We had yet another all-day deluge yesterday, rain coming down so heavily there wasn't an opportunity -- since there were no breaks in the rain -- to get out into the ravine with Jackie and Jillie. They didn't exactly mope about the house, though. They did get up to some hi-jinks between them, especially once they'd been out in the backyard to perform their duties; whenever they get wet, even when they're towelled off afterward, they become energized. So they did their share of racing about the house.

By morning, when it was time to venture outdoors for the first time before breakfast, the rain had stopped. We're told by Environment Canada that the atmosphere should warm up a bit as the day progresses, and we'll be in line for a series of thunderstorms, not the constant rain that has been pummeling us.

So off we went to the ravine after breakfast, into the soggy forest where the trails in some areas are pure, deep mush-clay. Still, it was good to get out, and we all felt the better for it. We haven't been seeing many others out on these days. No doubt deterred by the prospect of wading through muck. Likely also not relishing the idea of having to wash the mud off their dogs on return home. Since our two are so small, it isn't difficult to accomplish.

The creek is full of muddy water rushing along and it will look that way for quite a while, given the tons of muck that have collapsed into it from the hillside that is still experiencing slumps, behind our street. Work is destined to begin soon on installing a culvert, but the construction machinery would likely get bogged down in present conditions.

The side trail that has been blocked off requiring us to seek an alternate, non-trail route is unnecessarily cautious on the part of the construction company set to begin work. It's just a nuisance for those people like us who continue our daily rambles.

None of the wildflowers are too happy about this weather, although the trees and shrubs are steadily leafing out. The flowers prefer a little bit of sun. We've come across some quite fascinating clumps of fungi that feed off fallen trunks and branches in decomposition, but few mushrooms as yet, despite all this moisture inundating the landscape.

At the top of the problematical hillside we could see even from the vantage point of looking across from the entrance trail to the ravine, that new slumps have occurred; nothing spectacular, just a continuation of what began two weeks ago. On the other hand, on one of the irregular trails juxtaposing the creek the creekbank has fallen in, taking a portion of the trail with it. Which will force people to use the approved trail, established further up on the hill, after an earlier collapse that occurred about six years ago.

While we were out, a bit of a shower began. We just put the raincoats we'd brought along for Jackie and Jillie on them, but the rain didn't amount to much. There was a higher, lighter cloud ceiling when we set out on our walk and that remained constant throughout the walk, until our return home. Concluding a pleasant enough ramble in the woods for the day.