I love this picture! Gavin in Maitland Woods.

Maitland Woods - Addie's first hike.

Ahhh! Spring has finally sprung.

For me to be up early (before 11:00am) and dressed on a Saturday is usually unheard of. I have a motto that most in my immediate circle understand all to well; "Wake me and die". Hence most Saturday mornings Mike wakes and dresses in the dark exiting the bedroom ever so quietly. But not last Saturday, the unthinkable happened, I woke before him. Like the excitement a child feels on Christmas morning, I had anticipated a beautiful warm sunny day for most of the prior week, and I was not disappointed in the least. I knew exactly where I was headed for. With my hiking guide and a little input from Mike and Bree we narrowed the spot to Maitland Woods. A 4.3 km trail, part of the Maitland Trail System.

Today would be the first time we introduced Addie to a little nature, she being a little more tempermental than Gavin at this age, I was not sure how she would handle the great outdoors. But to everyones amazement she sensed how relaxing the experience was and fell fast asleep in her stroller only waking at the end of the hike for lunch.

We set out on the trail with anticipation of the wildlife promised by the brochure, streams and wetlands. As for wildlife it remained pretty well hidden, we could hear the birds but on the 2 hour trek only managed to spot a hawk in the air and 3 Candian gesse in a pond. As for the wetlands, they were mostly just muddy patches which surprised me at the lack of water at this time of the season. The trees, of course, have not yet bloomed, plants not rejuvenated, but the overall beauty of the woodlands were still very much present. It was the smell that left the biggest impression on me. The fresh scent of pine fragranted the warm breeze throughout the whole walk.

With the hike over, we headed to Goderich, another favorite spot of mine. As a kid we would camp in the park above the beach every summer. It provided us with all the passions in our lives, we could camp, spend the day at the beach, as well as run up and down the dock watching the freighters. In the evening we always headed to town, which was just up the block. The centre of town was one large circle, and we generally hit all our favorite spots before going back to camp for the evening fire.

Many years later my parents would pass these warm memories on to Bree and Mat, though camping was no longer permitted in the park, they could still enjoy all the other amenities that Goderich has to offer. With this in mind, I thought it would be great to have a barbeque on the beach and maybe I will be able to pass the love of this town on to my grandchildren.

All in all it was a wonderful day, a hike, time spent in Goderich, great weather, the beach and the best part; sharing it all with those I love.

Good Friday - Indeed!

On Good Friday it was cool but beautiful and sunny. With camera in hand I headed for one of my all time favorite spots - Rock Glenn. As I was driving away from Sarnia I realized this was the first time that I had ever ventured out into nature on my own. It seemed so strange but at the same time kind of exciting.

It was good to be on my own for awhile because early this morning as I laid awake I realized just how angered I still feel over the injustice of my father's funeral. That as a family we were not allowed to honour a man that meant the world to us. I am consumed by the fact that to date I still have not grieved his passing, and though he is never far from my mind I miss his presence; his calm.

But the moment I stepped out of my van and heard the roar of the falls I felt the company of happy moments shared with my dad by the water's edge. It's amazing that his passion for water, whether it be the river, beach or just a small stream imprinted so clearly on each one of his children, one of the few things that we all have in common.

As I climbed down the rock closer to the waters edge, I found myself chuckling quietly, not only because I am not as limber and graceful at climbing as I once had been, but more at the memory of the arrival of the Chi Chi Man ferry. It was 6:00 am and I had just dropped Mike at work, when the news came on announcing that the Chi Chi Man was at the mouth of the river heading southbound to the Government dock. I called my dad on the cell phone to let him know. Meet you there, was his only response. When I arrived at the dock I found his car, but he was nowhere insight. I frantically began running up and down the dock calling out to him, keeping in mind he had only been released from hospital 5 days prior. Thoughts began to run through my mind - the worst had happen - he fell in. But relief set in as I turned and seen him climbing up the rock from from where he had been snapping pictures from the edge of the river. We spent the better part of the next hour together marveling at such a fine ferry and its ability to do a 360 turn within the confines of the two parallel docks. As we bid our good-byes and I was climbing back into the van it was the first time I realized I was not even dressed, I simply had thrown on an old pair of pj's to drop Mike off to work. Welcome Chi Chi Man and its crew, not all Sarnian's appear as crazy as the women on the dock in some of her finest of wear.

I spent the next 3 hours enjoying the light cool breeze, warmth of the sun, sounds of the birds above and current of the water at my feet, and though I was alone this Good Friday, my memories kept me company.

Lost along the way.

Odd name you say! Can't argue with that, most have found themselves by age 48, for me I have just begun looking. Definitely odd!!!

Anyway here is how it all started, a few years ago I found myself drawn to nature like I had never been before. Unique shapes, movement and the stillness all grouped together, gives' me this inner peace that I can not explain. Call it old age, the hormonal phase or just plain craziness, I find myself drawn to seek out nature trails, water falls, dense wooded lands and all the wildlife that these setting house.

So this left me in a state of questioning, was life passing me by too quickly, or was I living to fast. Maybe both, because I realized I had never stopped to "smell the flowers". This coupled with an event that scared the hell out of me, forced me to look within, slow down and live each moment, and most importantly, defeat any opportunity for regret. I started a list, later dubbed the "Bucket List", I continually strive to meet the challenges of my list while adding to the bottom so I never run out of adventure.

So welcome to my adventurous search.

To date - I pulled the camera I had purchase 3 years ago out of the closet, the one I never learned to use. Registered for some photography lessons and have set out to capture nature at its finest. I won't profess to ever be a great photographer or blogger for that matter. But I am going to use this medium to keep a diary of the places I have visited, and the pleasures they have provided.