A rather icky actor once said “80% of life is showing up.” And really, in that sense he was correct. What he didn’t say was the full sense of the reality that I’m finding. Yes, it’s about showing up. However, you might think you’re showing up for one thing but in reality you’re showing up for another.
Take this morning’s ride. Autumn is definitely here – I could tell based on the clouds in the sky, cooler weather and puddles everywhere. It was that kind of dark where it feels like it isn’t just dark but the world is actively absorbing light.
I actually had a plan for today. I woke up, packed a bag with an alcohol stove, coffee maker and coffee and got out on my way. My destination was here:
I would go to the top of this hill, brew a cup of coffee and enjoy it along with the sunrise. I got out the door and had a lovely ride as you can see here:
Do you see that darkness? Definitely fall.
The climb up the hill is a steep one – too steep to ride so I pushed my bike all the way to the top and found my way over to the two Muskoka chairs they put at the top and started to unpack. I patted myself on the back for bringing a towel so I could wipe off the seat and then have a dry place to sit. I opened up the stove started setting out my things and prepared to light the stove when…
Oops, no coffee mug. I would have to ride home for coffee. Plans derailed! I turned back and found myself on the path you can see in the final seconds of the video and only a few hundred metres from the nearest subway station. Over in the distance on the left I saw a brown rock I didn’t notice before – and wait, did it move? I stopped the bike and got out my camera and zoomed in on it. It was not a rock.
It was a young coyote. While some of the adults might be the size of a German shepherd, this one was about half that size. It was likely an adolescent setting off on their own. Apparently according to the article I coincidentally read just before heading out on my bike, this is the time of year the pups set off on their own.
We looked at each other for a while – both of us a good distance apart (that photo is almost 10x) before they decided I was no threat and turned their head in the other direction. I took that as a hint that my audience was over and headed out.
I’ve seen coyotes 3-4 times in the past few years and people ask if I’m scared. I’m actually much less afraid of them than I am of street dogs in India who I find could either be really friendly or really aggressive. The coyotes I’ve seen check me out and then trot off in another direction. I don’t look enough like an easy meal (like a rabbit or cat) that they want to run to me but I also don’t look dangerous so they don’t run away either.
So while I didn’t get to have my coffee when, how, and where I wanted it, I did get to see a bit of wildlife and that was more of a rare find than having coffee at sunrise.
Thatvwas definitely better than coffee Nice photo.
Totally agree – and I did get my coffee today!