Yes, I'm a Canadian

Yes, I’m a Canadian Earl Plato
July 1st, Canada Day, 2007. What will you do to celebrate it? Writer Ed Teale tells us, “When July comes summer shifts into high gear.” Here the day after our nation’s birthday we are experiencing the arrival of hazy days and shimmering heat. Stay cool.
In July we should realize that it is a month that looks both forward and backward. Teale tells us July looks forward to autumn and backward to spring. Makes sense, eh.
Have you been watching new birds flocking together? I start to wonder how far off is the fall migration. At the family farm in Sherkston the Purple martins would gather from mid-August on. Seeing them gathering in larger and larger flocks I believe is one of the earliest signs of fall. We experienced this phenomenon each summer. In Thoreau’s journal he wrote: “How early in the year it begins to be late.” ! Let’s look back for there are still signs of spring that abound. Here in July we are still in the time of little things. Little rabbits, newly minted chipmunks, newly fledged birds, sprouts of trees struggling upward, and tadpoles and minnows swimming in the shallows of our ponds. Let’s enjoy the month for we are still in the time of the new. Remember it’s the time of rejuvenation of our natural world. May God, our Creator, give the human race new hope at this time.
xxx I’m hobbling these days. Peter says, “It’s strained ligaments.” Give it a rest. Not so. John Lessle had set up a trip for us to Zoar Valley south of Buffalo. This is rough country. I had to go. Neil, Ray, Earl and 85 year old John drove to the Gowanda area. John is a good and careful driver. No problem. John wanted to take us to the south branch of the Cattaraugus Creek. Down side roads we arrived at a parking lot. On this Thursday there were cars, pickups, and ATV’s there. Surprising. Here the shale cliffs tower 200-300 feet high, We walked down to the water’s edge. I struggled. Neil Reichelt took some pictures. A trail led along the west side of the creek. John pointed out where a tragedy occurred in recent years. Three nature walkers were picking their way along the rock strewn path when an unthinking youth threw a large tree log from above. It struck the one girl killing her instantly. I thought of our Niagara Glen Gorge, Never throw anything below you! Someone may be walking through the underbrush unseen below.
As we said Zoar Valley only 50 miles or so from Fort Erie is rugged country. It had special meaning to some of our local residents. Take a lunch and keep costs down and enjoy the setting, eh.