It was a beautiful early August morning here in Ontario, Canada. I was really looking forward to returning to Copeland Forest for a time of running, hiking and photography. I really try to do my distances for my two virtual races, A Great Canadian Running Challenge and Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee without getting in a car to drive somewhere to go running. Every 7 days or so, as a treat, I will drive myself to Copeland Forest. It is about 8 kilometers away.
Seeing many of my Twitter friends posting beautiful #MushroomMonday photos from their runs and hikes had me very excited. I knew Copeland Forest was going to be glorious. I brought spare batteries for my camera. I arrived and was pumped and ready to go. As I started to work my way in, I was really perplexed because there wasn’t any mushrooms anywhere to be found. I would go on different trails where last year in 2020 there was a proliferation of different varieties of them in certain areas. Nothing.
As time went on, on one of the trails further in, I noticed through the trees three men a hundred or so feet off the trail I was on. They each had with them these gigantic wicker baskets, and were bending down to pick things off the ground. And putting whatever it was they were gathering in their baskets. What were they up to? It didn’t take long to guess what they were doing. They were mushroom pickers, picking the ground clean. This made me quite upset. I really wanted to run up to them and confront them. But I was outnumbered three to one. Plus they appeared to be half my age. Factor in that this was a very quiet part of Copeland Forest. There might not be anyone else come by for a few hours. or even the rest of the day. If things turned nasty, I’d be up the creek without a paddle. So I resisted my urges.
It brought back memories from a year ago when I caught in the act a man illegally dumping a large battery powered children’s jeep on the side of a remote road. There is so much illegal dumping going on in this area, but to catch a person in the act is so slim. I was on a trail about 100 feet away that ran parallel to the road. The man did not see me. Seeing what was happening through the trees, I became so enraged. Without thinking of any consequences, I went crashing through the woods and confronted the man just as he was about to get back in his truck. He ended up loading the jeep back in his truck. When I later reported the incident with photos to authorities I was commended for my passion to get involved. Because the man did put the jeep back in his truck, they couldn’t do anything. But the authorities also gently rebuked me for putting myself in what could have been a very dangerous situation. Humans sometimes react very aggressively and violently when confronted during an illegal activity.
Signage is pretty straight forward both in Copeland Forest and the Simcoe County Forests of what is allowed and what is not allowed. There are a lot of those colorful smaller signs from Copeland Forest Friends Association (which I am a member of) in strategic locations along the border entrances of Copeland Forest. The “no commercial-scale foraging” is very well worded. It means it would certainly be okay to grab a few blackberries off a bush as a quick snack during a run. Or pick 2 or 3 mushrooms to throw in your lasagna for supper. But to haul out hundreds of pounds of mushrooms to sell for profit is wrong. In a sense, it is a form of poaching. Just without the blood. Sadly the “free for all” exploitation of our natural areas of any flora and fauna, and any natural resources above ground and below ground that has any value in exchange for the almighty dollar has brought much of our planet to the brink of an environmental abyss.
I’ve studied field manuals on mushrooms, but have never had enough confidence to pick even a couple of mushrooms for supper because of the poisonous lookalikes. The only way to tell the deadly from the edible mushrooms is to know them 100% by sight. There are no shortcuts. Poisonous mushrooms are especially dangerous because the symptoms of poisoning don’t appear for 10-12 hours. This is Phase 1. Phase 2 there is gastrointestinal distress with severe abdominal pains, vomiting and hallucinations. But this is followed by a false recovery in which patients appear to improve. This misleads doctors to assume all is well, and the patients may be prematurely discharged from hospital or Emergency department. But the amatoxin poisoning continues. The patient’s liver starts to fail following which other organs may falter. The big problem to my knowledge is that once it reaches the later stages, doctors do not have an antidote for mushroom toxicity other than an emergency liver transplant. A liver transplant is only possible if the kidneys and other organs are not too badly damaged. Death occurs 6-8 days after mushroom ingestion. Deathbed testimonies have indicated that the flavor of those mushrooms was excellent.
