The urgency to get things done and free up time to get out into the great out-of-doors for quality time: fresh air and exercise and exposure to beautiful landscapes can certainly become diminished under certain conditions. Throw in 40 kmh windbursts, 2C temperatures and heavy rain and you've got the right formula to think twice about getting out in those conditions.

There's something to be said about the responsibility of exercising two quite small dogs like Jackie and Jillie in a household, as opposed to having three high-energy dogs like working dogs whose natural proclivity is to sheep-herd and be forever busy working off their inclination to dash about. Toy and miniature poodles are very good at rushing madly about interior spaces for fun and games and their personal entertainment.

Our friend Barry's three Border Collies would languish without the opportunity given them to work out in the natural gym that the ravine and its forested interior represents. Their energies and preparedness for working opportunities are tamed to begin with, living an urban lifestyle, but adding long, energetic hikes in the woods gives them the workout they need to remain healthy.

We take one prolonged hike through the forest daily with our two little dogs. Barrie and his wife Sheila are committed to three such hikes through the same terrain. It's a continual up-and-down affair, clambering uphill, hiking along ridges, encountering more hills and valleys through intersecting trails.There's an age differential between Barry and Sheila and we too of almost thirty years, so that partially accounts for their willingness to take the time for three daily woodland rambles.

We have the good fortune to live adjacent one of the ravine entrances, while they have to drive to get to those trailheads. We find ourselves so busy throughout the course of any day that sometimes we have to shoehorn the time in for a ravine hike. If they can devote so much time to three such hikes they may not be quite as busy as we tend to be. Apart from the fact that they're able, should they wish to, go along at a tighter pace than us.

We prefer not to zip through the trails, to have the option of seeing things we'd otherwise miss, or just enjoying a more leisurely pace to appreciate the landscape views that change every time we mount another hill or descend one, or make a turn to take a different connecting trail.

Yesterday we were out in the forest just as we are every other day. Today, we're giving it a miss. That doesn't happen very often, but it did today. Yesterday's temperature at midday was -3C, little wind, heavy overcast, the ground frozen solid under our boots and we were mindful to avoid icy patches that would send us sprawling. Just as we reached our street as we left the ravine, Barrie pulled up to park and take his three charges for the final time that day into the ravine.

Among other portions of our conversation was the weather. And the prediction for high winds, lower temperature and rain, lots of it, certain to wash away what's left of our snowpack. Which left Barrie grumbling because he'll be taking them all out regardless, for their usual three-walks-day, risking falling branches, forced glides on the muddy forest floor, and the prospect of washing soggy-muddy dog coats off at arrival home each time.

We had a very pleasant ramble through the forest trails yesterday. When we arrived back home, Jackie and Jillie extended their play time by running rampant through the house, tussling with each other. Today, the house interior is dark because the exterior is dark. It is windy, and it's raining, heavily. We're remaining indoors.