200 m

Have I mentioned that we live 200 m from a forest?

You can walk up hill for 10 mins and stop seeing other people, or hearing city sounds other than the nearby military base’s rifle practice. It’s all just there, and if you come prepared with mosquito repellant, quick reflexes to brush away the ticks, and keep an eye out for bears, you have nothing to worry about but enjoying the forest you’re in.

It truly is lovely and, though I know little about flora, especially here, I find it quite remarkable. There are plenty of coniferous trees, typical of cold climates- but then there are huge herbs, and plants I would describe as tropical. I like the way a friend once put it- there’s so much energy in the ground here, that all this greenery leaps up, and shoots enormous stalks and leaves into the air, making the most of the short summer months.

Our friend Ira invited us to join her for a picnic in the forest this week. We ended up walking nearly to the top of the hill, when Luke found a trail leading down to a river, with an open grassy area (that the bears had cleared ;-) just perfect for eating in. It’s only an hour’s walk from our house!