Overall the 2021 Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee has been very much Déjà Vu from the previous year. Except last year was a triple crossing and this year was a double crossing. It has been wonderful having this 4 month virtual run to keep me motivated. Part of this years’ double crossing was my 100k unsupported run. This year also involved a lot more litter picking, as I attempted to catch up from not doing it last year. Despite a lack of mushrooms to enjoy looking at and taking photos of this year during my 2000+ kilometer virtual journey, I have had some pretty awesome discoveries. Like watching a stick bug walk across a quiet gravel road. They are usually so camouflaged, I haven’t seen one in years. I’ve had 3 close up separate coyote sightings in just the past 3 weeks. Before I could get a photo, like a ghost they were gone. Never any threat to me, they were also a long way from any human settlement. Their beauty made my spine tingle. There had been travel restrictions earlier on this year with COVID, but even with them now lifted, I’ve had no desire to travel. Familiarity does develop contentment. It has been like a 17 month staycation. The most I’ve travelled from home last year was 35 kilometers. There wasn’t any increase on that this year. This is a beautiful area. I am very blessed. I’m so glad I’ve had so much time forest bathing, because this pandemic (and losing both my jobs) has been really hard on me mentally. Without it, this would have been even worse. Now that my dear wife and I are both double vaccinated, I was able to hug her for the 1st time in 16 months. Which is wonderful. She is postmaster of a post office where she is in contact daily with a lot of customers. Some customers who come in are very “anti-outspoken” in regards to masks and vaccinations.
Races are slowly starting to happen on a limited basis here in Canada. Which is wonderful. I have always loved the camaraderie and deepening friendships that come out of those events. But I’ve spent so much time running and hiking all alone in the forests these past 17 months I now find myself becoming anxious of the very thought of being around a lot of people.
Some days this summer during my #GVRAT virtual I retreated deep in the forests for better air quality, as an escape from the out of control forest fires burning several hundred kilometers away in North Western Ontario. For those living in Western Canada it has been the very same issue. Just different major fires. There has been mass evacuations, and thousands of exhausted firefighters battling wind-whipped blazes. Last December, United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called on world leaders to declare states of “climate emergency” in their countries to spur action to avoid “catastrophic” global warming. Just recently a new report from the UN stated, “We are in Code Red for Humanity. Global warming was close to being out of control, and that humans were “unequivocally” to blame”. It has really got me thinking. I know I won’t be around for many more years, but future generations (like my precious grandson) is what I am concerned about. So I will continue to advocate for our planet. And for the future of my grandson. I cringe at the thought of the state of our planet in which he and all others in this new generation will be inheriting. I’ve been looking deeply inwardly about my own carbon footprint. I’m grateful that my 2 part time jobs at the church and school crosswalk don’t require a daily commute. I walk to both of them.
I have loved the ultra races, and I know in time my mental health will once again return to relative normalcy to resume running in among groups of people. The problem I’m now struggling with (particularly with our Code Red climate emergency) is these races are often such a long distance to travel. Pick Your Poison in Copeland Forest is very close. There were 2 other ultras within 60 kilometers. But they are no longer held. The Creemore Vertical Challenge was last run in 2016 and North Face Endurance Challenge was last run in 2017. Other than Pick Your Poison, the closest ultra race now is 150 kilometers away. It is the Limberlost Challenge. Three years ago I did run their 56k distance. The race was special that year, as it was held right on my 60th birthday. It was a wonderful way to celebrate my 60th birthday. Whether I return when it is not a milestone birthday, I’m not really sure. There are plenty of road half marathons around that are close by. Barrie, Orillia, Collingwood and Midland all host one. But my heart is set on the trail ultra. This is what I train for. This is what I am passionate about. In a car culture society like we have in Canada, realistically (and sadly) the only means to get to these events is by car. The longest distance I have driven my car to a race was 200 kilometers each way (400 kilometers total). That was in 2016, in a 50k called Run for the Toad. It was a great race, but I vowed I’d never drive my car that far for a race again. It was just too far. Some runners will easily drive 300-400 kilometers each way for a race. And not think anything of it. But consciously, I just can’t do that. Even though the very basic Toyota Prius I drive is extremely stingy on fuel, I still struggle so much. An internet platform called Feedspot has me now sitting in 68th place in The Top 100 Running Blogs (a climb from 97th place 3 weeks ago). This is very exciting, as there is a lot of amazing running blogs in the world. Despite that, I have really been trying to come to grips in finding my future identity in ultra distance running. Is there any future for me at all as an ultrarunner? Can running ultra distance races a long way from home and environmental advocacy coexist on the same page? Or would that be living a double standard?
