I must say that winter has arrived when you read about the hurricanes hitting America and you see nightly scenes of devastated territories in Florida, Mexico and many more places on the television news.
In Ireland we are now experiencing more serious weather events with more storms like Storm Ashley. We also have more flooding due to climate changes, or so we are reliably informed.
As we transition from autumn to winter my walking routes change to the drier safer conditions of the town park and the Gorey town loop, away from the woods in Courtown where underfoot conditions are slippery and dangerous.
Last week was fine and so I returned and walked in my beloved Courtown Woods. While I love all the rich autumnal colours in the woods at this time of year, I am not comfortable with the slippery mulch on the paths created by the decomposing leaves. There is an increased risk of a fall which can have devastating effects on a person’s life. Too many older people have slipped or fallen and broken limbs which affected the quality of their lives greatly.
Now I am walking along the horse chestnut walk which also has oak and beech trees adorning the area.
The ground is strewn with empty horse chest nutshells and some acorns and beech. nuts. I stop, lean against a tree in perfect silence and wait. I have my camera ready and after about 10 minutes in my statuesque position I see a playful red squirrel with eyes darting left and right collecting some food for his winter hibernation. I was delighted when I clicked and saw a lovely squirrel in my photo lens.
It was obvious, from the number of empty shells that the horse chestnuts had released their rich harvest of conkers from their spiky green shells for the enjoyment of the younger generation as they have for many years past.
As I moved along, I stopped and gazed at each individual tree with its own unique coloured bark. Some of them were clinging on to their last few leaves but this annual denuding of trees is so much part of the looming winter season.
Our rich tapestries of colourful spring and summer flowers are now in transformative phase displaying more muted rust colours rather than the bright whites, yellows, blues, purples and golds of the summer season.
I now move down along on to the banks of the Ounavarra River and while ambling along `I am blissfully conscious of how beautifully its crystal clear gently babbling waters reflect the huge array of the forty plus shades of green in the overhead foliage of the overhanging trees.
I pass the giant Monterey Cypress tree where I meet a couple from Dublin who were visiting the area and admiring this magnificent specimen of a tree. They are near retirement age and are currently transitioning with a view to living down in this area when they retire. They were flabbergasted by the peace and tranquillity of the area. They felt it was like a region where time stood still. It was an area for peaceful contemplation, and mindfulness where a person could relax and really appreciate the natural beauty of this ancient forest. In the background the gentle babbling sound of The Ounavarra River flowing slowly downstream over stones and rocks to the Irish Sea added a very soothing atmosphere to this beauteous place. It was truly heaven on earth.
I slowly advance over the spike bridge and dawdled a while to be further soothed by the calming waters flowing underneath heading down towards the Courtown Canal, built by Lord Courtown as a famine relief project for the people of Courtown in 1847.
While walking along admiring the trees I am shaken back to reality, by a shuffling in the leaves and detect a spiky hedgehog disturbing a pile of leaves making itself safe from predators. I do not disturb it
I have tarried too long at the bridge, so I hasten my walking along the riverbank and head hurriedly along towards the cardiovascular testing Ballinatray Stagecoach Bridge. Having turned the corner, I rest a while on the bridge and view the forest around me before heading off again past the waterworks entrance and rejoin the forest path adjoining the busy, noisy Ballymoney road. At the end of this path, I have a choice of walking along at the side of the main road or to turn right into the wood. I choose safety and the security of the woodland path. The area around the giant Californian Redwood was very inviting so I dawdled awhile there to relish its enormity and preeminent place in the forest.
Walking time was running short as lunch time was approaching so I upped my stepping speed, walked past another babbling stream and up a steepish enough hill till I rejoined the Spike Bridge, so steeped in the history of Courtown House. I crossed over it without delay to ramble along home.
I walked down by the side of the canal, past the seal sanctuary where the seals were anxiously yelping, waiting for their midday fishy meal.
I was now back at the carpark after traversing 7569 steps of refreshing woodland walking in Courtown,
Hopefully winter 2024 will not be too harsh and there will be other days to return to this haven of peace and tranquillity.
And as the old people say “When winter comes, Can Spring be far behind?”
Meanwhile my rambles will take me on various routes around Gorey and its environs including the excellent Gorey, Kilmuckridge District Park.
Mick O Callaghan. 23/10/2024
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