Yesterday turned out a lovely summer day.  Not that most are not, but this one particularly so.  Thanks to the softening of the hot and humid atmosphere, and the good stiff breeze that accompanied the day.  We set out with expectations that the mosquito population might have recovered from the heat, and were delighted to discovered that they're still in abeyance.

And then we came across the gentle giant, whom we haven't seen in the ravine for quite awhile.  There he was, genial as ever, his booming voice greeting us with his own appreciation of the day.  Telling us just how pleased he was to begin his annual vacation, able to devote more of his time to doing what he loved best. 

We ourselves best love strolling through the ravine, up its hills, down into its valleys, noting the wildflowers in season, appreciating its wildlife.  He, on the other hand, does all of that and more.  He comes in with an empty backpack and exits with the backpack groaning full of detritus that he goes out of his way to retrieve and pack out of the ravine.

When he comes along items that require brute strength to remove; old tires, parts of rusted-out garden or farming implements, discarded lawn chairs, he hauls them out to the street where he then collects them and drives them over to the dump - or, when feasible, leaves for the regular trash pick-up by municipal agents. 

We're grateful for his dedication to the environment, for the great service that he thinks nothing of committing to, and we tell him so whenever we see him.

After parting with him, we again saw one of the neighbourhood owls perched on a tree above the creek.  And later still, saw adorable little Stumpy, approaching us to demand his due.  We waited while he fastidiously took apart the three-chambered peanut, bit by bit, discarding the shell, and munching the peanuts, and then gave him another, even larger one.

Then proceeded on our way as he did on his, both of our days much enhanced by equal rewards.