Today we went for a hike down in Niantic, at the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, and it was a beautiful and almost balmy 2-hour walk. I really enjoyed it, mostly because of the huge slabs and boulders of rock along the way. The preserve must sit on an immense and widespread ledge, because rock was everywhere, and it was fun to see how vegetation thrived by simply going around or sliding under the rock. Roots flowed over the ledge in every direction, sometimes tangling with roots from other trees, and it was clear that vegetation had easily "conquered" rock. I also enjoyed seeing the different kinds of moss and lichen that covered the ledge almost completely, making an understated carpet of grays and faded greens. We walked briskly, but not so briskly on the many climbs, and chatted along the way. I was so happy to be out in the woods with my honey, doing one of her favorite activities, and feeling glad and healthy and lucky to be there.

A pause on the trail . . .

Strange shapes . . .