The Afternoon Walk

By one o'clock the rain had stopped and we went out for the midday walk, 3 km along the road and back. Clouds of mist drifted through the trees and it felt very cold. In truth it was +7°C but all that dampness gives the air a chillyness it doesn't have at -7°C.
Apart from the main subjects, HarlingDarling (+ new hat) and Rusty, you can also see the road is completely covered in ice, with a little sand and grit to help the winter tyres. We both have metal studs under our shoes so we can walk safely, Rusty has natural studs though they aren't 100% effective on really smooth ice, or when he's travelling at top speed. The bamboo poles mark the edge of the road so drivers, and especially the snowplough, knows where the edge is if the snow makes it unclear.
You can't see it here but so much snow has melted that everywhere you hear the noise of dripping, trickling, or running water and water levels are very high in the streams and lakes. 
Sometimes it's hard to like November!