I feel incredibly blessed to have many walking trails right outside our back door and through The Gateway. Even when we lived in the city I sought out the nature walks along the river. It grounds me even if the trail is hard slugging (think tall tall grasses or deep deep snow) or hard to find (mostly cow and deer trails and sometimes they disappear). I love to take my littles on a walk and they love to go. There is always something new to see even, when one walks the same area regularly, if observant and mindful. Plus it seems I sort out a lot of mental headspace when I walk.
Don’t get me wrong though as I love new trails and exploring whether it be here in Canada or around the world. We’ve put in a few kilometers on our hiking boots so many in fact that I need to go shopping this week for new ones as these 14 year old ones have holes in them and I am getting wet feet in the snow. Enjoy some of my favourite WP archive hiking trail shots. Gosh I had trouble stopping myself from adding even more!
I will close with thanks to my two faithful walking companions. My other half doesn’t always come out with me but these two. Well they keep me on the straight and narrow so to speak which is just like the 2 before them. Walk time is walk time to them and they don’t really care if it’s raining or windy or if I have “better” things to do. The photos below were taken on a family “rock” walk down at the river a few weeks ago. The river bank was spectacular and the golden hour didn’t disappoint.
Case in point below about dogs. We skipped the walk in yesterday’s blizzard so today by 3:30 young Skye was very antsy to get going. I had to chose between wind on the prairie or heavy snow in the ravine. Which, to me, is a no brainer as I hate the wind. Totally forgot how tough slugging it is in the trees. I should of had snow shoes on so each step had to be carefull
So here’s to more miles on trails, near or far. They fill up my soul and provide Resiliency. I strongly encourage everyone to just keep moving. Also thankful that Terri over at https://secondwindleisure.com/ hosts #Sundaystills and Becky of https://beckybofwinchester.com/ for hosting #walkingsquares, a new challenge I am partaking of occasionally this month.
Bernie
Equipoise Life 
You are so fortunate to have hiking trails close by… and companions always ready to go with you. Walking is such a great exercise for both body and mind.
LikeLike
Lovely collection of pictures from some of the treks and trails you’ve explored. I find it’s always a bit sad to retire a pair of hiking boots. They were part of so many adventures. But, that being said, it’s always more enjoyable to hike when your feet are nice and dry!
LikeLike
I am like that with every pair of shoes Linda as I hate shoe shopping. I have narrow feet and finding a shoe to fit just seems like such an issue but dry warm feet would be a nice benefit to shopping! Making that trail collection was so much fun. Loved that it hit both challenges on Sunday. Now today’s trail is to dig out the sidewalks!! Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have the opposite issue where I have wide feet, which can be equally as challenging when finding a shoe to fit properly! Best of luck with all that shoveling. I can’t wait for our first snowfall!
LikeLike
Shoes and hair– two challenges in life! Enjoy your snow when it arrives. As to shoveling we’ve still got one big part to go but will tackle it on the weekend. Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
I admire your determination to go for a walk when the weather is so cold. And the wind is whipping. Your dog companions, of course, steal the show in your photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s the dogs determination and heck it wasn’t even really cold. Our – 5 so really not bad it was just the bloody wind. And yes, Lucky and Skye are pretty special. Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shoe Goo – and I am sure you will be able to get another 14 years out of those perfectly comfortable walking boots! Love your stories and photos – thanks for sharing your little treasures for the rest of us to enjoy! Take care.
LikeLike
Ah Shoe Goo — your man already did these boots but alas it’s rips in the fabric that let in the moisture. Soul is intact but squeaky! Thanks for reading along and enjoying my treasures. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Bernie
LikeLike
Ah yes, the wind. Yesterday morning my daughter and our pooches walked from our house, along the river, through the woods for about an hour and a half. The only time the wind wasn’t an issue was walking in the woods. It was bitter!
And your trails and photos, pooches and littles are beautiful. Thank you for the walks this morning.
LikeLike
You are welcome for the walks and the glimpses into my walking world. Crazy fast how winter descended in the prairies hey? You lasted way longer than I did yesterday although it was the tough slugging more than the wind that drove me in. Good to hear from you. Bernie
LikeLike
I echo Donna’s thoughts about your trails and trail buddies! As someone who used to walk the same trails routinely for over 40 years (before I moved to the island), I can concur that the trail changes every day. I got to know where just about every plant resided and when it bloomed, where the wildlife liked to congregate, etc. Time spent walking in nature is restorative and got me through many a tough moment. And I still love to do it, although I don’t have the same familiarity with my new surroundings…yet!
