Hello everyone on another sunny day here at Steve’s Country.  We did have a bit of rain overnight and there must have been thunderstorms in the area.  Muffin sensed it and hid under the bed.  I didn’t hear any thunder.  But I will trust her anytime.  And this morning the temperature was only 13C.  That’s only about 55.5F.  That is way too cool for July, even in this cold climate.  Oh well.  I hope that doesn’t mean something.  The main thing is, the sun is shining.  But you know, if we look at things right, the sun is always shining.  Just sometimes we can’t see it, that’s all.

Okay, back to the river for part 2 of our walk this week.  From the initial location, which was so beautiful in itself, I turned to the right to follow the trail alongside the river.  I didn’t get far when I spotted a large white bird on the water.  A white pelican.  I have been wanting to get a picture of a pelican for some time now.  Finally.  Got one.  Actually, more than one.  It was a little far away, but I am happy with it for now.  It’s always so nice to get a picture of something different.

I kept going.  I wanted to see if I could get a picture of our dam from here.  Sure enough, there it was.  I couldn’t see the whole thing though.  The trail ends at that spot.  Nothing but steep sloped ground ahead.  It’s the only way to get a picture of the whole dam though.  But it’s something to do next time.

I decided to come back a bit to a nice spot I saw, just to sit, relax and enjoy the view across the river for a while.  It is just so calm and peaceful here.  People need to get out more often and enjoy nature.  If you live in a town or city and can’t make it to a country location, there usually is parks and other green spaces that you can go to and just relax for a while.  Enjoy the beauty of the trees, bushes, flowers.  Listen to the birds singing.  Watch them as they fly about.  Breathe in that beauty folks.  Stress, worry, anxiety will fly away quickly.  Allow that beauty to come in.  Think about it for a while.  Enjoy it.  Feast on it.  Stress can’t hang around long when we are doing that.

As I was sitting I saw a duck coming along the shore with her babies.  Fantastic.  I have been waiting for an opportunity like this.  It is a common merganser.  Amazing how those little ducklings can swim in that fast current.  Though I noticed they were taking turns riding on mom’s back.  Need a break now and then I guess.  I got some pictures but was hoping for something even better.  So I decided to try and get ahead of them.  I got as low as I could and started across this big rock outcropping.  I thought it was a good idea.  But I slipped.  And there was nothing to hold onto.  And nothing but deep water and terrible current below me.  I kept sliding as I desperately tried to stop myself.  It was kind of a steep sloping rock.

Finally I stopped.  A couple feet above the water.  There was some little ridges on the rock at that point which helped.  If I had gone into the river, well, no more Steve.  I would have been gone very fast.  But I managed to move slowly sideways until I reached a spot where I could jump off to safety.  Scared the ducks too.  Oh well.  I did get some good pictures anyway.  Really, I knew I shouldn’t have gone across that rock, but it was quicker and quieter than going around.  Sometimes I tend to take chances.  Never usually works out so good.  Well, I guess sometimes it works.  But I think I need to be a bit more careful.

That’s all for today folks.  I hope you enjoyed part 2 of my river walk.  Yes, part 3 will be coming.  I hope you all have a great day and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

© 2019 Steve McLeod.