Well that was something!

Three days ago, I found myself seated on the rocks at the bottom of my creek, creating a 'space' story against an 'interesting' backdrop. 

The creek bottom was my chosen spot, thanks to its cool rocks and mosses. I like this spot and use it often. I gives me a chance to get away from the house and enjoy some peace and quiet in the forest.
For the past 28 years, this area had water flowing through it. Not deep, just a few inches of water flowing over the rocks.

Now?

Anyway, I was literally able to sit on the rocks and arrange my setup in a dry section. Recent rains have cleared many weeds and rocks from the creek's bed.

24 hours later, the scene had changed.

And then, another day passed...

A boulder was moved along with several logs. It was the result of 3 inches of rain for the day's total along with one downpour that dropped an inch and a half in less than 45 minutes.

Yet, the rain performed its intended role in the Dry Runs. It cascaded through the boulders and 'washed' into the creek.

We call this event:  A Gully Washer

The heavy rain sweeps out the dry runs of old leaves and debris, also cleansing the creek beds.

I can't wait to return and discover the creek's new appearance once the water recedes. Observing the valley's subtle transformations over the past 28 years has been remarkable and it feels like Mother Nature puts on a show just for me. 
[not one other human aside from myself explores this region]

I presume the township will also have considerable work, given the damage the rain caused to our gravel roads. 

Welcome to the start of a new week.

Into the unknown...

Okay, it feels like that.

Things in that outside world ... outside of our Isolated Farm are changing rapidly.

So I'm not even sure what to write about now. 

Walmart and other large retailers are now requiring masks. I think it is amazing that retail companies have to do this when the people who are leading our country can't.

Why the big fight? It perplexes me. 

Our infection rate in our county is jumping. I thought it would happen. 

Ahhh. But death and disease are inevitable right? No one gets out of this life alive.

I'm just not ready to go yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had a huge Gully Washer two days ago. 

2 inches of rain that fell 3 days after another 2 inches fell on Friday.

 Above~ Tracks left in the mud.

The calm after the wash.

I can actually walk down through here now!

The amazing power of a flash

flood.

The Toy Truck was washed down

stream about 50 yards.

In this shot, the stream 

is actually on the left side of

the photo.

My favorite spot.

The rush did move some logs

that were in the stream.

And re-arranged piles of

sand and large rocks.

The Teddy Bear who was high above the stream was lost! I'll mount a search and rescue for it perhaps on Sunday. Our heat index on Saturday will be well above 100 degrees.

So on to some fun items.

I picked a 3 gallon bucket full of green beans. The plants dislike me. My arms itch like crazy while picking. However I blanched them early this morning before the sun came up and packaged them. Another 10 meals with green beans stuck away in the freezer!

I finally got out with my neighbor friend for a bicycle ride again. It was a really nice day for it.

Here he is putting his pedal

back on. It kept coming loose.

I finally used an app on my smart phone to record our distance. We rode 9 miles. Nothing to write home about, but it was a nice ride and we stopped to look at flowers and admire beautiful things.

When we finished, we stood in the shade and each of us had a cool drink. We had just commented on how we hadn't seen another person when another truck pulled up. After that person with his 3 kids left, 2 more vehicles came.

The last woman rolled down her window and was rather rude.

"When are you going to leave?" was the first thing out of her mouth. Bill was looking for his keys [brain fart! I told him to check the tool bag on his bike]. I had my keys in my hand.

My immediate response was to say, "Wow lady, nice of you to ask." But I didn't. I had the power to ignore her and make her back out and find another spot to park. But I didn't.

I offered to pull my vehicle out of the way and she didn't even bother to say thank you.

Funny. I would have expected it from some sort of young punk, but she was my age. 

I was polite and wished her a nice ride to which she told us what a great bicyclist she was and how good she was at hills.

I glanced at Bill who had now found his keys. Bill and I are CrossFit crazy old farts and we rarely can do the two major hills without a break on this particular trail.

I smiled and waved.

Has this world really come to this, where people are rude and crass and just demand things?

I have no idea why her behavior struck me as so wrong.