PICARESQUE AND ALMOST PARADISIACAL SUMMER SCENE (SOMETIMES A SNAKE IS JUST A SNAKE)

First real day of summer. Picaresque and warm. The slightest breeze, - just enough to feel pleasant against the face or arms. Nobody was on our path. At the end, there were all kinds of cars, - but when we started, - none, - and then two pulled in but a dog walker and a set of bike riders went the other way. So, we had that special freedom of not worrying in the back of the mind about pulling the leash out or calling back while running into a person, biker, jogger. The dogs liked the back path also for it provides some shade, nuance, nooks and crannies, smells and interesting side-adventures of all kind and manner. They chase a few squirrels and beautiful red and brown chipmunks. The chipmunks are fast and sometimes go up, but there seem to burrow down into the bottoms of fallen trees and thick chaparral. 

Finally, out in the open area near the end, there were not many birds or other things. Maybe

they were taking a rest. A few little planes passed in the distance. Some of the clouds were full and round-ish, and some streaked, falling down to the horizon line. Sometimes a single dandelion appeared in the far and far grasses, and at other times an entire family of them.

There is a little stream, and up from it another, even smaller entrance to a pathway. Here it is quite dense, and there is full shade. On the sides, as you come out on the other end, are some wild flowers. Most are tiny and white, but there are blue ones, and also some red budding things a few trees. After running in the sand pit, it gives the dogs a few long moments of rest. They slow, - Tessa sometimes sits or sprawls out in comfortable grasses for a while. Then its on and towards the entrance, which is the exit, again. It takes about twenty, a solid twenty minutes to go back. There was nobody around.

Again, a snake crossed the path. I suppose its time. I was far from where the other snake was spotted. The snake was smaller this time, and a bit less mystical feeling. It just seemed like a snake crossing the path, whereas before the snake encounter was more auspicious, magical, symbol laden. Sometimes a snake is a kundalini energy serpent, or an omen for a point of transition. Maybe it not recoiling from it can mean a fear or fears have been overcome through time and effort, or natural design, or a combination thereof. But, sometimes a snake can be just a guy trying to make his way across the path (his street), in the late afternoon. I took a few shots, but then let him be. 

Going out of there I was not looking for an special elixir, or the fountain of youth.

Uninterested was I right then in totem animals, shapeshifting shamans, devas and forest fairies and sprites. Instead of Providence, karma and kismet and the rest,- I was looking for a Tim Horton’s ice cap.

And I found one up the way in not too long. 

-------------------------------------------