The Jodrey Trail and a Scene from Shadows in the Stone

Last summer, I hiked the Jodrey Trail, Blomidon Park, Nova Scotia. The entire hike provided breathtaking scenery, but there was one section that stood out above the rest for reasons others in the hiking group wouldn’t understand. While I’d never been on this trail before, I had explored it in my imagination.

Setting the scene

The vegetation was lush. Tall trees provided a thick canopy that trapped cool moisture and reflected the heat from the scorching temperatures of the hot July day. It also provided the perfect micro-environment for ferns and mosses to grow. Inhaling filled me with the wonderful aromas of the forest.

I stopped to snap photographs and knew this was a scene right out of my fantasy novel: Shadows in the Stone.

The scene involved Bronwyn Darrow and Alaura of Niamh during their search for Isla of Maura. They travelled the forest leading their pony, Clover, in the spring of the year, their Spring of Leaf. Here’s the snippet that describes the land from Bronwyn’s point of view.

Shadows in the Stone

They had travelled through dense forest for over an hour at Clover’s top speed. For the next thirty minutes, Alaura cooled her out, allowed the mare to amble at a slow speed to recoup her breath.

The vegetation’s moisture filled Bronwyn’s senses, and he admired the vibrant greens of the lush foliage surrounding them. The long slender trunks of the oak, maple and birch trees reached into the sky, their leaves searching for light. They created a thick canopy over the forest floor where ferns, leafy flowers, moss and fiddleheads grew. If he was passing through for another reason, he might stop and admire the beauty.

From Fantasy to Real Life

I’ve travelled many terrains and each has its unique wonder. I’ve passed through lush areas before, so it was easy to describe it for the novel. Now I have photos to reinforce my memories of such places.