Dancing leaves and running water

Don't these leaves look like dancing? There was not even a slight breeze to move them but even still they seem to have some motion. I got so excited walking amongst them yesterday while hiking in Richtis gorge, a small but quite famous gorge close to our house.

So, this is the first post of the year to accompany the first hiking of the year!
Hive account@fotostef and I have already mentioned this beautiful gorge a few times already and you can see here the post of Hive account@fotostef as well from yesterday's walk. It is a great place for hiking and disconnection from the outer world. A small ecosystem on its own. Cool in summer and full of water during winter. I have never been here again in January and it was a bliss! Although the colors seem to have more autumn melancholic shades, there is quite a lot of water already, and the sound of the running water while you walk parallelly should be given as a prescription for happy tails :)

Cause there is definitely a happy dog somewhere around, I found this trace.
I'd say a black dog around 20 kilos...

And yes, I was right!

It was the three of us and we had the gorge for ourselves!

I am not a great fan of new year's resolutions, but after 2 months of hard work in olive harvesting, I think that what I honestly and deeply want this year is having time for proper deep rest and connection with nature through playful carefree activities. Exactly as it was this one!

Everything was so calm. Just the sound of birds, water running and the leaves cracking under our footsteps.

I think it is quite obvious that I was looking down almost all the time :)
Well, if you don't look down you will probably end up all wet, plus it was slippery, and also the leaves were absolutely gorgeous.

And the roots of the trees like sculptures on our trail.

Markos, our canine companion, gets overexcited in such places. Who can blame him? I have dozens of blur photos of him cause he was running like he was possessed! He looks like a sweet puppy in the photos, but that was not so true :)

I was also looking up from time to time :)
They all look like creatures to me. Dancing, moving with elegance.
Made me want to walk as gently as I could. What a beautiful world we (can) live in...

Anyone who know me, knows I love details.

The whole place is beautiful!

But someone thought we were too slow...

"Oh, come on hoomans! I am waiting for you all the time! Don't overthink about it, it's just some water. Come on, one step after the other!"

I think Markos knows better :)
Small steps, small achievable goals!
Warm wishes to everyone for a joyful, playful happy new year with good health (mental and physical) and love.

And happy walks!
This is my #wednesdaywalk contribution for the wonderful challenge by Hive account@tattoodjay!

PS 1. I had no intention of staying away from Hive for so long, but physical tiredness won. I will try my best not to let it win again :)
PS 2. The credits for this walk go to Hive account@fotostef. I had plans for some boring work when he proposed a walk at the gorge (am I a lost case? maybe, but I am kidding!), so I am grateful he saved me :)

All the pictures and the words are mine.

If you would like to know more about me this is my introduction post.

Dancing leaves and running water - Richtis gorge