We knew we were taking a gamble. But given the weather forecast it hardly seemed that there might be a better time to get out for our morning walk than directly after rising. Jackie and Jillie were certainly prepared, leaping excitedly about us, knowing there was something different about the morning routine.

Hours earlier, about half-past four in the morning there had been a deluge that had suddenly descended. Unlikely, given the fact that a new front has moved in with rain and lots of it forecasted for the next few days, that the sky will clear enough to give us the opportunity at night to see the Perseid showers. It seems to happen every year; we're informed of this annual astronomical event and then nature shuts us out.

We've had unrelenting sun for a week blazing down on us, and perfectly clear night skies. But right on cue, clouded skies have arrived. No complaints, however, since this is geared to break the drought situation we've been in. We've seen increasingly wide cracks appearing in the dry forest floor. One positive thing about the lack of rain though has been a concomitant lack of mosquitoes.

So, off we went this morning under lowering grey skies. My husband refused to take along a rainjacket; much too hot even at that early morning hour. I tied the sleeves of a light rainjacket around my waist, tucked Jackie and Jillie's little raincoats into a pocket and we set off. The street was quiet at that early hour, nothing stirred. The woods' interior was eight-o'clock-dark, but a twelve-hour out-of-whack-dark.And Bilberry Creek ravine's creek was full, muddy and fast-streaming.

As we ascended the ravine to the bottom to access the trails, down came the rain. Out came the puppies' rainjackets, and on went mine; my husband just looked slightly grim. With the prevailing heat, getting wet would be fine, though. Even though both little dogs detest rain and balked at first. We waited awhile under the trees and the rain became lighter; in any event the trees were still dripping from the earlier rain event.

We decided to forge on, not to return directly home, and we'd take a shorter-than-usual hike in the woods. We stayed on the main trail, which we usually don't use, and since the rain was light, the hike was pleasant enough. A sense of satisfaction always ensues when we're confronted with this kind of situation and we decide to proceed anyway. As we did, this morning.