My Swiss ultrarunner friend Catrina Denker and her husband Kai don’t own a car where they live in Switzerland. But they have no issues getting to trail races. They simply take the train. The cost of the train ticket is actually included in the race registration price to reduce the environmental impact. And the race starts right at the train station. This has been becoming the norm for most races in Switzerland. That’s how far advanced Switzerland is environmentally to us here in Canada. I love the train, and have had 2 races where I have taken the train to get to. The 2 races were Sehgahunda in Letchworth State Park, New York , and Bad Beaver Ultra, in Gatineau Park, Quebec. Both were in 2018. Those races definitely didn’t start at the train station. I was so fortunate though, to have running friends living locally who picked me up at the train station at the other end. And later kindly brought me to the race. And in the fall of 2019, I took the bus down to Mexico to run some sections with the Monarch Ultra. Though airfare was slightly cheaper, I wanted to travel with a lower carbon footprint. This was extremely important to me.
Travelling with a lower carbon footprint does take a fair bit of planning as an ultrarunner. With the help of some very generous runner friends at the other end (such as in my case), it can be done. Although it has never worked for me yet from where I live, another option is car pooling. Say a trail race that offers multiple distance options has 500 runners who each travel by car an average 100 kilometers each way to and from the race. That equates to 100,000 kilometers driven. The website Our World in Data mentions that the average medium car emits 192 grams of CO2 per kilometer driven. That’s 19,200 kilograms of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere from those 100,000 kilometers driven by those 500 runners for that race. If runners car pooled and there were 2 runners per vehicle instead of one, it would cut emissions in half (which is close to equivalent to one person riding a bus). If they were only available, taking a train would cut emissions by 80%.
At one time, rail travel was a very popular means of transportation. It fell out of favor with the convenience of the automobile. There are currently 1.42 billion cars in the world. These cars are responsible for the deaths of 1.35 million human lives annually. Some countries do have a higher death rate than others, but on average for every 1,000 cars on the road, there will be close to one person who loses their life every single year to an automobile across our planet. These are human beings like you and I whose lives were cut short. Which is so tragic. Fatal and non fatal car crashes are costing the world economy 1.8 trillion dollars. Sadly, more than half of all road traffic deaths are among vulnerable road users: pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. I love cycling so much. And it is by far the most efficient means of transportation in the world. But with no cycling infrastructure at all in my area, I feel just too vulnerable and unsafe to go cycling in a car culture world. On the other hand, if we have safe cycling infrastructure, people will cycle. This is a proven fact.
In an August 2021 Global News article, it mentions how this past June, the town of Lytton, British Columbia set three all time Canadian temperature records. They just happened to take place 3 days in a row: 46.6 C, 47.5 C and 49.6 C. The next day Lytton burnt to the ground as a fast moving wildfire fueled by heat and drought razed nearly everything in its path. In a few weeks on September 20th we are going to have a federal election in Canada. For the 1st time in history the environment is the #1 issue for voters. I really want to encourage you to exercise your freedom and please vote. McLean’s Magazine has released a wonderful article titled 2021 Election Platform Guide. It covers the major issues Canadians are facing. And where the 4 major political parties stand on those issues. The one area I have been studying closely is Climate Change and the Environment. I’m really hoping for a future build up of public transportation and a much improved walking and cycling infrastructure. We really need this to happen for the health of our planet. If it does happen, who knows. Maybe you just might see me on the trails of another ultra race in the not too distant future.
Is there becoming more of an awareness to reduce our environmental footprint while participating in races?
Can running ultra distance races a long way from home and environmental advocacy coexist on the same page?
theoldfellowgoesrunning 
It’s funny how they wrote a warning note to horses. 🙂
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I never picked up on that. The way the sign was worded, it sure appears to be that way. 😂🐎
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So much to discuss in this post Carl but your sweet grandson steals the show! He is absolutely adorable and my heart aches for you not yet having been able to meet him.
I commend you on your passion for the wilderness and protecting it. You must have made quite the impression on the jeep dumper but as the authorities caution one needs to be careful. As you were with the mushroom foragers.
Whenever I think of poisonous mushrooms the movie/book Into The Wild comes to mind. Such a haunting true life story of the young man misreading his book on plants.
Happy running Carl.
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Thank you so much, Sue. I am fortunate my daughter sends photos daily and many days a 10-15 seconds video clip. Called “Family Album” for just our own family. Very blessed to have this technology.
