It's been confirmed that Uxbridge, Ontario, on Saturday -- as the storm system that tore up Ottawa's urban forest first struck there after Toronto -- experienced a tornado with winds of 195 k/h. Ottawa was right behind, with micro-bursts following one on another, with wind speeds up to 190 k/h. Little wonder we suffered such great damage. So great an assault on the electrical grid from falling trees that toppled towers and poles that tens of thousands of people in the Ottawa area can expect power back, if they're lucky, by tomorrow. And that includes businesses and schools.

We are just now beginning to fully appreciate the total impact of that unusual storm called a derocho that rocked us out of any measure of complacency we might have imagined we were feeling after two years of COVID seeing us settling down to accepting what we cannot prevent. Last night brought us more rain. And the forecast was for the potential of thunderstorms going through the area some time this afternoon. We heard thunder in the distance in the early afternoon but it seemed to have passed us by.

 

We had a busy morning, with an annual appointment for Jackie and Jillie at the veterinarian clinic whose services we've used for decades. They maintain a protocol whereby people with appointments are asked to sit in their vehicles and on arrival at the hospital to text to announce arrival in their parking lot. At which point an attendant emerges from the building to usher people and their pets inside to keep their appointment with a veterinarian.

We've seen the same vet over all these years, a part owner of the establishment, and have established a good relationship with him. Once we were in the examining room Jackie and Jillie seated beside us on a bench to await the vet's arrival, they were panting heavily, stressed by the situation. It's not their favourite place, even though the vet loves them as he does all animals.

 

The weigh-in informed us that Jackie had gained a pound and Jillie had lost almost two. Just perfect. He's always been too thin, and she the opposite. The physical examination revealed that they're in optimum health, although their vet would like them to have their teeth cleaned. Poodles in particular tend to gather plaque on their teeth. We'll think about it; we think that we don't want to voluntarily put them under anaesthetic. Irving used to brush Button's and Riley's teeth every day; they were more amenable to the practise than Jackie and Jillie.

 

A big sigh of relief all around when we left. Left with Heartworm medication and Tick and flea medication. This year our little rascals were due for their rabies and distemper shots, neither of which appeared to bother them. Our veterinarian friend cuddles with them, so could be that relaxes them somewhat. Always when the serious business is done with, it's time for a prolonged and deep conversation about all kinds of things. We were informed that everyone at the clinic, and that's a lot of people, had been infected with COVID despite their precautions.

And everyone is feeling the pinch of an increased workload, answering to the need of a multitude of new dog- and cat-owners. Everyone in the profession is stretched thin. He was unable to make an appointment for his own dog for surgery, even though, he told us, he's a shareholder in the surgical hospital downtown. Which explains why our daughter had such a hard time getting emergency service when one of their dogs injured himself.

 

Later on, in the afternoon, we set out under solidly clouded-over skies, cool and windy, toward the ravine. Rain came down in the lightest of patters. Before we'd got very far, familiar dogs presented themselves to Irving for refreshments, and Jackie and Jillie were delighted, since it meant they'd be treated as well. 

The trails are utterly sodden, soaked from ongoing rain events. We're not 'noticing' as much the fallen trees, feel less shocked about their loss with each day that passes. Despite the carnage, the forest carries on. The lilies-of-the-valley are now in full bloom, their brief period of glory before they go the way of the trilliums and the trout lilies. 

 

An intense visual search allowed us to discover the presence of a mature Jack-in-the-Pulpit, with its single-leafed flower arched over the centre of the plant. So I took a few blind photographs hoping that at least one might come out reasonably well, to show the inner petal of the flower that most people never see and just pass by. Its dark purple-and-green striped interior is delicately beautiful.

 

For some reason, Ottawa International Airport has re-routed some of its flight paths and from time to time we heard planes overhead, way, way above the forest tree canopy. The last few days the air-beating sound of helicopters have added to the forest's sound reception; Irving hazarded the guess they're being deployed to get a picture of the overall storm damage to the entire canopy.