The closing of the car doors make multiple loud cracks as they all slam closed, one after the other, disturbing the silence and stillness of the nature around them. We all clamour out and make our way to the stile to begin our family hike. I open the trunk of my car and reach for my blue day pack, a perfectly sized multi-use bag, meant for being out just for a few hours. With two deep side pockets, a top pocket, a deep main section and a breathable back rest, it has been a wonderful companion along the way. I slip it over my shoulders, adjust the straps and click the two clasps together to make it snug against my body.
“Come on Mom, let’s go to the lookout”, calls out a little voice in the distance. I turn to look at the stile and see both my young boys standing atop of the ladder platform, already looking proud of their first accomplishment of the day. I watch as they climb down the other side and take off running down the trail. The opening section of the Walter Tovell Side Trail is lush and green with grass almost taller than the boys, raising up on either side like a make shift tunnel of beauty. A vast field full of natural expressions, designed explicitly by the Spirit Creator for the enjoyment of all creatures. I take in the moment, stopping only for a split second, while the wind blows in my hair and the sun shines down, warming my face, inviting me to bask in the unique world of what I am to enjoy for the next couple of hours.
This particular side trail enters the Mono-Cliffs Provincial Park on the north end of the park and the character of this pathway could be an adventure all on its own. Sometime’s I wish this trail connection to the main trail was much longer than only 1km. Upon leaving the lush open green field of serenity, the trail enters a deep wooded zone. The trees are thick and the ground is messy with fallen branches and leaves along with mud and rocks mixed in with some apple trees. Those apples can be pretty good if you walk through here at the right time of year. It is at this moment in our hike the boys begin to look for their walking sticks to use for the rest of the day. They scamper around picking up every stick they can find. Often starting with ones with too small a diameter where they cause them to snap. They toss it away and search for another one, eventually finding the perfect stick. One with just the right length, diameter and straightness to be not only their walking stick but the arm extension they both use to touch every single trail blaze along the way to keep the family on track.
I observe their little bodies as they explore the world around them. Letting them run free and just be who they are. I watch as they jump from rock to rock where they inevitably slip from and have to catch themselves to say upright. I watch as they find puddles or mud pits to drag their sticks through, creating intricate designs within the muck, and listening as they stand back and say to me “it sure is beautiful in here”. My older son reaching for my younger son’s hand, they take off together hand in hand outwardly voicing their awe of the vast universe they are experiencing for themselves. Renewing their own energies along the way.
My husband smiles at me as we hang back and just allow the boys to go. Having adventured through this trail multiple times before, we know it very well and trust the boys will use their natural instincts to stay within reach of us. They stay within sight and in wearing long pants and long sleeves, good shoes, a sun hat and sun/bug repellent, I do not have to be nattering at them to “stay on trail”, “don’t touch that”, “don’t go too far” or “you better stay right beside me”! Where would the fun be in that? No, I give them absolute freedom, as long as they are being safe and have yet to experience anything otherwise.
Eventually, we hit the T in the trail and the boys are given the opportunity to decide between each other if they want to take the long or the short route to the lookout. As usual, they giggle with each other and choose the long route. More time to be out here. More time to discover all that is to be discovered today. So, they turn left and begin the remainder of the journey. The trail to the lookout is a variety of long down hills, short cresting hills and twists and turns to make a 5km loop back to the main trail. Deep forest, where the trees are blocking the sun, and the air feels much cooler than it was in the open fields at the beginning of the trek.
We make our way through the endeavour using unique ways of keeping the boys interested in the moment and keep them distracted from their legs that are slowly becoming more and more tired as we get further along the tract. They know when we are getting close and the excitement in them begins to build. The trail begins to climb and they call out “we are almost there! I can see the top up there”. We crest together as a family. It is like walking into the pages of a storybook as we exit the thick forest and the view all of a sudden opens up. We all look out over the tree tops towards the south. A great view of Toronto on a perfectly clear day. We spread out on the flat rock and break out our lunch. A great spot for a family picnic. The view while we eat is exquisite. The endless tree tops for miles, each tree blending in as a community of nature but uniquely expressing its own identity for the viewer to see. I take it all in and get just as much enjoyment out of watching my two boys point out all of the different things even they can see. “Look at that huge bird”, one of them points out and we all watch as the large bird soars through the almost translucent sky. The canvas of blue painted by puffy clouds of white, so soft and light, you could just curl up on them and have the most comfortable bed ever.
This moment together as a family unit will remain etched in my mind forever. The movie playback I know I will be able to experience over and over again will always bring a smile to my face. I love the fact that I get to share my love of nature with my little family. The joy it brings me is paramount and the togetherness we all feel is something that will never fade.
As I plan to go on my adventure to Scotland ,my family is so very encouraging. They are just as excited for me to go as I am. They are looking forward to hearing all about the adventure and see the videos and pictures I take along the way. We share many family treks and hikes together but as a family unit with little legs, one can only go for short trail adventures. I live to show my children they can have a wonderful life full of adventure and exploration on top of the every day requirements of surviving in this world. Just as I share joy in their adventures, they share joy in mine, and that works for us.
As I am re-living these wonderful moments with my husband and children, I hope you have the same kind of experiences from your own family adventures, whatever they may be. I look forward to many more unique experiences to come and knowing that one day they will go out in to the world, on their own, I can only hope they take these life moments with them too.
DanCyn' Adventures 