We were up to Algonquin Provincial Park a few days
back and while there hiked a few trails. I’m a bit older than a few years ago,
so I no longer attempt to do the trail in record time preferring to walk
quietly and slowly, and observe what I didn’t see when younger. There are
bears, black bears, in the park so, although it’s rare to see one, it’s wise to
pay attention to your surroundings. So I’m looking at this and that, and a tune
comes into my mind,
“If you go
down in the woods today you're sure of a big surprise
If you go down
in the woods today you'd better go in disguise
For every bear
that ever there was will gather there for certain
Because
today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic”
(The Teady
Bears’ Picnic by Henry Hall)
Of course, you thought that I was going to say that
I saw a bear, but I didn’t. Instead, I observed a spider, quite an ordinary
spider, I believe. However, I cannot be certain as I didn’t identify it
preferring to simply watch it go about its business oblivious of my standing in
the middle of the trail watching.
So, I’m standing there humming this ridiculous
tune, and a strand of spider web goes drifting across the trail. It settles on
a spruce tree at the other side of the trail about six or seven feet up in the
tree, then low and behold, a spider begins to cross the trail on this strand of
web. Now were talking a distance of about fifteen feet and considering the size
of the spider this is one helluva distance. Quick as a bunny this spider
crosses the trail and gains access to the spruce tree on the other side then
disappears into the foliage. Amazing, was all that I could think. This tiny
spider has the where with all to spin a strand of web and let the wind catch it
and blow across the trail so it can safely and quite quickly cross the trail.
Not bad, not bad at all, for a creature with a
primitive brain that does not
handle things like emotions, logic, or creative thought; or does it? Maybe,
there’s more intelligence out there on the trail than we understand? So, it's quite possible, as was the case with me, if you go down to the woods one day you too will experience a big surprise.
By the way of an update regarding my publishing venture, WHERE RAVEN PLAYS (published and available on Blurb) will shortly be formatted as an ebook (more affordable) and SHADES OF GREY, AND THIRTY PLUS ONE are just about ready to be published and will also be formatted as ebooks. Then it's off to collect some sketches for future ventures. There's not much time for rest when retired.
