Photos A Walk in Nature

[Johnnythefox]

Looked a nice day for a bike ride, Johnny.

Nice pics of your forum knife, Dan. The last one is very atmospheric!

It was and warm in the sun.

 

[Johnnythefox]

A cycle trip I did in July,I loved the wheat.
I also met the farmer checking his crops he was so genuine and taking pride in his work.

I am not sure of the difference between slow and fast cricket.

 

[RayseM]

A few more views of my pretty much DAILY woods walk. No vistas here just trails through the woods. You see the beauty close - admittedly not everyone is as appreciative. I love the quiet and the familiarity. This is a 130 acre land trust property that abuts our own 5 wooded acres. I have walked all through this area for 3 decades. I am one of these guys who does NOT stay on the trail Backyard rights!

I know these trails well enough that it is a meditation to sit quietly and walk the various loops in my mind. I have lots of favorite little spots. Occasionally through the year I will dedicate a week or 2 to trail stewardship. Clearing out fallen trees, building bridges, and generally light work improvements. Over the past 2 years I have been walking a section determining its suitability as a new trail. I walked and rewalked and watched through all seasons and finally this spring I was given permission by the land trust to cut in a new trail. It has not been opened to the public yet - not until next spring - but it is completed except for 30 yards or so at each end, which I left overgrown to camouflage the entry. This section of trail is the driest and softest walking of the entire park. It is lovely in there AND for now, ALL MINE and the deer and turkeys and squirrels and other 4 footed neighbors. I include it as part of some figure 8 trail walks I do routinely now. We should all be so lucky.

Blah blah blah - OK 'nuff talk. Here just a few photos - none which really do justice, I share nonetheless.

A typical trail section ~

View attachment 1684269

Typical watery section ~

View attachment 1684279

Lots of Bridges on these trails as it is a veritable water park at different times ~

View attachment 1684271

View attachment 1684281

This one I built 1-1/2 years ago ~

View attachment 1684272

One of the neighbors ~

View attachment 1684274

Here's a knife moment - always appropriate on our BF

Hellize on red belted polypore. I have watched this polypore growing since it was a kid. It is becoming a lovely mature example. The Hellize is a 4" blade with a 4" plus handle so good for size perspective ~


View attachment 1684278

Next post - maybe tomorrow - will feature some of my XCUT trail.

Thanks for walking along with me.

 

[JohnDF]

Beautiful. You are lucky to have something so nice so close to home.

 

[Johnnythefox]

A few more views of my pretty much DAILY woods walk. No vistas here just trails through the woods. You see the beauty close - admittedly not everyone is as appreciative. I love the quiet and the familiarity. This is a 130 acre land trust property that abuts our own 5 wooded acres. I have walked all through this area for 3 decades. I am one of these guys who does NOT stay on the trail Backyard rights!

I know these trails well enough that it is a meditation to sit quietly and walk the various loops in my mind. I have lots of favorite little spots. Occasionally through the year I will dedicate a week or 2 to trail stewardship. Clearing out fallen trees, building bridges, and generally light work improvements. Over the past 2 years I have been walking a section determining its suitability as a new trail. I walked and rewalked and watched through all seasons and finally this spring I was given permission by the land trust to cut in a new trail. It has not been opened to the public yet - not until next spring - but it is completed except for 30 yards or so at each end, which I left overgrown to camouflage the entry. This section of trail is the driest and softest walking of the entire park. It is lovely in there AND for now, ALL MINE and the deer and turkeys and squirrels and other 4 footed neighbors. I include it as part of some figure 8 trail walks I do routinely now. We should all be so lucky.

Blah blah blah - OK 'nuff talk. Here just a few photos - none which really do justice, I share nonetheless.

A typical trail section ~

View attachment 1684269

Typical watery section ~

View attachment 1684279

Lots of Bridges on these trails as it is a veritable water park at different times ~

View attachment 1684271

View attachment 1684281

This one I built 1-1/2 years ago ~

View attachment 1684272

One of the neighbors ~

View attachment 1684274

Here's a knife moment - always appropriate on our BF

Hellize on red belted polypore. I have watched this polypore growing since it was a kid. It is becoming a lovely mature example. The Hellize is a 4" blade with a 4" plus handle so good for size perspective ~


View attachment 1684278

Next post - maybe tomorrow - will feature some of my XCUT trail.

Thanks for walking along with me.

