Looking North

It was a perfect spring afternoon. Warm temperatures. Warm sun. Warm breeze gently blowing.

Ellie was in heaven. Her friend Donata was coming with us. An assured source of lots of pets and ear rubbings always makes Ellie happy.

I was happy too. Ellie decided to do her business right beside the garbage can at the head of the trail. No need to carry a full bag along of doggie fertilizer, or leave it at the edge of a trail to remember to pick up — as long as we took the same route back.

Except. Ellie decided to go again.

I decided to bag it and leave the bag at the side of the trail for collection on our return.

And we set off into the gorgeous spring afternoon. X-country. Along the ridge. Down the escarpment into the valley. Along the river. Back up to the ridge, always following the river’s south by southwest meanders.

We stepped over fallen logs and around muddy pools. We brushed aside branches and side-stepped rocks. The river glistened in the afternoon sun and whenever possible, Ellie splashed about, her enthusiasm for life contagious.

I collected heart rocks and garbage, stuffing both into the deep pockets of the jacket I wore tied around my waist. Ellie picked up sticks. Tossed them in the air. Dropped them at my feet, begging me to toss them into the river. I obliged. She swam after them. Returning to shake. Drop. Plead all over again.

Happy Pooch!

We walked and played by the river for over an hour and then, the afternoon waning, we turned around to head back. I had a meeting at 3 and Donata had a client booked for a massage.

On the walk back, I stopped to pick up the bag I’d left by the trail but it was gone.

“It must have been the woman with the two dogs who was sitting on the bench at the beginning of our hike,” I told Donata. “I think she’s the one who left the blue bag just down the trail. It’s gone and so is Ellie’s.”

An unexpected gift from a stranger and the afternoon turns even sunnier.

“People are nice,” Donata said.

And I agree.

People are nice.

People make a difference.

So does sunshine, spring days and a walk with friends — of the two and four-legged kind!