Wooded Glen
It was a beautiful, warm afternoon and I had the urge for adventure! I decided to try a fossil hunt on an island I have been eyeing from the road located in a small river. I found a place to park off the road, got out of my truck and was struck by the beauty of the glen I was about to enter. The perfume of wild flowers filled the air as much as the bird song from the woods.
I grabbed my backpack, camera and water shoes and headed down to explore the trail to see if it would lead me to a river crossing, and potentially a bonanza of fossils. Most of it was pretty obviously an ATV trail, but there were also human sized paths traversing the woods. Every path ended at a 6-10′ bank cut and fairly deep water almost the size of a large pond. The width and depth was accounted for by another stream entering into the river on the opposite side.
The island was calling to me and I had come this far… The current was rushing over a high spot that led right to the island. I looked over the edge, six or seven feet, but there were exposed roots that help me climb down. I put on my water shoes, rolled up my pant legs, and threw my hat on the ground with camera and car keys in it. If the current took me for a ride, I didn’t want to lose my truck keys or get my camera wet.
The current
The current was swift but managable. I have to admit that I was disappointed when I got to the island. It was obviously a playground for local children as there were rock motes and forts, sure signs of child play around water.
As I walked the beach looking for fossils with only the rush of the water and bird song to accompany me, I remembered playing on similar beaches along creeks near home. They were good memories – sandcastles, catching frogs, learning to fish, throwing rocks in the water, plucking pretty stones as treasure, playing with our Labrador dogs, and splashing shimmering droplets of water at my brothers and sisters.
The Reward
No, I didn’t find many fossils but I did turn to collecting water polished pebbles for paths for my fairy gardens. And that was fun too. 😀
Gnome protecting his home.
Fairies in the shade of a great tree.
A bathtub fairy garden under the clothesline.
The Hardy Hibiscus are blooming!
12″ Blossoms!
