A fresh start in 2020.
Chris
Jan 9, 2020
This is the first blog of 2020 after taking two weeks off for some much-needed rest and relaxation. The holidays are the days for spending quality time with family and loved ones and during this time I chose to disconnect from news, social media, and writing.
Spending time off with our kids is the best gift. We made the most of that time by enjoying our rural woods and the many hiking trails those woods offer us. We are fortunate enough to have acres upon acres of untouched Ontario beauty, owned by our family. It is in these woods that we – the kids, their dad, their uncle and me – connect with nature and discover environmental features and wildlife while keeping active.
We love affording our kids with responsibilities and privileges that help them to grow into mature and intelligent people. Some of these privileges include using motorbikes, golf carts, and ATVs in order to make them feel comfortable with this kind of machinery and teach them safety rules like wearing helmets and appropriate gear. These kinds of “adult” privileges are rewarding and educational and satisfy their need to feel “grown-up” in an era where kids are growing up too fast with the clothes they wear or the smartphones they use (at a younger and younger age so it seems).
The trails we enjoy walking most are tucked back in an area only accessed by an ATV trail. In our caravan of four ATVs, led by the head of the family with our dog riding on the back, we set down the trail. Parking our ATVs, armed with snacks and hydration, we followed Uncle Tour Guide down his trail marked with orange tape. We told stories, looked for critters, and talked about how we might build a temporary structure using the natural materials of the land. It is a short-lived disconnection from technology, and an opportunity to build lasting memories we will never forget.
The sights, smells, and sounds of the woods are intoxicating. You never breathe as deep as you do surrounded by the greenery of decades-old deciduous and fragrant coniferous. The fresh air seems to cure the fogginess and congestion of daily life. The health benefits of a simple walk (up gentle inclines, while avoiding tree branches and roots) is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy heart and lungs without heavy impact on muscles and joints. We are truly blessed to own this land knowing that many city-dwellers will go years without having this experience. And we get to do it every day.
Our hike came to an intermission when we approached a new rocky, open area where we started a fire and replenished our nutrition. While the kids and I kept the fire stoked and told stories, the men ventured further on the trail to assess an area we had not been to before. They were gone for some time when the sun started to set, and the kids started asking when we should head back.
Returning back down the trail we came; the sun was now below the horizon and only twilight graced the trees making it difficult to find our markers. The children started to panic when they noticed we had returned to a part of the trail we had just walked a mere ten minutes prior. It was a great lesson in what techniques to use when you are turned around in the woods. We utilized our emergency flashlights, looked for familiar landmarks, and followed the dog (a breed with an impeccable sense of smell) whose direction was immaculate in getting us back on track. The final lesson came when the ATV ride back through rough terrain was now hidden in the black of night; riding on the back of my eleven year old’s machine, he passed with flying colours.
The Bruce Trail runs from the Niagara River to the tip of Tobermory. If you live in Ontario and are not fortunate to have your own private trail, I encourage you to add “Hiking the Bruce Trail” to your bucket list. There are trails for the experienced hiker as well as ones appropriate for a casual stroll. No matter the level of adversity, you will experience a miraculous and exciting ecosystem, keep healthy, and disconnect once in a while.
Our family will be on the trail next weekend.
Hoping you make your mark in 2020,
Canadian Girl
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