Surprise
April 18, 2006 by rockwatching
In this picture Doug wades through asparagus ferns during our examination of a local creekbed. We suspect that there might be caves in this area. The valley is totally dry until it rains and then water comes welling up through cracks in the ground. In no time at all the whole creek bed is under 10 feet of water. Joe G., a local land owner tells of standing in the middle of a dry creek bed and watching a little wave about ankle high run past him. Behind this wave is another and another and another.
This particular day Doug, Scott Ensminger and I had under-estimated the ferocity of the stinging nettles. At times they filled the entire creek and up its banks on either side. In wearing shorts I was soon regretting it. On the drive home my legs felt like they were on fire, burning with a hundred little beetles crawling along under my skin. Maggie put me into a bath with calamine lotion and forbade me from scratching.
