot slipped on some wet moss. I was unable to stop myself and down I went.

There were some ripe wild strawberries that day.

But, I did not hurt my feet or legs this time which was nice. Instead I landed on my side and hurt my left arm. Scraped it quite badly so it was bleeding. I had a first aid kit with me, sort of, it was in my car, which was not too far away now. I did hurt my shoulder and elbow too. My first aid kit seemed to be missing some things, like antiseptic, not sure where that went.

Also some bandages to wrap around my arm. Good thing I had some clean rags with me. Oh well, the bleeding should stop by the time I reach the restaurant anyway. I arrived for breakfast at 7am. Krissy’s mom did not like the looks of my arm, so she went and got Krissy to clean it up for me. “By yourself again,” she said shaking her head, “not too smart, you could get seriously hurt.” Sigh.

And there was a Gray Tree Frog, like this one.

Interestingly, people are still telling me that. I had a most delicious breakfast though, another great part of my morning. Thank you all for reading today, oh, this is something that happened a long time ago, not recently. Also, photos are recent, not from that adventure. Have a wonderful weekend and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2023 Steve McLeod.