Judy Price is Writing

The more adventurous I become in the world of hiking, the more decisions I am faced with.

Other than the obvious gear, ranging from the best hiking boot to suit my foot, comfortable pants with pockets, to moisture wicking shirts, breathable waterproof or water repellent outerwear, and the type of hat or none at all, there are a myriad of choices before me.

Which hike to traverse on which day with which group is not an easy decision.

There are factors such as distance and pace, type of terrain, and mode of transportation to get to the trail that influence me.

The weather is another variable that is somewhat unpredictable.

Some hikes require prior registration and others do not, and are available on a ‘first come first served’ basis.

As I prefer to hike with others, at least one other person, my choices are more limited on certain days compared to others.

More recently, I have been looking at hiking GPS devices, along with pocket knives and other paraphernalia.

I am not electronically savvy, and have as yet not found a suitable GPS I care to purchase, along with maps to be uploaded, etc. etc.

I had no idea there is such a variety of compasses on the market.  The small, easy-to-read ones, are not the most reliable I understand.   

As a Canadian, no matter where I hike in this vast country, a gun is not an option, and I am not a hunter, therefore no licence is available to me. 

Bears are curious creatures I am told, and I would not want to peak their interest by creating noise i.e. bear bell, other than human sounds which hopefully are a deterrent to them.  Another valid reason to hike with other people.

There are some decisions I have made that are good ones for me. 

My lightweight, retractable trekking poles provide me with stability on all types of terrain, along with a great cardio, arm, and total body workout when I breathe correctly as I hike.  The speed I am able to attain when using them at times amazes me, and some others I am told.

In spite of all of these decisions, and being a Libran I do try to weigh pros and cons carefully, I much prefer choosing a ‘spontaneous’ hike to a ‘planned’ one.

Whatever trek strikes my fancy at the moment is the one I will enjoy the most. 

After all, it is the journey that creates the adventure before reaching the ultimate destination.

To my American friends in the USA, here in Canada, and abroad, I wish you all a very Happy Independence Day.

The red, white and blue with stars and stripes is flying high and waving proudly, as you embody and demonstrate what patriotic pride means.

As a child, born and raised into my teen-hood in a ‘border’ city, I was influenced and awed by the patriotism shown my American neighbours, and still am.

Your firework displays always outshone ours.   

I recall sitting on the Canadian side of the Detroit river bank on the fourth of July, enjoying the view as you magically lit the night sky spectacularly, and I thank you!

This is the last day of June, 2010, and the week after seven tumultuous days  before!

Beginning with the tremor of an earthquake felt in Toronto’s city core, which was an omen of what was to follow with the G20 summit and the darker element infiltrating peaceful protestors, it culminated in a backlash of bad press.

I chose not to witness what  unfortunately did transpire in my own neighbourhood, with a purposeful escape to a more peaceful setting.

My return in a torrential downpour, as if to cleanse Toronto after the ‘storm’ it had endured, was to a feeling of being held ‘hostage’, as the lockdown prevented me from reaching my home until the next day.

In spite of vandalism and a torched police cruiser, lost profit and wages for business owners and employees, bruised egos and frightened bystanders, exhausted police and criticism of the way they handled the ensuing day/night, I believe Torontonians came out of this relatively unscathed.

Compared to some past G20 summits in other cities in the world, where violence led to injury and worse, our inhabitants and citizens were protected.

Now if the civil rights authorities can dissect how the police handled everything as a whole, and put forth viable alternative solutions which could lead to the same end result of paramount safety for the majority of human beings involved, then that aftermath will be a positive outcome for all.

The way I see it, criticism without constructive answers is no solution at all.

As I prepare to escape the city this week, with the G20 Summit and all of the security repercussions taking place in my ‘front yard’, I experienced my first earthquake. 

As I stood in my kitchen, the dining room glass & mirrored china cabinet with all of its’ fragile contents began rattling.

Then I heard the sweet sound of wind chimes in my sunroom, which was strange as the patio door was shut.

I called security and determined that indeed Ontario, Quebec and parts of the United States also felt the tremor.

The television news reported a 5.5, then downgraded it to a 5.0 quake that originated near Gatineau, Quebec. 

My thoughts then turned to a friend who is vacationing this week at her cottage in the Gatineaus, and I have no way to communicate with her. 

Hopefully, she and the foundation of her living structure are safe and sound.

I cannot imagine how people in Haiti and other parts of the world felt/feel when unthinkable disaster strikes.

I was ‘shaken‘ just standing there watching, listening and feeling the ‘earth move under my feet’, and not in a good way as the lyrics of the song imply!

Once again I am reminded that not very much in this life is within my control. 

Here I am ready to flee the city and an earthquake occurs!  Irony. 

In fact, at the precise moment I felt this powerlessness, I also felt fear.

That feeling surprised me as I believe in an afterlife.

Then I realized that there are many dreams I have that are yet to be fulfilled. 

Sharing this and countless other experiences in life, both positive and negative, with the ‘one’ who is my counterpart, is not only a wish, but also a prayer of mine. 

Whether or not it will be answered in the affirmative I do not know. 

When I am reminded that my earthly home is only clay, I am forced to ‘let go’ and realize that God is at the helm.

As a spiritual being my foundation cannot be shaken.