I am always so amazed at how us humans get so busy.
Each hour is allotted for something or someone or somewhere.
Our dogs are so patient to wait for “walk-ready” humans.
After quite a few days of not going for a walk due to various reasons, but really no excuse, Oscar was giving me plenty of non-barking signs to go for a “walkies”.
Me running out to a meeting, Oscar in tow, the poor lad is jumping up and down at the mechanics of my shoe tying, pawing at the door, running backwards in front of me accompanied with bounces as we walk down the deck, 360 spin and bounce off the top stair, bullet through the barely open gate and dashing off to the nearest trailhead, only to be stuck in the car for an hour.
Later that evening, after all of the daily business deeds, I was “walk-ready” and driving to our “lot”.
How ’bouts a country residential walk around the block Oscar?
I was thinking of a route that I thought might be two to four kilometres. I caught Oscar off guard by suddenly making my move north on Moraine Drive.
He caught on pretty quick and did a little dance.
Nose to the ground, tail in the air, we were on our way.
Copper Belt Residential area is in between Mount Sima Industrial Area and Wolf Creek Subdivision. In the seemingly middle of the new residential area, there is a huge eye-shaped loop. Inside the loop is quite a few residences, a couple of cul-de-sacs, swamp land and a fire-safe corridor.
It had been snowing quite a bit, so for ease of walking on feet and paws we stuck to the road and snowmobile tracks in the ditch.
It was a bit cold, and had been for quite a few days, but we kept moving and Oscar had his coat and booties on so we were good to go.
I was surprised to see skiers ahead. I figured they had dogs, so we kept back a bit. Sure enough two dogs and two humans were weaving in and out of the forest and the ditch.
I wondered how the trail system might be in there and vowed to check it this winter on skis.
Their tracks came from a main trail going into the centre of the island or bend we were walking around. The skies were gentle purple and indigo blue, framed with crispy white mountains and fluffy white and green trees.
The straight stretch we were on seemed to go on and on and then we came to a street: it was Talus Drive, leading back to the south.
We carried on further following the group ahead. A massive clearing opened up further down.
According to a Yukon Lands Branch land map, this corridor was once home to a busy mining transportation corridor and railway. It has a spectacular view of the valley that sits between Grey Mountain and Mount Lorne, especially during sunsets.
I took loads of photos, including very cool strand formations of cloud above me. Following trough to the end, there was quite a lot of elevation and I was able to slide down the snowmobile track on my bottom.
We came out on Esker Drive and joined with Talus again. A steady pace kept us both warm.
I made mental notes of new street names I will come to know by memory one day. I could still faintly see my leaders ahead of me, slowly turning into a driveway, disappearing.
I was getting tired now, and hungry. Oscar just happily carried on ahead of me nose to the ground, looking back at me now and then. I could see that some bodies were gathered around a bonfire up ahead. “How nice and warm,” I thought to myself.
Getting closer I made out two guys, two gals and two dogs. I recognized “Ripper” right away, one of Oscar’s good doggie friends. We know a lot of people in this neighbourhood. I knew half the crowd and Oscar met a new dog, a very big (compared to Oskie) Newfoundlander dog. They got along great. Before you knew it, another friend stopped by and then Mike and the bonfire crew grew from six to 11.
What a perfect ending to a perfect walk. We were all taking time out of our busy days to have a nice neighbourly visit and a play date for the dogs at the same time.
I just love this place!
