Sunday, Dan and I hiked 8 miles around Council Bluff Lake. The weather and scenery were wonderful: countess relaxing open lakeside vistas overlooked by forested mountains (Johnson Mountain) – lots of open stretches along shorelines. The lake’s calm surface reflected the forested hills. It was a replenishing 3 ½ hours of solitude and companionship. Dan and I refuel during our weekends by long hikes and bike rides together. He loves nature as much as I do.
After 2 miles of hiking, we were very pleasantly surprised to come upon a shallow creek filled with endless amounts of blue-gray shale. Before I could say it, Dan did: “Look at all these layers!”
After 2 miles of hiking, we were very pleasantly surprised to come upon a shallow creek filled with endless amounts of blue-gray shale. Before I could say it, Dan did: “Look at all these layers!”
Just the day before, Mary Beth Shaw generously brought in Mica rock for us to layer into our strata paintings.
She had mined it herself and demonstrated shaving flakes of Mica from the rock to adhere to our paint.
She had mined it herself and demonstrated shaving flakes of Mica from the rock to adhere to our paint.
Mica in rock
Mica flakes
Detail of my strata painting from Saturday's workshop. Mica is in the top layer, and the layer 2nd from the bottom.
The rest of our hike, I could not help but notice layers, layers everywhere –
layers of leaves, bark, slate, moss, algae, and pine needles –
and wondered what stories the layers recounted.
layers of leaves, bark, slate, moss, algae, and pine needles –
and wondered what stories the layers recounted.
Rock at Council Bluff Lake covered in bright yellow-green moss
We learn new things every day.
What have you learned recently that really stands out?
For me, it’s layers.
Best,
Mary
What have you learned recently that really stands out?
For me, it’s layers.
Best,
Mary
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