Leeches were feasting on my calves. That's how muddy it was out there in the bush today. They were only first noticed when I was getting in the shower. Somehow they made themselves up my trackpants leg. They're not something you see much where I come from. They were smaller than I would have expected, the leeches. What I would have expected was something you might have seen in the movies. Like that one with the boys out in the bush in search of a dead body they'd heard about. Only I don't think it was called the bush where they were. Maybe just the wild. And they went swimming in a water hole and big black bastards stuck onto their bodies. That movie I mean. It went something like that.

The Leura forest floor was all wet and teeming with the tiniest activities. Between the breeze and the sound of falling water there was a great silence there, punctuated by intermittent whistles from an unidentifiable, unseen bird. More and more I was on the mend.

Contrast that with the previous day's run from opposite The Rooster restaurant along Prince Henry's walk, stopping at the first step upon noticing the loose shoelace. The mist made the scene more resemble a dream. Or at least those dream scenes from movies, for I've not had any of that kind myself that I can recall. I heard footsteps and heard them all the more as I didn't expect anyone out at such an hour and in such conditions, and so close. It was a tall long haired woman, who I'd not seen before. She excused herself with an accent as she passed. Somewhere Scandanavian I surmised. Soon she was hearing me trot up behind her and made way for me so I could pass on the path. Thank you I said and she smiled. Once I'd reached Echo Point and started back on the return leg, fantasy started forcing its way in. I pictured the miracle of instant and easy conversation with the woman as we crossed paths again, which inevitably would lead within moments to rampant passion behind some trees and up against an enormous ancient rock. Unfortunately the fantasy then flew off to find someone more suitable to see it through to the end. For reality had reared once again its resolute head. The running and summer cold had made of my manhood a meeker than usual mouse. An erection seemed eons away. This wouldn't happen back in Montreal, and the cold doesn't compare. Maybe it's something to do with the altitude.