It is unusually cool and damp at a time when summer in this region is generally dry and hot. We've had incessant rain events, from sprinkles, to day-long downpours, to ongoing thunderstorms. We don't really mind the rain at all, since it is liberally interspersed with days of full sunshine and dry atmospheres. It seems wind has accompanied both types of weather systems, alleviating the heat when it's hot, lashing the landscape with rain when it's not.

Insect pests appear to hugely appreciate this weather, as well. Mosquitoes and blackflies have been luxuriating in it, and they're fairly widespread, we found them here and in New Hampshire in great abundance, so that's a wide radius. No doubt California, mired in a long succession of droughts would be grateful for some of the moisture we've been enjoying. The rainfall in copious amounts in short periods of time has been anything but a bonus for Canada's western provinces, though. There, large scale flooding has been costly in afflicting people's lives with misery, ruining crops and buildings.

For us, it has become routine this summer to embark on our daily forested ravine jaunts in preparation for downpours to 'surprise' us while hiking. The landscape really hasn't had an opportunity to dry out; ponds and puddles appear a constant now wherever we walk, breeding mosquito larvae endlessly.

There are, consequently, fewer people out walking in the ravine, as part of their daily recreation/exercise regimen in full enjoyment of life and the seasons. We did come across an older couple we haven't seen in quite awhile. We most often see people whom we're acquainted with through our daily ravine rambles far more frequently. This couple, obviously far less so.

They asked where our second companion was, having been accustomed throughout the years to see us walking the trails with two little dogs. It has been well over two years since we lost our-then 19-year-old miniature poodle, Button.