My friend, Vickie, may remark on "chlorophyll withdrawal" in the city, but that isn't the case in her current surround. Anita and I visited her yesterday in rural New York State, two hours by train out of New York City
With all the rain we've had--and continue to receive, the green of the trees, the pastures and parks was verdant. A sky predominately gray, with patches of blue, provided contrast to this study in light and dark.
Water's presence was visible everywhere--present, as building in the rivers and rushing in the streams, and past, as carver of rock. Vickie, you see, took us to see Kent Falls (the most visited falls in Connecticut) in nearby Kent Park. There we could see the cascading and falling water that drops 250 feet in a quarter of a mile before flowing into the Housatonic River. (Though I am no judge of the quantity of water flowing over the falls, when I Googled it, the maximum mean flow was set at 111 gallons a second!)
Entering through the covered bridge, which spans the stream, we began the procession to the falls. A trail winds a quarter mile up along the falls with scenic vantage points provided along the way.
Here the rocks "talk," and Vickie translated. She explained that this part of Connecticut was once coral reefs. Later, these were squeezed together and buried under other rock. With increasing heat and pressure, the former reefs turned into marble.
At the first two cascades, the marble is flat-lying; at the third cascade, the rocks have been turned on end. Because of the composition of the bedrock, with alternating hard and soft layers, flowing water has created a natural wonder.
There is something for everyone here: the picnicker, the artist, the fisherman, the geologist and the casual day-tripper. It is a sensory joy--in seeing, hearing, smelling and touching--for all.
I was surprised yesterday. My weariness of rain falling changed to wonder at waterfalls and water falling in only a matter of seconds. What a difference a change in perspective makes!
Note: Kent Park is part of the Connecticut Impressionist Art Trail and a trout park with a 2-a-day creel limit.
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