The jeep dumper literally jumped as I ran out of the woods towards his truck. At 1st I thought when the truck came to a stop that the guy was just getting out to have a leak (pee). The truck was still running and it was a very remote road. I watched him go to the back, open the tailgate and take the jeep out. And put it on the ground at the side of the road. That’s when I took off full steam. Was trying to be quiet, but was making an awful racket crashing through the woods. He never heard me at all, as his truck was still running. The way he jumped when he saw me, he likely knew he was breaking the law.
It didn’t take too much persuasion for him to put the jeep back in the truck. I asked him, “Can you tell me what you are doing?” He was a bit tongue tied. I said, “You know you are illegally dumping, but didn’t think you’d get caught. What’s the right thing to do now”? And he picked up the jeep and put it back in his truck. This guy responded favorably. The next person could have been very opposite. You just never know, Sue.
I remember the Chris McCandless story well. I have been reading Outside magazine for decades and they were the 1st to write in some detail about what happened.. Then of course the Jon Krakauer book and movie followed. It definitely is so easy to misread a book on plant. It really is such a haunting example.
Thank you for reading, Sue. And for your wonderful comment. 😀🌎
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A fascinating post, Carl, packed with many gems and amazing photos. I ‘get it’ on the treat to travel to a favourite, different trail to go running. We have many close by, and of course, many further away on the Island. Fungi are in my radar recently and interesting how you mention them here. I am glad you resisted your urges meeting strangers in the forest. Especially when illegal activity. We have poisonous mushrooms on our Island and even in the city. Our children are heavily warned to be careful.
I appreciate your candor on the challenges of the pandemic. A beautiful photo of your precious grandson. I truly hope you have an opportunity to see him in the near future. Thank you for sharing an informative and interesting post. Happy running!
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Thank you so much for your visit, Erika. And for your kind comment. The mushrooms on Vancouver Island in those coastal forests have got to be amazing to see. They are so fascinating, I have a few friends that grow their own mushrooms from spores. It would be fun to try. You know for sure then they would not be poisonous, and I’d get the same satisfaction as if I am growing lettuce or tomatoes in the garden.
New Zealand is still very strict at the border with COVID. I am hoping January 2023 to see my grandson. My daughter is a teacher, and that is when their summer holidays take place. Thanks again, Erika! 😀🍄🌳
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A good point, Carl, on growing your own mushrooms from spores. Safe and tasty. I hope you and your loved ones stay well. 🙂
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That photo of the stick bug walking across that path is awesome, Carl! It’s amazing how well camouflaged it is.
Oh, I remember the incident with the jeep guy trying to dump the toy car. Although dangerous, I still love how you stepped in and intervened. It was courageous and reflects your passion and love for our precious environment. Thank you again for doing that!
I was thinking of you when I heard about the incredible heatwave in British Columbia. If this doesn’t wake people up, what will? I find it very encouraging that the environment is the no. 1 topic for voters in Canada. I hope that people will also be willing to cut back on their consumption and learn to live with less. That is usually the hardest part.
Oh, and I do hope that public transportation and walking and cycling infrastructure will improve in your part of the world! It’s crazy how car-centric everything is in the US and Canada. I am right now in Germany, which has an excellent public transportation system. Also, I notice that there are more and more cars that are from a car-sharing platform. Cars are only used 2% of the time, the other 98% they are just standing around. So sharing a car with others makes sense.
Looking forward to seeing you on your next ultra, Carl. I’m sure you will find an environmentally-friendly way of travelling to one!
The upcoming Monarch Ultra will be virtual, right?
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Yeah, I was so excited to see that stick bug, Catrina. Quite ironic, it was not far from where I confronted the Jeep dumper a year ago. On a very quiet gravel road that borders Copeland Forest.
It has been a very hot summer here in my province of Ontario. It is quite often normal to have hot, muggy stretches. The stretches were longer though this year. In Western Canada where all the records were broken it was a completely different weather pattern that has never happened before. Which is quite concerning. The election was supposed to have been around last November, but postponed due to COVID. What happened with that heat dome hopefully will change priorities of people. You are exactly correct. People need to live with less.
Thank you for sharing about Germany. That is so incredible. Such a contrast of what we experience here. I’ve always been amazed how many languages you speak. And have been curious how many. So much respect.
