Most times it's hard for me to change. I have my set of ideas and experiences and they're great as they are, but often I find myself trying to put the present into yesterday's jars. It doesn't fit.
We planned to go to the lake as we often do, but there were so many obstacles. Friday night meeting, Saturday ball game, responsibilities at church Sunday morning. It looked like we'd be running back and forth all weekend. But we went ahead with the plans thinking "We can do it."
Finally Rhonda, whose family was going with us and who had her own set of complications, said "I just don't see it working," so we traded Friday through Monday bumping around at the lake for Sunday and Monday at the river, a cave and a hike to a place called "Glory Hole."
We got to the Buffalo National River, where we camped, later than we hoped. Visitors, phone calls, building a cat cage all took time. When we got there it was time to fix supper, put the babies to bed and go to the cave. I skipped the cave due to sore joints and a little stomach upset. Gas in the forest is not much of an issue, gas in a cave? No. So after a little clean up, I took my kitten and Jacob whose lack of body mass won't allow him to cave much and went to my tent. The kitten was so glad to be out of the cage, he entertained us mightily. I dosed off with Jacob and the kitten playing happily. I awakened breifly when the others got back from the cave and helped secure the site.
I woke before dawn. The cavers got back 2ish and were not appreciative of the event. I made coffee, a fire and pancake batter. The kids began to wake up and come out of their tents. The younger kids had gone to bed 8:30 - 9ish and weren't real tired.
We were supposed to be packed and out by 11. It wasn't going to happen. Finally Louis stumbled out of our tent. The babies began awakening and Rhonda appeared. The middle group of kids had begun breakfast, helping the young ones with hot cakes, bacon and syrup. We got it cleaned up and were out about 12:30. Phil made arrangements with Ranger Billy.
I've always heard of Glory Hole and thought someday I'd go there. Well, this was the day. After a 40 minute drive, we ate lunch at the trail head and headed out in a variety of groups. Sarah and her friend were at the front as were Cody and Daniel. If I'd known what was there and how quickly they'd reach it, I'd have been concerned. Ignorance is bliss.
Not too far into the hike, I began seeing the mushrooms. Colors and shapes I'd never seen before were all so conveniently placed along the path. I took up disk after disk of pictures. I even took a few of my people! Jacob and Jessica were happy to hunt the sides of the trail for specie we might miss.
I've wanted to try a technique I've seen on another page and so I took several of what I hoped would become stereo pictures. I came up with 5 sets that worked out of 7 tries. Eventually we caught up to Rhonda and Hannah doing the same thing: photographing the mushrooms just up trail from the main attraction.
Glory Hole is a large funnel cut in the rock. It had no water running through it that day, but you could see the force the water had held through time. I took one stereo set there and am pleased with the result. Then we took the trail to the bottom. Looking up was almost as awesome. We've discussed going back during the high color and in the spring when the water would be running.
Once more, the familiar was replaced with an awesome present. New things always surprise you if you let them happen.
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