I had only a short period of time to spend in the woods so decided to visit the Strathcona Wilderness Centre this morning.  The sun was just beginning to come over the treetops.  The sky was cloudless and only a sliver of the moon was visible.  It was the perfect morning to hike.  I didn't have to wear a jacket. There was no wind and the temperature was warm.  It was only 9am!

The water in the pond at the end of the driveway did not have one ripple.  There were no ducks or muskrats swimming.  Most of the leaves have dropped and the cat tails have bloomed out; leaving masses of fuzz on the pond surface.

The beginning of the trail was quiet.  No bird calls.  No chattering squirrels.  The sun's rays created long shadows on the leafy carpet.  

There were a number of berries and rose hips clinging to branches.  I was surprised that the squirrels hadn't plucked them off.  The rose bushes were the only shrubs still clinging to leaves.  

As I made my way around the trail, I decided to visit the Spruce Bog.  A large owl flew up from a branch as I approached the area.  I followed a long boardwalk into a sheltered area that contains labrador tea, paper birch and towering spruce trees.  There are benches for those that wish to sit and enjoy the quiet or watch the squirrels gather food.  They were not happy to have me sitting there this morning.

I was the only person on the trail today.  I wish I could have stayed out longer but winter will show up sooner or later and there were windows to be washed before the snow falls.