Percy Creek Percy Creek

“Creeking” is one of the most revealing and interesting ways to explore nature.  It is, by far, my favourite way to spend time outdoors - with or without my camera. 

Cold Creek Cold Creek

The term “biosphere” refers to any part of our planet where there is life of any kind.  As there is life in all three spheres (the air, the ground and the water), the biosphere encompasses all of those - forests, oceans, mountains, and everything between.

Baxter Creek Baxter Creek

Creek biospheres, with their aquatic, shore and nearshore habitats, are alive with a stunning number of plant and animal species.  Rindles and their glidders* are an enchanted world of wildflowers, dragonflies, bees, deer, foxes, frogs, snakes, fish, tadpoles, mink, otters, beavers, herons, ducks and turtles, all supported by an abundance of plant-based and animal-based food.  It is exactly this diversity of habitats that makes creeks so impressive and so much fun to explore.  

Jeanettes Creek Jeanettes Creek

Wearing a good pair of amphibians, one of the best ways to explore a creek is walking in its water, but it is very important to respect the ecosystem.  Try to avoid contact as much as possible with the plant life on the glidders - they are both homes and food to the creatures who live there.  Pick up and flip over stones as you go - you’ll never know what is hiding unless you do but please, just look - don’t touch. Or, if you’re in an idle mood, simply sit on a downed tree (maybe dangle your toes in the water) and, lulled by the water’s babbling and gurgling, enjoy one of Mother Nature’s quiet, still, restorative interludes.

Cedar Creek Cedar Creek

The never-ending search for wildlife typically takes me off the beaten track.  The best places to not only spot wildlife, but to be able to get up-close and have a more intimate experience, is in fully natural areas — beside ponds, marshes or creeks — where the water is shallower (waders) and slow-moving (turtles).  My experience has been - set up, sit quietly and, one by one, the critters will come out.  Initially they are in threat assessment mode, but then, I firmly believe, they are as curious about me as I am about them.

Squirrel Creek W Squirrel Creek

Here in Essex County there are 20+ creeks, each one begging me to explore, wade or cross on stepping stones.  One small problem:  There are no signposts showing the names of the creeks and I’ve been unable to find a map on-line that shows the names either.  I contacted the local conservation authorities, parks and each of the local towns, but I got absolutely no response. 

Wigle Creek Wigle Creek

Every now and then, someone special comes into your life and gifts you with a sweet happy and kindness.  That was my experience this week.  A lovely woman named Crystal, in the Legislative and Community Services Department, County of Essex, sent me an e-mail with two attachments - both maps of the creeks and their names, one also including the roads.  Brilliant!  But that’s not all; she offered to print them for me, in large format 11” x 17”, if that would help.  Oooooh, yes please!  When they were ready, she sent another e-mail and even offered to drop them off at our home.  I arranged to collect them at her office and when I arrived there were three maps, the two I knew of plus a third, the one with the street names, which she had ever so kindly, laminated for me.  She said that if I’m exploring creeks, it made sense to her that a plasticised copy would be invaluable.  She was too right!  

Cobourg Creek Cobourg Creek

Kindness is a choice, a decision. It’s a conscious intention towards thoughtfulness, amiability and goodwill. I was ready to give up on ever having a map of the creeks, but then a sweet moment of grace happened, the kind that caused gratitude to explode in my chest, and just like that, my world was - is - wonderfully rosy. 

Two Creeks Creek Two Creeks Creek

Creeking at this time of year, when the water is icy-cold, canorous, and deep is challenging but no less enjoyable.  The wildlife is thin on the ground, but it is a splendid opportunity to do some recon and plan my fair weather adventures.  As soon as my world begins to green, and the wildflowers bud, and the birds return, and the turtles end their hibernation, armed with my splendid new maps, I plan to visit and explore every single creek in Essex county.  

Sugar Creek Sugar Creek

My creekside exploits fill my soul with joy and peace.  

When you’re planning your summer getaways, car trips, outings and hikes, don’t forget to include creek banks in your explorations and adventures - you and your kiddos will all be captivated and fascinated.  Promise!  Everyday miracles abound, all we have to do is be observant.

’Til next time, y’all…

*Henry Williamson, from his novel, Tarka The Otter.  As far as I can tell, glidder (the bank of a creek) is a word coined by Mr. Williamson.  Dad read Tarka to me, many times, when I was young and, on our many Sunday explorations, we always referred to the banks of Wilket Creek as glidders. I didn’t really enjoy Tarka when I was young (‘though I hadn’t the heart to tell Dad because he clearly did), but in high school, a beloved English Teacher, Mrs. Nelson, referred to Tarka in a different context, I fished out my copy, reread it, and fell in love with creek life in North Devon.

Squirrel Creek S Squirrel Creek