Deb
LikeLike
And I know you had a trail friend J as well. I had a city trail friend G and her two dogs. We had some great walks along the river. It’s good alone or good with my other half. The time out in nature as we both know is so restorative. I love the photos of your new trail options.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Walking in nature is good for the body and soul. Hopefully, the wind will go down and the temps up a bit, so we can enjoy our forest walk this week. Have a great Monday, Bernie. Allan
LikeLike
Isn’t it funny Allan how the early winter temp seems cold but by spring the same temp seems balmy! Enjoy Bunchberry. It will seem like a new place again! Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are intrepid…a blizzard already! Your walking buddies look like they have wonderful personalities…
LikeLike
Yes Pam they do indeed have wonderful personalities just like the 2 before them. Funny enough another golden retriever and another golden lab. Oh and I didn’t walk the day of the blizzard – yesterday was the day after with just a howling wind but not snowing but perhaps intrepid still. Bush trails are a winter challenge that’s for sure and I always think that one burns twice the calories in snow up to their knees or above. Pace is slow but body working! Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love that… ‘Pace is slow but body working!” I can 100 per cent relate in all areas…not just snow-walking!
LikeLike
Coming soon to a sidewalk near you? It’s snowing like crazy today so any trail we had is long gone. Makes for a good workout! Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a wonderful collection of beautiful photos, Bernie. Hiking is healthy not only for your body but also for your mind and spirit – the experience of hiking is unique conveying benefits beyond what you receive from typical exercise. Not only does it oxygenate your heart, but it also helps keep your mind sharper, your body calmer, your creativity more alive, and your relationships happier.
LikeLike
Aiva a big yes to all those hiking/walking benefits. Thanks for the compliment about the photos. I always find it fun to go back in the archives and see what I can find. Good to hear from you. Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh wow to have this on your doorstep, and to have created such a wonderful post. Fabulous – and you are so right about resilience. It is exactly why I am walking. The good walking days help me cope with the days when I overwhelmed by grief waves. So glad you are joining the Squarers this month
LikeLike
Thanks for the kudos about the post. That’s the nice thing about challenges like yours and Terri’s is that they give us a specific creative outlet. I enjoy pulling from my archives and remembering the great times captured in the pictures. Resilency is something I had to learn in my line of work. I spent 35+ years working in the operating room with the last 12 mostly orthopedic trauma so a walk was often very much needed when I got home. Bone tired or not. I hope that walking continues to help you cope with your vastly changed world. Hugs. Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
thanks so much Bernie, and wow that is a tough occupation
LikeLike
It certainly had it’s challenges Becky but also it’s rewards. I retired 2 months before the pandemic – that was a blessing! I still miss it sometimes. The interesting cases and the surgeons that I worked with but it was taking a toll on my body for sure. Bernie
LikeLike
You certainly do have seemingly endless trails to explore, Bernie! And you have your grandkids and/or dogs to accompany you! Yes, please get new boots…14 years is a long life for your old ones, LOL! Lovely shots of the trails. When we first moved here in Dec 2020, we immediately bought Sorel boots–so perfect for slogging through snow and anything else!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am blessed with trails and companions — it’s just the wind that I wish would go away! I have Sorel’s but rarely wear them as they aren’t structurally good for my feet as they don’t provide enough support. Which seems pretty funny coming from someone wearing 14 year old hiking boots. I looked last fall and didn’t find any, looked at one place this fall and no luck. So I need to get serious about shopping. Bernie
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have arch supports for all my shoes due to plantar fasciitis. I put them in my Sorels. Good luck!
LikeLike
I had dislocated a couple of bones in my foot (soccer) and it’s the weight of the boot. Perhaps new ones are lighter. These “babies” are probably around 25 years old. The originals from Sorel. I still wear them when we are tobogganing but wear hikers with snow shoes more often. The wind makes the trails disappear and so every day can be tough slugging. Sometimes we walk the road as a break. But yes boot shopping is on my list. Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Bernie – Beautiful trail and wonderful walking companions. Our house lies along a trail as well. I am incredibly grateful for that!
LikeLike
Ah thanks Donna. I had fun pulling this post together. Turns out we put on a few kms hiking/walking. It’s great to have an easy place to go and it changes daily really if you look closely. Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person