Feel like acting like a kid, go for a hike in an Ontario forest. I walked 5K at Hardy Lake today, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and the forest was so quiet.

I crossed rivers, ok maybe little creeks. Parts of the trail were wet so I had no option but to climb on branches, or walk on stepping stones that someone put there. It was a hoot. My poles make a big difference. One they help with balance, they also let you check how deep the water is or how solid the ground is.

The walk took me 2 hours, yes I took a lot of pictures but I think the big slow down was looking for animals and birds. It is kind of like being on the ocean, you have to keep stopping to look in case there is a dolphin or whale there. The forest was so quiet I was sure I was going to see a deer at least, or maybe even a bear (that might have caused me to walk faster lol).

Other than a couple of ducks, not even the water was moving. I kept staring thinking I would see a beaver or otter swimming, nada. Bugs were starting to skip across the water, thankfully none biting yet.

You have to watch the ground for roots, stones, branches, etc so your head is constantly scanning the trail for danger areas. Taking pictures and stopping to look around gave my head a rest and reset lol. The one time I tend to act my age.

Beavers are being reintroduced in Canada, Britain and the US to help restore wetlands and help with flooding. Quite a hardworking little animal. I am thinking this family was having lunch or napping, no sign of them anywhere I looked.

Today was a day of reflections. One of my first walks around Hardy Lake was to this rock pictured below. It was in the fall, trees were changing and just magical. The magical part of today, that one rock had become 3. I walked past it and was surprised to see that it was 2 rocks, as I kept going there was another one lol. Either that or it had babies. I do wonder where all the rocks in the forest come from they look like they are just dropped there like a game of chess.

This is the first time I made it to this little bridge, woohoo, new ground. On the other side of the bridge was a big hill. Well yes letting my inner child out I had to climb it, and then I was done. My inner voice was saying “time to head back”. My inner voice was also saying “you did a Jim today, no water and only a coffee” lol. I tell him off constantly for that. Oops

One little flower, and another magical find was what looked like a little condo of mushrooms, how many fairies lived here.

My last magical find was this majestic tree stump, not letting go yet, still providing homes and nourishment to the animals and ground around it. I could picture a movie producer using this as his template for a castle in Game of Thrones with dragons perched on top.

Feeling very chuffed with myself lol and surprising exhausted. Have a wonderful day everyone.