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Summer begins




"Adown the golden sunset way 
The evening comes in wimple gray; 
By burnished shore and silver lake 
Cool winds of ministration wake; 
O'er occidental meadows far 
There shines the light of moon and star, 
And sweet, low-tinkling music rings 
About the lips of haunted springs."

...from  A Summer Day -  by Lucy Maud Montgomery

 Summer is upon us and I am often on my bike now. I have been seeing some really cool things. I have found that the road to Calabogie is filled with Harleys on any given weekend. The road that runs from Calabogie to Lanark is even more fun to drive. I have spent far too much time on the backroads around here but I keep seeing different things. 

 A few weeks past I was on a tear down Zion Line when some Mennonite looking service was just getting out at a very low key nondescript building. I can't tell you how cool that sea of clean old timey black clothing looks through polarized sunglasses. Some time after that I am passing the Barr Line when I drive past a woman in old timey garb doing something at the back of a black carriage while the horse was off his traces resting in the shade and a little girl in a purple dress that looked like she fell out of an episode of Little House on the Prairie was lying in the grass. Such a beautiful scene.  

 It's not all Mennonites, plenty of folks are happy to wave at a passing motorcycle. Especially garage sitting older folk... you know what I mean. I can't be the only one enjoying this not over-hot summer (so far, nice cool evenings). That is likely to change & I will be eyeing some of the less fully clad riders on the road with envy. I just know the first day I don't wear protective gear is the day something happens. I think that sneakers & a vest will look good when the temperature gets over thirty degrees.

 Returning from Orleans a few days back I was driving into the sunset & early dusk. Up until now the only night driving I have done was either after a storm or in one. It kind of turned me off night driving... as did the incredible accuracy of every suicidal bug in the Ottawa Valley. This time I still had a few issues. I had to stop by the side of the highway (always a risky venture) to change my glasses from shades to clear lenses & again just before Arnprior to clean the multitude of bugs off of my windshield. It was SO bad and really made it difficult to see. Other than that and a sharp drop in the temperature between Renfrew & Cobden the trip was phenomenal. Such colours and evening smells of wildflowers. This prompted the poetic header to this post. As for the recently taken photo... Lunching under a shady tree in a low breeze listening to an audiobook is a very pleasant way to spend some time mid-day. I think Lucy Maud Montgomery might agree.

 Safe travels one & all.

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