On an expedition around the lake, on a beautiful, hot and sunny Spring day, we decided to walk where few people have laid their feet... a dry lake bed.
Much of it was firm enough to walk on, although spongy. Interestingly enough, it was covered in tiny spider creatures, that hurried along as we stepped, not wanting to be squashed, of course. Unfortunately, spiders are The Boy's natural enemy, so he huddled over my back, walking in my footsteps and squealing like a little girl, for most of the walk!
He regained his composure and dignity once we returned to the actual trail, where the only thing to worry about is ... snakes! When we reached the other side of the lake, he decided to take a "short cut" across ten feet of recently revealed muddy shoreline.
Just like Mama taught him, he looked both ways before crossing, to be sure that there were no oncoming spiders. Being sure that the coast was clear, he continued on, but found himself blocked by a fallen log.
"No problem", he thought. "I can step over this log", he thought.
This is the point when nature decided to remind him that mud is soft. He lifted, and then firmly planted, his right foot on the other side of the fallen tree. But, when he lifted the other foot off of the ground, his full body weight was shifted onto the firmly planted foot... which immediately sank into the soft earth, clear up to his thigh!
Just like Mama taught him, he looked both ways before crossing, to be sure that there were no oncoming spiders. Being sure that the coast was clear, he continued on, but found himself blocked by a fallen log.
"No problem", he thought. "I can step over this log", he thought.
This is the point when nature decided to remind him that mud is soft. He lifted, and then firmly planted, his right foot on the other side of the fallen tree. But, when he lifted the other foot off of the ground, his full body weight was shifted onto the firmly planted foot... which immediately sank into the soft earth, clear up to his thigh!
I don't know how I'm ever going to get him out of the house again!
You can read more about this excursion on my nature blog, FascinationEarth
Have you read the story about Boy vs Winter?
