Visiting the Glen
Only thoughts reached by walking have value. (Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols)
The Glen is one of several gorges we can explore in the Finger Lakes region. Its advantage is that it’s close; its disadvantage is that it’s isolated, and I feel uneasy venturing forth alone. At different times in the past, I’ve heard screams, seen disturbing graffiti scrawled on rocks, and felt generally vulnerable.
But on this occasion I had a walking companion and a dutiful though nearly deaf dog close at hand, so it all had a friendly feel. This library of sticks for dogs was added since our last visit, and it lent a hospitable vibe to the trailhead.
There’s always a collection of wildflowers growing this time of year. Though I’d chosen to leave my big camera at home, I tried to capture some pics.
There’s always a chipmunk somewhere. This one watched us start down the trail.
Though we didn’t walk down the stream bed, its beauty and cool dampness refreshed us as we crossed. Once, years ago, we heard a winter wren singing along this stretch, and lured it closer by playing the All About Birds recording of its song.
We walked a trail along the bank.
Near the stone bridge at the lower end of the stream was a small waterfall, pretty though low on water. I was more aware of all the fallen trees that I’ve been before. It seems strange to call nature disheveled, but that side of it — sometimes violent winds, processes of decay, and a failure to cater to our desire for the neat, the tidy, the picturesque — struck me.
For years, this tree’s roots have made it look like it’s tip-toeing up the bank, but it remains rooted to its spot. Once we took a family picture against it. This time, it reminded me a little of the barrow wight’s hand dancing toward the entrapped hobbits in the Old Forest of The Hobbit.
On the way out, we passed a batch of blue and, more unusually, pink forget-me-nots that always attract me. Clearly, I obey. I don’t forget them.
In general, the band of trees along the trail seemed thinner. We didn’t remember seeing through them before to anything on the other side, but there seemed to be cleared land, and perhaps rooftops.
Turns out they were solar panels. A huge project was going on, installing solar panels over a large area at the border of the nature preserve.
The walk out always feels long, hot, and relentlessly uphill. But this time, we saw a new trail that appeared to be a shortcut to the parking area. We took it… and came across a towhee putting his own spin on the familiar call.
What a treat to see this fellow tossing off such a full-throated variation on the usual “Drink your tea!” It was a lovely send-off as we headed out of the woods.
