So far for spring of 2017 a record has been set in this area for rainfall. Now that summer has arrived it appears that rain events will continue their unceasing presence. Now, more than ever, we have to gauge the weather reports to determine when best we should enter the forest for our daily perambulation among nature's treasures.

And so far we have managed to avoid being drenched in the process, by taking advantage of brief windows of opportunity when we think we'll be able to take our usual hour-long ramble and more enjoying ourselves in the woods before the skies once again lift the levers to the overflowing dike to inundate the world below.

Several days ago when we ventured out for our walk much earlier than usual armed with the knowledge that Environment Canada warned of a series of thunderstorms continuing to move through the area (after a night full of the same) we came across other ravine regulars with the same idea; getting out before the forecasted weather changed. Encountering one another we tend to stand about awhile and talk companionably. And there were so many such encounters we somewhat overstayed our intended exposure.

Before we reached the point at the usual conclusion of our daily circuit where we could dash out of the ravine, down the street the short distance toward our house, near-distant thunder began to roll and the first tentative drops of rain anointed us. Our two little dogs vastly preferring not to be caught out in the rain, and instantly alert, began pulling us at post-haste speed through what was left of our circuit.

By the time we reached home the intermittent drops of light rain had become more frequent and harder, but we were still dry. It wasn't until we had gone into the house that the dam tipped its contents, fiercely lashing the windows of the house in an impressive show of wind and rain as the landscape darkened beyond twilight into night in the daylight hours.