Bluff Spring Journal
January-- 2007
Well it's not really 2007 yet but I wanted to get an early start.
These last few days have been hectic and have left us all a little worn out. We’ve been blessed this past week with friends and family and saddened by the passing of my cousin. She was a kind person who always had time to sit and talk. Even though she had several business irons in the fire, she valued being with family as a gift you didn’t open in a rush. We’ll miss her conversations but find solace that her voice still lives in the memories of our family.
On the blessing side of the week I got to spend some time hiking around the Smith Creek Nature Preserve. Marty and Elise Roenigk sold this 1,226-acre tract, which appraised for well over $1 million, to the Conservancy in December 2004 for $400,000. Wal-Mart helped in the acquisition of the property for the Nature Conservancy. The property is valuable to the ecology of the area because it lies above Sherfield Cave where the largest colony of Indiana bats in the state hibernates each winter.
I parked at the sign for the area and dropped down over the highway to try and find a feeder stream to the creek. This area is filled with steep banked draws and hollars that often have water falls during wet times. After a few slides on my butt I heard the sound I was listening for-running water and that deep gurgle that you hear when water is dropping into a pool. I made my way over to the boulder strewn wet weather stream and was greeted with a series of delicate lacings of water flowing among the moss covered stones.
You can see from the icecicles that the temps were a little chilly for just standing around but were perfect for hiking.
Another 100 feet descent of vertical feet I found another water cascade which set the pattern for the nearly 500 vertical feet the hike dropped to Smith Creek
Being in the wilderness again fed my soul with a peace that is hard to find elsewhere. Now all I had to do was hike out. I had my mind all set for ascending the some 500 vertical feet I had dropped into the valley, knowing that my quadriceps were not likely to forgive me in the near future. Then as I proceeded along the flat part of the drainage I was following I happened upon a semi-maintained dirt road. It’s direction headed back uphill but at about a 45 degree angle to the direction I need to go to get back to my vehicle. Let’s see, straight up and fastest way back or dirt road and slightly longer hike back if the road were to continue in it’s present direction? I’ll let you know that in the time you read that last sentence I was already hiking along the road. Much to my satisfaction the road did continue in a direction that finally got me back to the highway. The trip was about .7 of a mile longer but served me well in walking off just a little of that huge Christmas dinner my mother had fixed. Not only did she stuff us all at dinner, she then sent me home with as much left overs as was possible. And as if that wasn't bad enough she sent extra left overs to our house via my son who had stayed with her a couple of days longer. Moms-what to do with them? I’d say go back for more!
Just a little fatigued after the hike I made my way back into the Boxley Valley hoping to see the Trumpeter Swans that had wintered there last year. I spent some time searching the Old Mill Pond without any sightings of the Swans. I thought maybe the warmer weather had caused them to delay in their return. They were such a beautiful pair to watch as they gracefully traversed the pond together. I later heard but can not confirm that one of the adults had been killed by a raccoon. Let’s hope it is just a rumor and we’ll all see them again.
I did get a reflection picture of the pond. The air was very still which made for a nice reflection of the barn and pond.
December 31st, 2006
We're going to have a wedding!! Matt-my oldest-showed me once again that he's a pretty sharp guy. On the last day of the year he asked Alyssum to be his bride. Alyssum is one of the kindest people you could ever meet. She is the perfect match for Matt's personality and I'm kind of liking the sound of "daughter in law". Needless to say we are overjoyed with the promise of wedding bells and rice filling the air. Alyssum has always seemed like one of the family and now it we will have the papers to prove it.
January 2nd, 2007
Heading out the door to hike into Hemmed In Hollow I was greeted by a huge orange moon. Just as my luck would have it the moon was quickly dipping below the horizon. No time for a photo, just a great memory. My plans were to hike into Hemmed In Hollow and get a photo from a vantage that I haven't seen before. As I approached Compton to make the turn towards the trail head I just had an 'urge' to head on down to the Boxley Valley to see of the Trumpeter Swans had made their return to the Old Mill Pond. As I drove by the pond I quickly scanned the water looking for that familiar silhouette that only a bird with a 7 foot wing span can make. I didn't see any evidence of the swans on first inspection and as I turned around and parked my observances were confirmed. No swans but a perfectly still pond that would have made for a great photo. I waited for a while just to make sure they weren't just out for a spin, hoping they might return soon. After a while I figured it was just not going to happen so I loaded up the vehicle and headed up the valley. After a couple of miles I just happened to look up and much to my joy I saw two swans winging their way back towards the pond. Well I don't exactly know the turning radius of the Honda Pilot but lets' say I was pushing the engineering envelope as I did a 180 and headed south back down the valley. The swans flew directly along the road and it was captivating just watching their graceful wings dipping with wing after wingful of crisp morning air.
I hurried on past them hoping to get to the pond before they did so that I could photograph them landing. Gee those swans were booking it right along and if it hadn't been for them taking a circle before they landed I would not have beat them back to the pond.
Number two swan cleared for landing on Old Mill Pond Runway Bravo!
Here is a photo of the mother swan airing out her wings.
Glad to have the swans back. Around our house we refer to them as Annie's Swans. Our Welsh Corgi has a special relationship to them. Below is a picture of the two adults from last year that I got with Annie's help.
