There was no shortage of people roaming through the forest trails in the ravine yesterday afternoon. It coincided, of course with irresistible weather conditions. A clear, blue sky, a radiant sun, not even a breeze to entice whatever cold there was to seem like an icy-knife slicing through protective clothing. An absolutely perfect day for a ramble through the ravine.

We thought so, everyone else appeared to feel the same way. Jackie and Jillie were becoming a little anxious about what they must have perceived as an unaccountably puzzling delay in preparations for a jaunt. At one point when I was sitting on the sofa, having a bit of a read, first Jackie reproached me with his soulful eyes and wagging tail, then his sister more directly challenged me to get off my arse and get moving.

So we did. Geared them up without boots since the temperature had nudged up to a surprising 3C. And off we ambled. To come across so many unexpected other ramblers and their dogs we were constantly stopping to chat. Enabling Jackie and Jillie to communicate in their own way with other four-legged companions.

Although the creek was running full blast, the water churning over the creek bottom heading out to eventually reach the Ottawa River, its tributaries, we found, as we ventured further along, swinging over to alternate trails, have now frozen over completely solid. The snow that had fallen the morning of the day before had splotched onto the ice, creating beautiful patterns of brilliant, exploding miniature stars.

It was so pleasant walking about in the woods we were in no hurry to bring our circuit to its natural conclusion. Choosing instead to go a little further now and again, swinging onto other, connecting trails. Jackie and Jillie know the trails as intimately as we do, and sometimes they take the lead. All the more so when they sense far ahead, long, long before we do that others are approaching from the opposite direction. And we've no doubt they know precisely who those others are.

Before we exited the ravine finally, we came across several neighbours, one of whom was walking her mother's little dog. Her own little dog was under the weather and had remained at home. We had been stopped, talking to yet another neighbour and her dog who were just embarking on their circuit  and the new little dog went a little berserk with excitement, both being still in puppyhood, chasing one another madly back and forth, despite a size differential.

Our two tend to look on when they aren't bringing up the rear, barking when other dogs are hard at play together. They actually have no idea how to play with other dogs. They play together constantly in the house, wild, rousing run-abouts and wrestling bouts, but when it comes to doing that with other dogs, even those they know well, they're just stymied.