Saw Whet Trail

On my journey to find trails near and far I found Saw Whet Trail which is pretty near and pretty lovely.

This trail is just outside of the town of Lumsden. It’s an easy hike that meanders along the creek bordering farmland. I’ve been watching the huge old barn slowly lose its fight with gravity and bend and heave concave into the earth.

On a more recent stroll through this area, I was greeted by a black horse with a white heart-shaped mark on his head. He was sweetly social and let me love up on him. I have never seen him since. Maybe he was just a visitor like me. It was a pretty special interaction. I grabbed a shot of Heart Horse and my friend Holly here.

There are many benches along the way to rest at. A new bridge crosses the creek. The trail takes you through clusters of old trees past the hugest tree that was taken down by a beaver.

Through the trees, you’ll come to the edge of a farmer’s pasture. Follow the fenced edge up a ridge—a steady incline—worth every step uphill. The view is of the rolling hills and the valley below. It’s so pretty in the simplicity of contours. Taking a load off at the top on a bench is pretty special. It’s quiet except for the birds or the low murmur of a cow. Resting could also happen back down along the creek listening to the water babble, reading a good book, journaling, sketching, or just sitting there.

My hikes are about exercising the body, hearing the heartbeat, and stimulating the mind. I’m so grateful for such a pretty stroll close to home that still has a little incline for an added push. It pretty much checks all the boxes.

As much as words have the power to create and illustrate, there is nothing like the real thing for a place like this with the clean smells of nature, the swooshing of grass on pantlegs, and the sublime views in an unexpected place.

May magic appear on your strolls and walks and hikes and runs.

As always, thank you for reading Lovelies.