As you may have noticed "Up" is a nature blog, more of an online field notebook than a regular newscast. As its creator, I am quite pleased with what it has become. In future years, I hope to look back on the hikes of my 30th year and admire the creatures and natural landscapes I have encountered.
My current goal has been and remains one post per week, or 52 posts throughout the year. With time at premium between time at work and time on the trail I wasn't sure, initially, if I would meet my 52 post goal. However, I find such satisfaction from seeing each weekly post published and up on the world wide web that I believe I will continue going strong.
Last week (June 13th), with one thing and another, I had just enough time to strike out on the Delaware-Raritan Canal near Griggstown, NJ in a canoe with Aengus. I highly recommend the Griggstown Canoe and Kayak rental, located right along the canal in Griggstown, with another branch in Princeton. This is where I rent all my canoes/kayaks, as my tiny one bedroom living space has no room for one of my own. With several other family functions going that weekend, the time flew by.
Today, June 20th, the temperature has climbed to 103 degrees according to our outdoor thermometer. The sun is out and beating down with full force in a clear blue sky dotted with puffy clouds. Yesterday I walked the trail at Washington Valley Park, Newman Lane trail head in Bridgewater, NJ. As I've covered this area many times via blog, I will touch on it briefly this week, and write up my other adventure next week.
With hot days and light rain fall this June, the water level is low in stream leading to the reservoir. I walked up and down the newly exposed beach of gravel, startling fish and tadpoles away from the shore. A tadpole (baby frog) rests in water that is about 2 inches deep.
I walked out to the center of the stream on a newly exposed strip of rocks. I gazed up and down stream, wondering how all the critters who live in the forest were taking the heat. At that point in the morning, it was probably just hitting 80 degrees.
After I hiked up to my favorite viewpoint, I returned to the spot where rocks extend the trail across the water. A Green frog (Rana clamitans) gazed up at me for several minutes while I relaxed by the stream. I experienced a quiet idyllic moment where the frog sat next to me without fear and few turtles sunned and swam around a log partially sunk in the water. Then some other hikers approached from across the water...
...and with a tiny croak and a splash the frog disappeared. I suddenly felt quite overheated, and I immediately made tracks back to my vehicle where AC and a thermos of ice water waited for me. See you next week on the trail - I'll be there and then I'll be back online, blogging about it.
