Gibson Hills by Susan L.

  It was a lovely day for a hike. The term "hike" is used rather loosely. It was more of a wander, a pause to take in some beauty, and a meander on again. The rolling hills caused a few huff and puffs as we climbed and descended, following the path. Makes me realize I need to do this more often.
   The land for these trails was donated for public use. Minutes out of town, it's a whole other world. The trails wander through open meadows, second growth forests and along farmer's fields.
  The recently planted winter wheat created a lush green carpet covering acre after acre. A lovely foreground for the view of trees and fields, well kept barns, and the far off purple mounds of the Niagara Escarpment.
  The fall flowers were in full and glorious bloom. The goldenrod, the purple and white asters and a few, late blooming Queen Anne's Lace offered up a sweet buffet to the bees and butterflies. There were several Monarchs drifting from flower to flower which are a delight to see. The orange was bright and fresh, a sign of youth. A couple of Praying Mantises flew away, startled by our appearance but landed close enough so we could admire them. We wouldn't have seen them if they hadn't flown away they are so well camouflaged.
  H practiced using her new camera. I took a few moments to snap some pictures with my phone, playing with the panorama feature. Somehow the pictures don't  do the countryside justice.
  We ambled down into a ravine with much older trees towering overhead. The rolling, boulder strewn ground meant it could never be farmed so the trees had a chance to grow to a monumental scale. Some towered at least a hundred and fifty feet over head.
  There were sections of collapsed split rail fence now moss covered and neglected tucked away in the woods. It amazes me that they were probably set down over a hundred years ago. The white cedar rails, split by some long gone hand, seem impervious to the passage of time. Only the rounded softness of the wood gives a hint to their age.
  Part of our quest was a search for mushrooms to photograph but the high, dry, sandy soil didn't appear to be the kind of earth they need to grow. That's okay. It's an excuse to find another place to hike.
  Hints of autumn colour are visible all around. A few branches here and there punctuate the still green canopy. It won't be long before the whole area is ablaze with the glorious reds, yellows and oranges that mark an Ontario fall.

  "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth." Mat 5:5