The Monarch Ultra will take place as an actual relay, Catrina. How it will actually look we won’t know Catrine until it happens due to this new Delta variant. We know there will be just the 2 runners per section, but not yet sure if there will be spectators or if people will be allowed to run a few kilometers will be allowed. It will be 1,800 kilometers over 21 days and will be held here in Southern Ontario. I am so happy to be running the final day on Oct. 9th. And right near where I live. Thank you for reading, Catrina. And for your wonderful comment. 🦋😀
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Humans’ actions are often disappointing. How on earth in their mind to dump a battery in a remote area! Thank you for letting the guy know and writing about the incident on the post to bring the awareness, Carl. I think we need to take action on our capacity as another earth resident.
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You are very welcome, Indah. Sadly this type of behavior happens far to frequently here in Canada. Bringing awareness is so important of what we can do as bloggers to help our planet. I still remember your articles where you brought awareness of what is happening in the underwater world. One of those articles I particularly remember you speaking out on the use of those shark cages. I have so much respect for you, Indah. Thank you for visiting, and for your kind, supportive comment. 😀🌎
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Thank you so much, Carl! You are so kind. I find your blog is inspiring.. I started running as well now and then, one of the inspiration was yours. Thanking you for that 🤗
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Indah. So happy to hear of your running. 🏃🏻♀️ 🤗
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I was happy to catch up with your running and life Carl! With two little babies now, well my oldest is 3.5 and my youngest is 14 months, I completely related to your concerns abt our environment! Golly I wish more companies were put to task and major changes put forth. 😞 I love the forest photographs! We live near old growth forests and its a favorite spot to walk/hike for us! I hope you can meet your grandson soon. Best wishes and happy trails!
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This is so wonderful to have you drop by, Rachel Ann. And wow, your family is growing. That is so amazing that you live near old growth forest. I keep reading that old growth is continually being logged here in Western Canada, despite heaps of protesting. Hopefully things will change before it is too late. Not sure when I will get to meet my grandson, but really looking forward to when that happens! 😀🌳
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A thought provoking post Carl. Am beginning to think this pandemic that forced the entire planet to stay home, however briefly in the larger scheme of things, was a much needed resetting for the planet. If we don’t still begin to heed the warnings it might become a periodic recurrence.
Your grandson is precious! We just bid goodbye to our older grandson returning to the US for his third semester. Seems like only yesterday that he was this small.
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This is so well spoken of what you have shared, Madhu. The timing of this pandemic was really incredible. We definitely have to heed the warnings for the future of the planet and human race.
Thank you for reading and for your kind words. I love getting those photos of my grandson. That is a big thing having to say goodbye when children and grandchildren spread their wings for school, work and exploration. Hope your grandson does well. Thank you for dropping by. Really means a lot. 🌎😀🙏
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Dear Carl,
What a wonderful post with so many topics and beautiful pics.
Lots of your thoughts on the environment are echoes of my own perceptions, particularly regarding the concept of exploiting the earth for profit. Whether it is pertaining to mines, forests, wood, water, animals, or the soil I wonder who gave mankind the permission to just exploit and utilize this beautiful planet for profit without even replacing some. Should it not rather be our duty to guard nature’s beauty and take it on us to everything possible to preserve it as a juwel which it is? I think your description of commercialized picking of mushrooms really examplifies mankind’s attitude in general.
I was not aware that you are facing federal elections in Canada as well this month, in fact tomorrow. Here in Germany we have them on 26 September, and it will be an election on climate as well, at least one would hope. Yet, it seems for some reason despite floods, fires around the world, and other real drastic signs of climate change, people are still not waking up from their lethargy, still thinking all would be fine and will go on as it used to. Now, I hope all governments of this world will join on an effort to change things around. Yet, how could they if the people are not changing their behaviour? The consumption of mass produced meat, the use of plastic, even dumping everything anywhere are strong signs that the minds have to change first before matter can be changed – a new interpretation of “mind over matter” 🙂
I am happy you are on the other side of this world such a strong advocate of environmental protection that you are even contemplating over taking the car to get to the next ultra run in your country. One would think ultra runs and trail runs are the closest you can get to environmental protection as you are crossing miles, spaces, and countries per pedes without a carbon footprint along the lines of “Forrest Gump”. I still think of running that way. I just take my shoes and go….or take the train to get where the event is happening like Catrina in Switzerland. However, I understand and recall how difficult it is in CA to get around sometimes. This is good in a way….imagine you had all public transportation going into the woods and national parks….I think this would be horrible, too.
