Living Rocks, trailor parks, and damn golf balls

Thanks to Eric and Reagan for the comments.
I once knew a guy named Steve Barta..Barte...Bar-tune-ack. He was a heck of a guy that Steve. Top 3 of all the Steve's I know, easy.

So, last week, I was walking in Rocky River. I went to a place where I know there is a dam and proceeded to look at the dirt upstream and downstream of the dam. Eventually, I will compare the streams and locations where dams existed to the streams and locations where dams didn't exist.

One thing I have noticed in both kinds of streams is that wherever there is a large power line crossing the stream, all the trees have been removed. Since much of the streams are under forest canopy, it is like coming out of a shaded tunnel and then going back into one. Often, near power lines, a bunch of rocks have been put on the banks to keep erosion from happening. then, those rocks fall into the creek and then moss and slime grow on them, making it very treacherous to walk under the power lines where the sun reaches the stream.

I was coming up to one of these open expanses a couple week back when I noticed a rock sticking up out of the creek. It wasn't so bizarre (i do see occasional rocks), but it was odd since it was all alone and in the middle. Generally, there will be some geologic formation and a bunch of rocks will be present. This time there was just one. It seemed very smooth also. My vision is getting bad, so I dismissed the fact that it also appears to be suspended just above the water by two sticks. As I got closer I looked harder and still saw a smooth, gray rock, suspended above the water by about 2 inches by two sticks. Finally, I got within 10 yards and realized I was staring at a giant crane, sitting in the middle of the stream, with no head. I could make out the feathers on its back and the two sticks were actually legs. Still, no head though. It was ultra creepy. I gave it plenty of space in case "the crane from sleepy hollow" decided to move towards me. then, its head appeared, unburied from its body, where it had been resting while the crane was sleeping. It looked over at me, with very menacing eyes and a long, spear-like nose. I find it peculiar that many birds (Owls, Hawks, Cranes) look really cool from far off, but then when you get close you realize that they are very efficient killing machines and they no doubt would enjoy eating my eyes. I gave the crane more space and walked past it. It eyes me and then went back to sleep.

So, I assumed it was sick. I walked downstream awhile, came to a bend in the stream that was more than 6' deep, and turned around. As I re-approached the grim reaper-esque bird, it awoke, put its mouth in the water, ate a fish, and then went back to sleep, clearly not afraid of me. It was bizarre and I have no doubt that I will never get this close to a bird of such size again.


I grew up near a trailer park and had many friends that lived there. So, I don't like to think that people in trailers are any more abnormal than the next people. There are lots of stereotypes and general negative feelings about trailer park peoples. Unfortunately, I think I now have a small bit more loathing for them, having walked the section of Toby Creek adjacent to a trailer park. there was much garbage. there were many bicycles. there were many kids toys made of plastic. There were occasional TVs, washer machines, and parts of building...all in the stream. If I could have my way, I would make it law that trailer parks have to be at least a quarter mile away from streams.

....and gold courses too dammit. I have found golf balls the entire length of mallard creek. They come from the golf course i live on and I am wondering if they cant be held liable for the pollution. I hate to see golf balls in the creek. Its just one more blatant sign that we as a large group of people don't care about the natural world around us. We would rather do some hobby that leads to pollution than to find another hobby or even another way to do said hobby without causing pollution.

Our streams will never be clean again until we decide we value them more than the parking lots (and their run-off) that destroy them.