Some walks I go on I have favourite trees with low branches that are like sprung seats.
Whenever I come across a seat with a dedication on it I sit down and thank the person who's name is on it.

 

[bladecollectorr]

Look out! I bought a new Canon Elph 180 point-and-shoot. The word "inundated" comes to mind!

Here's some pics I took within a 5km radius of my home. I walk the same Northern Ontario park all the time. Lots of animals including wolves, bears, foxes and many deer. It snowed today. Soon I will hibernate for the winter. I don't like it when there's a frostbite warning. It's a little extreme, even for me!

 

[Jack Black]

Great pics guys

 

[Johnnythefox]

Look out! I bought a new Canon Elph 180 point-and-shoot. The word "inundated" comes to mind!

Here's some pics I took within a 5km radius of my home. I walk the same Northern Ontario park all the time. Lots of animals including wolves, bears, foxes and many deer. It snowed today. Soon I will hibernate for the winter. I don't like it when there's a frostbite warning. It's a little extreme, even for me!

You are very lucky to have all that wilderness near you,maybe just tweak the settings on your camera a little.
To see deer where I am takes a lot of luck and being very quiet,so many people I learnt its best to go midweek to our woods.
Other wise you get a group of people walking past chatting away loudly saying they cant see any wildlife,they dont think it through.

 

[bladecollectorr]

You are very lucky to have all that wilderness near you,maybe just tweak the settings on your camera a little.
To see deer where I am takes a lot of luck and being very quiet,so many people I learnt its best to go midweek to our woods.
Other wise you get a group of people walking past chatting away loudly saying they cant see any wildlife,they dont think it through.

Thanks! I must admit, I haven't read the cameras manual yet. There's a learning curve. I'm an old-school film SLR guy. This is the first camera I've ever owned that didn't have a viewfinder... just a screen.

The night pics are tricky mainly because of the range of the flash. It's range is limited. Another challenge is low-light conditions. The shutter speed slows down so much you get some camera-shake resulting in a poorly focused pic.

Instruction manual, here I come!

 

[Johnnythefox]

Thanks! I must admit, I haven't read the cameras manual yet. There's a learning curve. I'm an old-school film SLR guy. This is the first camera I've ever owned that didn't have a viewfinder... just a screen.

The night pics are tricky mainly because of the range of the flash. It's range is limited. Another challenge is low-light conditions. The shutter speed slows down so much you get some camera-shake resulting in a poorly focused pic.

Instruction manual, here I come!

my last Nikon had a 500 page manual I am to old to read or take in that much info.

whats the make and model you have?

 

[Johnnythefox]

After 20 years living in a first floor flat I love being able to get out into my small garden even in the winter,food tastes better outside.
Today I made soup which I had ordered online from the excellent German Supermarket we all miss Germany those who where with BAOR.
I used my new cook set which is just excellent,my Wenger issued spoon and my spatula I bought in NZ from a Knife maker somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
Yes it would be easier and less mess cooking inside and bringing it out,but yet again where is the fun in that?
I had a little Robin join me for a bit but he was to quick to get a photo of.

I also came to my senses thinking I would trade or sell this perfect knife just because I have the Remington model now.

 

[bladecollectorr]

my last Nikon had a 500 page manual I am to old to read or take in that much info.

whats the make and model you have?

As mentioned in my original post it's a tiny Canon Elph 180: Canon PowerShot Elph 180 (silver)

 

[CelloDan]

Nice pics of your forum knife, Dan. The last one is very atmospheric!

Thank you !
I was exploring taking long exposure pics with my iphone. Basically you select "live phots" then go to edit and select "long exposure". The trick is to keep the phone perfectly still.

Today I went for a walk on the east shore of Loch Lomond. It was a bit dreich as they say round these parts. Ellie wasn't complaining though.

Great pcs my friend ! Ellie looks like she having so much fun again depite the "dreich" day lol.
I googled the word, it seems is one the most iconic words in Scotland

Top 10 most iconic Scots words revealed - do you agree?

Dreich has beaten braw, glaikit and scunnered to be named as the "most iconic Scots word" by the Scottish Book Trust.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

This picture is not for the gluten intolerant ( there is a few in my family lol )
Cool pics

Here's some pics I took within a 5km radius of my home. I walk the same Northern Ontario park all the time. Lots of animals including wolves, bears, foxes and many deer. It snowed today. Soon I will hibernate for the winter. I don't like it when there's a frostbite warning. It's a little extreme, even for me!