Dear Carl, you will certainly have plenty of years to go and run…this is what I wish for you. In addition, you have a very important role to play as an advocate for environmental protection for the next 50 years at least. Sometimes I think, the 50+ are more concerned about the way things go as they can make a link to the early 80’s and a time when things were not as dramatic as it is now, so they know how urgent the matter really is.
Wishing you peace and light, and a fantastic ultra-run 🙂
Best regards
Ginger
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What a beautiful comment, Ginger. So well thought out and articulated. Thank you so much. Our election was on Monday, and there was very little changes. The same government party as before. The Green Party, which has by far the greatest environmental platform won only 2 of the 338 seats in parliament. The most seats they have ever had was 3, which was prior to this election. Unfortunately my own riding didn’t have a Green Party candidate. There was one, but he stepped down and there wasn’t enough time for a new person to fill the role. I have no experience at all with politics. If I had known early enough, maybe it would have been something for me to consider. Hope things go very well for the election in Germany in a few days time.
Thank you so much for all your encouragement, Ginger. I am 63 and have certainly seen so much in my lifetime environmentally. I grew up before single use plastic. Pop bottles were glass and had a returnable deposit. There was no such thing as bottled water then. There were no clothes dryers, so everyone used clotheslines. I grew up on a farm that nowadays would be classified as organic. In the 1960’s there wasn’t a name to it. The only thing that would differentiate was synthetic fertilizers. They were around. Some farmers used them, some didn’t. My dad didn’t. There was no GMO’s.
There was some things happening that was nasty. Like lead in gasoline. It was returning to earth in the form as acid rain. It was killing our lakes and forests. So lead was banned, and the lakes and forests made a comeback. It was a decision in government that was made and they followed through. Nowadays, decisions have to be made that don’t put the economy as the priority. Our environment definitely needs to be the priority.
I appreciate you so much, Ginger. It is wonderful to have someone who shares the same passions and concerns as myself. 🌎
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Dear Carl,
Thank you for your beautiful reply.
I remember the days of Acid Rain in Germany. Somehow, in the 80’s we were much more advanced in terms of environmental consciousness with the Green Party and Joschka Fisher emerging. We had separated garbage cans and plastic plates or cutleries were banned. Sometimes I wonder how it all could come to such a shocking climax which we are experiencing now, and when it all started.
Yet, I find worldwide a lot of emerging initiatives, also from your country. I am not sure whether you are familiar with http://treehugger.com who are from Canada and write amazing things on an array of environmental topics.
So, yes, Canada has voted and I think it is not too bad after all. Half of my family is still living in Montreal, so I am once in a while following politics in your country though it is hard to come by overhere.
I am enjoying the exchange with you also very much. I am always in awe if I read about the Ultra running experiences from you and Catrina.
I attempt to do my first cross marathon (well half) on Oct 11 and have no clue how to do it 🙂 May you have some great hints. This reminds me when I was running purely through the woods in the Laurentians with signs on the side “Bear crossing”. It was so funny and certainly the trail was more than challening as it was an old cross country skiing trail which I ran in summer.
Enjoy Indian summer on your side which should be beautiful now.
Peace and light,
Ginger
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Thank you so kindly, Ginger. I am so excited about your very soon to be half marathon. That is so awesome. Different things work for different people. For me I try not to look at the big picture. Instead I try to break it down into smaller segments. I’ll focus on 1 kilometer only. I’ll do that and focus on the next kilometer. Before you know it, you will be on the home stretch. There will always be faster runners, Ginger. Just go your own pace, and the biggest thing is…have fun. It is amazing to be able to run.
Treehugger is an excellent environmental organization. I do receive their regular email updates from them. . I really appreciate the many organizations that bring environmental awareness and advocacy. The big corporations that are causing the most damage are so powerful and wealthy. And it is such a monumental task to make headway. I really appreciate you Ginger, and for your care for the environment.
Beautiful Indian summer here in Canada! 😀
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Dear Carl,
Thank you for your motivation. Sorry, I had trouble connecting to wordpress for a while.
I will take your advise for the next run which I am preparing for next year. The planned one had to happen without me as I overdid it shortly before. I learned my lesson.
Have a wonderful Christmas 🙂
Peace and light, Ginger
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