Years ago, area teens put together a rough hideaway on one of the slopes above a trail in the ravine where they could gather in privacy. Right above that 'tented' area on higher and flat ground, there was a bench put in place where people could rest and contemplate their surroundings, and teens from the nearby neighbourhood used to gather there in groups at night. Someone among them had dragged a large dead tree trunk to sit alongside the bench, to increase the seating.

We also knew of their presence because they had fashioned a kind of permanent fireplace with a few strategically placed flat stones, and obviously they gathered wood to make bonfires at night. Sometimes they left trash behind left over from food and drink containers. More often they collected the trash and took it back out with them.

During the day we would sometimes smell the distinctive odour of marijuana floating down from the sequestered makeshift tent. On occasion we might pass someone on one of the trails casually shielding from view whatever it was they had been smoking only moments before we came into view. And now that marijuana possession is legal in Canada there isn't a day when we pass through the forest trails at some juncture that we don't have 'skunk' wafting into our nostrils. It seems to linger on the air for quite a while before it finally dissipates.

It's something we've become accustomed to. It doesn't bother us necessarily, but if we had a choice we'd prefer not having to encounter an odour we don't particularly care for. On the other hand, the forest is fairly dispersed over a large area, the air we breathe there normally is freshly scrubbed, and we have to regard this slight bit of an irritation as normal when various demographics make common use of a neighbourhood recreational area.

We launched ourselves as has become the usual for us now when these summer days are destined to reach into the 30s by afternoon, out to the ravine yesterday morning to avoid the later-day heat. A good brisk wind helped enormously to move the air about. We usually prep Jackie and Jillie for a long morning walk before any of us has had breakfast by snacking them with little pieces of cheese before we head out and they certainly appreciate that little detail.

Starting out on our morning rambles through the forest trails always feel good; it's relatively cool, sheltered by the forest canopy and the sun hasn't yet reached the point of really heating up the atmosphere. Jackie and Jillie are happy to amble about the trails and make their leaping forays beyond the trails in hot pursuit of the occasional squirrel. It's interesting that Jackie has finally come to understand that when a squirrel 'disappears', it's because the squirrel has climbed a tree.

And it it's a red squirrel, it'll stand on a branch of the tree scolding him for his impudence in thinking his speed can match the squirrel's. Once, years ago, our first miniature poodle Button had finally come face-to-face with a squirrel she had pursued. She and the squirrel faced off momentarily, then each turned and fled in opposite directions. Doubtless a similar scenario would unfold with Jackie and Jillie were they ever to confront a squirrel head on.

Though we had a good long hike through the trails, the morning was still cool enough that this time when we paused to offer our two little dogs a refreshing drink, neither was interested though the water trough was placed invitingly in front of them. Just.not.interested. And so, we moved on to continue the second half of our traipse on the woods.