Cool pics blade !
You are fortunate to live so close to nature up in northern Ontario ... even if its so cold in winter lol
I live in eastern Ontario, by the US border so it does not get as cold ... but hey I am originally from South America so it still counts lol
I decided many years ago to just " embrace winter" ha ha

After 20 years living in a first floor flat I love being able to get out into my small garden even in the winter,food tastes better outside.

I have watched this polypore growing since it was a kid

Wow Ray, I did not know they grew so slowly. That's really neat, the fact that you have been watching it since childhood

You see the beauty close

Thanks for walking along with me.

Looking forward to the next post Ray

Talking about seeing beauty up close. I remember a couple winters ago I thought I had shown every possible thing in my local trail on the Guardians thread.
Just as I was thinking this I looked down and saw this very cool ice sheet on the ground covering a shallow puddle basically.
The ice had formed some very nice patterns which I thought were actually quite beautiful.

 

[Will Power]

One of my favourite dog walking spots (and Ellie's) with the Campsie Fells and Dumgoyne Hill in the background.

Only just come across these fine pix. Your dog has no fears of the chilly waters of the Lochs and Burns

Oddly enough, Highland Cattle are quite a recent introduction here, odd because of our extreme climate! At first, people were mystified by them, even thinking they were Yaks. There's a large herd not far from where I live and they've adapted very well, they're out all year round, saw them in -26C last winter and they weren't bothered, the farmer has water tanks for them heated by electricity to keep it ice free. The meat is excellent and I believe the dairy yield although lower than other breeds is rich.

Bet your dog enjoys a bit of Highland Cattle if she gets the chance My wee Tabbycat does!

Regards, Will

 

[RayseM]

OK - as promised here is the extended tour. This post featuring the XCUT TRAIL that I developed over the last year and cut in this summer. My cell phone photos are inadequate other than to give you a glimpse. Yes, I agree, I am lucky to have such a back yard. Lucky too to have the support of the Land Trust property manager who allowed and encouraged this new trail. I think it completes the system as it provides the "shortest" loop and also when combined in a figure P loop or a figure 8 loop with other trails - nice and longer manageable daily walks covering a variety of terrain. Takes me about 75 minutes of steady walking to do the big figure 8 and 50 minutes to do a P loop. I never walk steady. I am very often being stealthy or otherwise distracted by all kinds of simple pleasures. Later this winter or next spring I will add a sitting area on the XCUT Trail creating a deep woods vista and watching spot. Will all be made of lumber sourced from on the spot trees and debris.

For now we have this ~

The Southern Start - just beyond the area that was left uncleared until the trail officially opens to the public next spring.

View attachment 1685389

Near where the VISTA bench will be on the left ~

View attachment 1685390

Lots of soft very green moss along the XCUT ~

View attachment 1685391

And a view into the West swamp. This trail walks us between a West swamp and a very boggy wet area to the East. I managed to keep the trail meandering through the middle and so a nice dry walk with pretty views to both sides into some impenetrable (for us) woods.

View attachment 1685393

Speaking of water - YES, I did need a bridge. At some point the water crosses from East to West as we walk through ~

View attachment 1685394

Coming to the bridge from the North ~

View attachment 1685396

KNIFE PHOTO ~

View attachment 1685406

That concludes the tour. I'll occasionally post more of these trail photos. Always worth a share. Enjoy and thanks for your interest.

 

[RayseM]

This one NOT on the XCUT but coming home from an evening walk a month ago just before hunting season officially began. These 2 or 3 were sitting on the high ledge on our property, enjoying the warmth of the setting sun while watching me pass below. Can you see what I see?

View attachment 1685409

Here is a close up - blurry - the cell phone doesn't do telephoto very well ~

There are 2 in the photo above. Only the one on the right can be seen here. Maybe another in the background. They were utterly unperturbed by my walking by. They knew they were in complete control of the situation.

View attachment 1685416

 

[Johnnythefox]

OK - as promised here is the extended tour. This post featuring the XCUT TRAIL that I developed over the last year and cut in this summer. My cell phone photos are inadequate other than to give you a glimpse. Yes, I agree, I am lucky to have such a back yard. Lucky too to have the support of the Land Trust property manager who allowed and encouraged this new trail. I think it completes the system as it provides the "shortest" loop and also when combined in a figure P loop or a figure 8 loop with other trails - nice and longer manageable daily walks covering a variety of terrain. Takes me about 75 minutes of steady walking to do the big figure 8 and 50 minutes to do a P loop. I never walk steady. I am very often being stealthy or otherwise distracted by all kinds of simple pleasures. Later this winter or next spring I will add a sitting area on the XCUT Trail creating a deep woods vista and watching spot. Will all be made of lumber sourced from on the spot trees and debris.

