Date: 11-11
Location: North of the Mill Stream and the Botanical Gardens, on 12th Street’s parking lot
Time: 1330-1412
Weather: overcast, raining, 54˚F
Veteran’s Day was a steady torrent of rain and fierce gusts.
Puddles of water and soggy leaves accumulated along the fissured pavement. I decided to follow the Mill Stream upstream today instead of usually going downstream until it joined the Willamette River as I had done several times before in my colloquium. As I walked along the fenced in stream, I saw a downed orange and white barrier sunken in the shallow water. How long had it been there? Definitely not long enough for it to be completely voided of any green aqueous growth. It must have been tossed there in an act of vengeance from the parking lot since a 6-foot high chain fence prevented any accidental “bumps” from an automobile. Clematis twisted down from a tree that bore three green lanceolate leaves per cluster. The vine draped from a branch in an intricate design above the water. The bare vine appeared like nature’s rope swing, ready for someone to grab it and swing across the cloudy green water. I eventually walked past the grate that introduced the water from underneath 12th Street. Frustratingly, I could not continue once I reached the Mission Mill. I saw the stream flow underneath a small bridge and out of my sight. My journey had halted for now, but perhaps later, once I study the map a bit more intently, I will find the initial point of the stream and victory will be mine!!! Mwahahahahaha…
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