I went for a walk this afternoon in the valley, in the woods with my canteen, camera, knife and flint.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tH3JvO3fS3xIMI8bxQ-S3xuXusS17ES_B_aumD_vZJRMW2Jm8VH7gz1ntv06opBMU-AnF76IkJMomRl7FRe1TaWhKpJ3SXgjqAfI03HVl8Oz29mJrmB9eFZvidjKX1MRKnrV/s400/P5260051.JPG)
I turned sticks...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zZ3xjqKMjTZ1oIXTVgI9ATaLSrTEOVMvagoYnoDpet0l5cBfnI_hYqyR3IAQnXkE9WLd3LWt7RZjKdqpwaEC2-kUzYrwbVYcuvud9XZx3Qt6B4veOnz38SmYfYICBMJ7H8_2/s400/P5260062.JPG)
...into a little fire, keeping me warm on the riverbank.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwY2ZlypCI7VtRlgcn-GwaBORTIYbAEIQAcK1yA4yU3Ura-AAZzQVp6-2xHuL-XcU6RuS1Lshfg_PmC1hWbM_uFLL-9AJpgHsK1yGPplPphXKhohKe_RA-phMN08pyVIKRKwuw/s400/P5260070.JPG)
This little fella decided to inspect my jacket.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRlo5JHWSlCJduRdu88mHOu7Mbtg2U0EN-hTWFpGBk5iw6obMCcu0m5I-0T8gyC-QbM4_ok1NE3_y8bpVkzxIpqIw8l9mAUdkWJk017VPO349HFsiFiCbFRUnYX9aqWjeL8E0/s400/P5260037.JPG)
Sitting on the riverbank, I could hear only birds and the rushing of water.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFlFgLoqc-icjy7HjEucUu58EAKQTlfWz-xhlZuVpkRFopPcIsJF_TalqhA5eJNNjcg0wnQrFGbzvScgMi-K6NnQs-NDi1PXhNviXY8H6THwKFPylpv70RZCbx7N6Jvcb0AkN/s400/P5260039.JPG)
Amazing how it is only a couple of miles from the busiest highway in North America (the 401).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcBKqzPwbk303fWhObSj8jWhL3CMwp2IAcQatvT4GAwix8eFVle3hwm1xqdw1ea-kuHQGGFlxHvRtbgWblHIJCv4dTNgw6riJRqKfDDLwtK2kndhzTyDVB4Ofbm-7TXtVOpdJ/s400/P5260040.JPG)
I made my way back after an hour or so, finding little sights in the woods.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3OxRubZ3FOqWoaN8J5IngagwoT3i5N9i-Mwor7Mw3nMB9n_J8NjAl9FschAjlxcds1huFvHXJ8omH8A4oUKanSkyMV6qJoh_1P7bfuI-e79xg7jO9_5MjZfUGZcVpFPdApjPxQ/s400/P5260045.JPG)
The smell of the leaves and soil and blossoms was strong.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL4D5DQq5x7zH-2hOLUcAULw3K9j9Y-QFB2TpD0TjDR05504O-Ra0JQp63zxe91wDzN_6TunzDD-5CcJP6T2g5tTvQSrFiOU_jzZJaVZW52eQLwj7vQrwqzPwxCqT1wt9naSL/s400/P5260050.JPG)
I didn't see anyone else during my time down there - it had rained earlier and I think most folks preferred to spend their Sunday indoors.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRqUC6R3hXKNnKyF_Q17Ee_sYVW4cYUQdks9VipdR1uYIyId601jqXkxVt-qZH3VoRAyukiHl6tO9s4RswOrKMsMa-RKbPwszDHoAu8dXEDUFa1F9Zdzv0YJurgXbl-nQyf5M/s400/P5260009.JPG)
I prefer a bit of both sometimes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuX0-1EFhjPIPyvo3HTCMf5y0KqFa_unwUbkzd1yWANdJb83Y8xNIvAdFdQHS5fDAlg-6Qlf5tEkv2UTtGyJYASuuMEWiLkyP9O5PtDAn17sy64K0GnPnA1np_SCr8VS4K-FgPQ/s400/P5260016.JPG)
Drinking from my canteen, I whittled away on a stick and watched a red cardinal flit about on the the banks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BRjo9au9uaKdwOK_QFwZ9vCSMwXs8u5ZVic2TyGt6E_0QEyKxmV_ulGX-hZRS2yMNEthFD0Mns1tee6UlfH4Bsj6KbLKuKqQYopXWEc-YG1CUQGNZ7yreJ7JBeS-v7d_597Z/s400/P5260017.JPG)
No bears presented themselves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VxcnwNC64msrK3lvOOLdYzSHGJmlxxaW0335T7I1hL3hJ9Ap-yReDwket2jskoYf_1BqXVbI6nZzNNrPFnvUXveNFSKxXblD3V7hgwKZ-zLITL98efAPlGS6yroI9TJmKqdJ/s400/P5260019.JPG)
No deer either, but I wouldn't have been surprised to see a fox, or as I did last week, a rabbit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PKwx5psZVSqbClo8nYG9Gcp36sy2BPsnezOkRuuqqc65PVCFeShbqIf0FnJ2Mb5u39U8e6Q7XBPSk74OLwoFb6xqDyxKhXVaG_WCmRbrLkfTMUF_I5bpqE5PJIc4YezK0ajfZA/s400/P5260025.JPG)
Certainly if I was to remain still for long enough, I might see some secrets down there.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNpCqNGBhJkU6lJOGbMZRBLwLYBygB9HHjQJG2pVYkM1vgjVdN6AG-0HDljhGOcCQqUW7UYEQJUNSOfGek10zEWiA1YvRlg8EKCP5xsCt_-vPi6aJgGu-garPlDik8dYRO-wb/s400/P5260003.JPG)
Think I will bring a lightweight camping chair or something next time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMD31th5Q6cktPVYaG80PKleYvui1H04nERQMu8s5UjuEtMQgk4cp2e7Z9Dk-YSqVHvsjtsVm5jMdK_KyvajHcIAq1MDCiOS0okek4Rm9cghTtCXJYoS1Z-BAjGnkbSnxNy6ku/s400/P5260006.JPG)
A few minutes after I got home, the heavens opened wide and an amazing rainstorm washed down the streets, and through the leaves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMN1wD3iTeTRpc54eHD2Lk9Jf3hZ4IIqgdI_g-4SaNOPTCZXVS8G-YdaUaENGWM4sJFNtGpoNe8s0AVoK20dI01byx0VWjwU8gXJqs0ynkZxKFvQxMTw1mRxGoBZI6F3BH8QF/s400/P5260007.JPG)
Glad I'm home now.