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Thursday 18 February 2021

Silence

It was quiet when we arrived. Not a breath of wind on a -6 C sunny winter day meant perfect conditions for snowshoeing. We were alone in the area on Islander Day, a winter holiday. We had scouted this old Heritage Road the previous day, wanting a place to snowshoe without the noise and traffic of snow machines. Luckily, snowmobilers don’t ride on the Millman Road. 


My husband and I put on our snowshoes quickly and headed out. 





Most noticeable was the absence of bird sounds and sightings. Our usual trails on the island have many species and numbers of birds, some year round. The Millman Road, which we frequent during the other seasons has always had the same. Not today. The woods were silent, accentuating the stark beauty around us.





The only sound was the crunch of snow with every step. The loose snow sparkled which I was unable to capture with the camera. Periodically we stopped to listen for the silence again, such an unusual experience. The sound of one’s breathing filled the air, a strange sensation indeed in this space. 





We weren’t alone however. Impressions in the snow left by other creatures gave us pause.





What could have made such a track? We speculated with each mysterious set. Hares, mice, skunks, foxes? Where are they now? The thought made the surrounding woodland feel alive in spite of the quiet.





Forty-five minutes later we stopped, having enjoyed every minute. We didn’t over extend ourselves since we wanted to be able to move the next day. The poles added extra effort, more than our usual walking. We will go further the next time we venture out on snowshoes.





A thermos of tea waited back at the car. The tea couldn’t have been better as we sat in our camp chairs in the silence. We absorbed it all, the tea which warmed us to the core and the stark beauty of this winter day.



                                                               View across a nearby field







39 comments:

Anvilcloud said...

Such fun and great exercise.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Idyllic!

Martha said...

Wow, these photos are so gorgeous and you did capture the sparkles in the snow. I noticed it before you mentioned it. I can only imagine how beautiful it was in person. Thanks so much for sharing these with us!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Very bracing exercise! Just as well that white barn was on the horizon or it would have been completely camouflaged.

Tabor said...

That last photo is like a painting from one of our early American painters. I love deciphering snowprints.

Bill said...

Never tried wearing or walking with snowshoes. What a beautiful place to walk and emjoy the silence while getting some exercise. Beautiful photos, Marie.

Elephant's Child said...

Thank you (so much) for sharing some of the beauty.

Ruth Hiebert said...

The last picture is breathtaking. WOW! That is just gorgeous in it's simplicity .

PerthDailyPhoto said...

What a beautiful experience Marie, you described it so succinctly it felt like I was there with you, merci beaucoup for that 💙

William Kendall said...

Beautiful shots! A day well spent.

Red said...

Fabulous to be out in a place where it is silent. An igloo is a very good insulator and you don't hear sound.

Mage said...

The view across the snowy field is perfection.
Thanks for taking us along on this winter trip. :)

The Furry Gnome said...

Looks like a great day to be out snowshoeing!

Joanne Noragon said...

A fabulous walk. Love the barn photo.

Debbie said...

such a beautiful walk and gorgeous images!! i always enjoy your stories, you write so eloquently!!

and that last image is so special!!

Helen said...

Silence, blue skies and scrunchy snow, a magical outing!
I wonder why you drove so far?

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
What a lovely outing, a peaceful experience and a pretty day.
The last scene is beautiful! Have a great weekend!

baili said...

this post is really CAPTIVATING dear Marie !

you made me feel be there ,within white ,quiet gorgeous trails ,your words made everything so alive to my senses
i can imagine how special that was that tea you had there :)

may storm brought that silent to the area by hushing off the birds ,hope they soon get back to cheer you guys up :)

David M. Gascoigne, said...

The only thing missing was a Snowy Owl!

Ginnie Hart said...

I would absolutely LOVE such an outing, Marie, on snowshoes! You sure know how to pick your beautiful days, and I can imagine the sound of silence...and what it did to restore your souls.

Retired Knitter said...

Wonderful post. I could almost feel the silence. Not many people would have absorbed that experience like you did.

DJan said...

Very beautiful and serene. Thank you for sharing it. :-)

The Padre said...

Fantastic Moment In Time - And You Are Sharing This Adventure With Someone You Love - You Made My Friday And Have Inspired Me For The Weekend - Thank You - Big Hugs

Cheers

Tanza Erlambang said...

the lonely camp looks like in the strange place such as North Pole....interesting.

I never walked on the long snow trails... it seems exciting.

Thank you for sharing mysterious steps and beautiful photos.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

In books, if there is natural silence, it means trouble!!!! A mean predator is around.

Could that have been so???

Silence in nature, is not usual....

photowannabe said...

The song by Simon and Garfunkle came to mind...The sound of Silence.
So magical, Marie.
I would have felt like tip-toeing around. You were in God's cathedral.
The last photo is my favorite..the stark stillness is profound.
Sue

Margaret said...

How wonderful to get out in the winter weather and enjoy the beauty. That last photo--wow!!

Spare Parts and Pics said...

That looks wonderful! Quiet, peaceful, and excellent exercise.

Rose said...

Oh, my goodness...this sounds like such a fun day! Or afternoon, or however long you were there. I so love the photo of the barn. Just love your photos period!

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Great walk and beautiful photos.
On very cold days, I notice fewer birds stop by.

Goldendaze-Ginnie said...

Lovely Marie. ESPECIALLY your last picture. Are you sure that isn't a copy of a Wyeth painting ???

Catarina said...


That was quite a workout.
The absence of noise was a treat that particular day...

Lorrie said...

The last photo conveys such an expansive sense of peace and stillness. Really lovely. Snowshoeing can be so much fun - glad you enjoyed your day out.

Danielle L Zecher said...

That is a lot of snow!!! It amazes me that y'all are tough enough to go out and walk around in it. We hunker down inside due to less snow than that.

peppylady (Dora) said...

Enjoy your week.
Coffee is on and stay safe

At Home In New Zealand said...

What wonderful peace to experience. I loved reading what you have written about it all :)

Tomoko said...

Your snowy sceneries always surprise me.
So beautiful!
I hope you have a good new week.

thefisherlady said...

you indeed have your share of snow there; We also are deep in snow and our winter rest.
I did a student exchange to Caraquet, New Brunswick in '72 and loved the Maratimes! I send greetings and prayers for good health through these times. Thank you for sharing all that beauty.

Barbara said...

Snow shoes. I love it. You two are like a couple of teenagers always eager to get out of the house and have an adventure.