For now we have this ~

The Southern Start - just beyond the area that was left uncleared until the trail officially opens to the public next spring.

View attachment 1685389

Near where the VISTA bench will be on the left ~

View attachment 1685390

Lots of soft very green moss along the XCUT ~

View attachment 1685391

And a view into the West swamp. This trail walks us between a West swamp and a very boggy wet area to the East. I managed to keep the trail meandering through the middle and so a nice dry walk with pretty views to both sides into some impenetrable (for us) woods.

View attachment 1685393

Speaking of water - YES, I did need a bridge. At some point the water crosses from East to West as we walk through ~

View attachment 1685394

Coming to the bridge from the North ~

View attachment 1685396

KNIFE PHOTO ~

View attachment 1685406

That concludes the tour. I'll occasionally post more of these trail photos. Always worth a share. Enjoy and thanks for your interest.

You are my hero,I struggle a lot nowadays.

The simple things like the pole at the bridge to pull yourself up help me enormously and seats are my saviour.

I have a mental map of seats around my town so I can take a break.

All I can say is well done and I hope your local folk appreciate all you do.

 

[Johnnythefox]

This one NOT on the XCUT but coming home from an evening walk a month ago just before hunting season officially began. These 2 or 3 were sitting on the high ledge on our property, enjoying the warmth of the setting sun while watching me pass below. Can you see what I see?

View attachment 1685409

Here is a close up - blurry - the cell phone doesn't do telephoto very well ~

There are 2 in the photo above. Only the one on the right can be seen here. Maybe another in the background. They were utterly unperturbed by my walking by. They knew they were in complete control of the situation.

View attachment 1685416

I cant make it out?

 

[Magizm7]

Thank you !
I was exploring taking long exposure pics with my iphone. Basically you select "live phots" then go to edit and select "long exposure". The trick is to keep the phone perfectly still.

Great pcs my friend ! Ellie looks like she having so much fun again depite the "dreich" day lol.
I googled the word, it seems is one the most iconic words in Scotland

Top 10 most iconic Scots words revealed - do you agree?

Dreich has beaten braw, glaikit and scunnered to be named as the "most iconic Scots word" by the Scottish Book Trust.

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk

This picture is not for the gluten intolerant ( there is a few in my family lol )
Cool pics



Cool pics blade !
You are fortunate to live so close to nature up in northern Ontario ... even if its so cold in winter lol
I live in eastern Ontario, by the US border so it does not get as cold ... but hey I am originally from South America so it still counts lol
I decided many years ago to just " embrace winter" ha ha





Wow Ray, I did not know they grew so slowly. That's really neat, the fact that you have been watching it since childhood




Looking forward to the next post Ray

Talking about seeing beauty up close. I remember a couple winters ago I thought I had shown every possible thing in my local trail on the Guardians thread.
Just as I was thinking this I looked down and saw this very cool ice sheet on the ground covering a shallow puddle basically.
The ice had formed some very nice patterns which I thought were actually quite beautiful.

Thanks Dan, some great words on that list - wheesht being one of my favorites.
Hopefully picking up an iphone soon so will have to have a look at that feature.
Cheers.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Here is my tamer edge of a small city outside bit today,fine tuning my stove system.

So I dont scratch the non stick I smoothed down a wooden spoon,supposedly from an artisan isn't everyone nowadays?

I tried to drill a hole and split the end so its now shortened,I did it to 2 spoons,but it fits better in the carry kit and is a better length for this use,

















I then used some lose bricks to make a table,My wooden coffee table I made from pallets has a plywood top that doesn't like winter so its put away.
The wooden spoon was much better for stirring than a metal one.
This time I boiled the water then added the soup powder and simmered for 5 mins,it worked much better.
I also decanted into my titanium mug those wrist bands fit perfect and stop lip burn,it wasnt any good before.





































Tomorrow morning I am planning to go outside and make porridge.
Its one of the great tasty foods especially outside.
I only use quality big grains,a pinch of salt and more water than milk or it is to creamy.finnish with a bit of golden syrup or brown sugar.
3 minute lazy stuff in a microwave or 5-7 minutes on a stove,get up a bit earlier if your morning schedule comes down to 2 minutes.