Once Around the Field!

We love to expect,

and when expectation is either disappointed or gratified,

we want to be again expecting.

           Samuel Johnson

First I would like to like to Congratulate Melissa on running and completing her first 5 km marathon on the dark, cold, and snow covered streets of the city on New Year’s Eve. I had no doubt that you would do it well. You are not one to give up on your dream, you truly inspire me. Always believe. Love you Mom 

                  

I sat in the kitchen staring out the window long enough, while watching the snow blanket the frozen ground I was just itching to get out there. There was only one thing holding me back; I was not sure I could snowshoe. Two winters ago I received these wonderful snowshoes from my friend Derrick and I put lots of kilometers on them, it was a great winter. Towards the end of that winter I had a little accident, I tripped over a branch buried in the snow and twisted my knee. I did not snowshoe after that day and rested my knee as best I could for the rest of that winter hoping I would be able to get back to snowshoeing the next winter. That was a problem, last year we did not have a winter. There was never enough snow and I never even pulled them on once. The good thing about that was my knee healed very well even with all the hiking I did. Snowshoeing and hiking use totally different muscles and joints it appears.

This brings me to this snowy stormy day, I had to try. I went downstairs and put layers on and pulled the snowshoes off of the shelf they were stored on, no waxing nor dusting, just go out in the snow slip my snowmobile boots into the straps and off I went. This was easy it is just like riding a bike, you never forget, I guess.

 I made my way down the laneway hoping to get to the bush and see all the trees covered with snow and ice, I was getting rather excited. The wind was whipping little pellets of what appears to be frozen rain against my face, not so easy now; I should have thought this through a little more. I pulled my turtleneck up over my chin and cheeks and trudged on. My legs were starting to feel a little jittery and I chalked it up to the handful of jellybeans I ate before exiting the house, maybe I should have had a power bar instead, those jelly beans sure were good though. I kept going.

I made it to the pump house and that is when I realized I was not going to make it to the bush and see all those beautiful trees covered with snow or all those Deer tracks or my snow-covered rock. I was not so sure I could even make it back to the house now. I could see my big window from here; the wind was whipping up the snow so much I thought it was my window that I was seeing. I wondered what I was thinking going out into a snow storm with biting cold winds, cutting into my face and my bare hands that I was silly enough not to cover with my gloves. I truly thought they were in my pocket. I had my camera, my bear bell, my phone but no gloves, I knew now I had to head back to the house. I would chalk this up to a trial run and try again tomorrow. Yes tomorrow was to be sunny and warmer and there would be a lot more snow, yes I am going to do this tomorrow for sure.

I stopped and rested for a minute and took some shots of the pump house and my snowshoes near the fence since I was there anyways. This is when I looked over towards the East, I could see snowdrifts against the line fence and I decided since I came all this way I had to make my way to that line fence and get some photos of the drifts before they were gone. 

Since My Hero builds extremely good fences and I cannot squeeze through them I have to go over. Rail fences are a little tricky so I took my time and I climbed up two rails with the snowshoes on, I have my toes tucked under the third rail and decided to roll over from there. I swung my body up and rested it on the top rail my snowshoes in the air; I hurled or rolled my body over the top. I landed on the ground with a thud. I was glad I had tucked my camera back into my pocket; I am really going to have to practice my technique before hopping anymore fences. I pulled myself up and brushed the snow off my coat and pants. I stood there for a moment hoping not to feel any twinges of pain, oh that was lucky. I head to those drifts. One step at a time, with the wind and freezing rain bouncing off my jacket; this was so worth it those drifts were so beautiful like little waves in the ocean. 

I walked the fence line around the perimeter of the field and back to an open gate. I truly did not want to tackle another fence jump. I stopped and took photos of random thistles and leaves along the way, the wind was still whipping the snow and ice against my face but I was having fun.

Finally I dragged my tired legs through the gate and into the barn yard; I unhooked the gate, walked through then hooked it behind me and headed into the basement. “Where have you been?” My Hero calls down. I answer, In the field with my snowshoes. “How was it?”  Well; I will let you know tomorrow. I am tired and I need a nap. Once around the field is apparently all I could do; I was so glad I did not make it to the bush, I would have had to call My Hero to come and get me.

After all that effort I, in the end, did not get any usable photos of those drifts, it is very hard to get good shots in a snowstorm. Tomorrow will be better when I make it to the bush and get among those snow covered trees. 

Black Walnut dropped by frightened squirrel at the gate.

Yes tomorrow will be better. Just like riding a bike.

Later.