Mar 28 2008
Dad Time
On Saturday morning (still Easter weekend), Dad and I managed to sneak away to one of my favorite spots — Bridal Veil Falls. The name isn’t original, but ever since Tim Ernst used “Fuzzy Butt Falls” for a site featured in his Arkansas Waterfalls Guidebook, I’m beginning to think that re-using a title isn’t so bad.
We didn’t get started as early as I had hoped, but the surrounding hills kept the sun at bay late enough for me to get a few long exposures. While I set up my tripod for my first shot, Dad walked around the fall’s pool picking up trash washed down by the recent heavy rains and flash flooding. What a dad.
At one point, however, he had his eye on an aluminum can resting on a slick, steep hillside adjacent to the falls, and only a few feet from the edge. When he lit out that direction, I said, “Hey, I can Photoshop that can.” Yes, I used it as a verb. Regardless of the photo software used, that particular product’s name has become interchangeable with the much less succinct, “fix it later.”
Disappointed that the redbud tree I love to use as foreground was not in bloom (Easter arrived way too early this year), I looked down. Anna (see my blogroll) likes to look up, and that’s great for some situations. That day, however, I was glad I looked down, because I saw something neither Dad nor I ever had.
(Click any image to enlarge)
These mysterious curled plants were all over the place. I slapped on my macro lens (an old, all-manual micro-Nikkor 55mm I bought used from a Canadian via photo.net about seven years ago) — the best glass in my bag, got on my knees and elbows, and started snapping.
It turns out they were ferns in various stages of opening up for the spring and summer. We wondered how we never had noticed them at that stage.
Back at the house, Dad and I found ticks on our clothes. I hate those nasty buggers. None had sunk their “teeth” into us, but even a few itchy bites would have been worth the trip. Sometimes, a couple hours with your dad doing what you both love is exactly what you need.
Mark,
Had you never seen fiddleheads???
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=fiddleheads&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2
People up here cook them and eat them and they’re great!
Count your blessings, able to take walks with your dad like that my friend…. count your blessings.
What I wouldn’t give for one more walk with mine.
Have a nice weekend.
hello Mark,
we have not visited eachothers/our blogs for a while but I was so busy with travels (and designing webpages) so I see this new blog , I like the haeder to start with, how the weather there? Her its almost spring with now and than snow or rain, but sun is coming soon!
Have a great weekend , please come for a visit at my blog with 48 Sky’s (collage) from Luxemburg…
Greetings from JoAnn (Holland
That does sound like it was grand time. Precious time, indeed. And certainly not just for the unexpected photo opportunity at your feet.
That’s one of the things I most look forward to with my own boys: that bonding time alone. It happened rarely at all with my own dad, and so part of the impetus to to do more with my sons comes from that.
Now I have to wonder what Fuzzy Butt Falls looks like. The image in my head is some guy’s hairy ass in the shower. Which is an unfortunate mental image, but I figure that if I have to think about it now, so should all y’all.
Those are such funky little furry sprouts!!! Very cool. Sounds like you had some great bonding time with your Dad. I hope my kids still like me when they grow up. I love my dad but really can only stand him for a few hours.
I just gotta say Dave that you will have your walk in the park with your dad again. Sorry you have to wait for that.
A very nice follow up to yesterday’s post. Fathers and sons…and you in both roles.
I’ve never seen those little fiddleheads, either. When they’re open, they look like little water wheels, with the buckets at the ready. Very cool shots of a very bizzare looking plant.
As for fuzzy butts. An image search for “fuzzy butt” found no scenic falls…but many images just as disturbing as Simon’s. ;)
Good post Markus. I know that has always been a staple of our trips to Heber anytime it has rained. At least this year you didn’t get yelled at for not helping your wife down, and I didn’t get accused of “Michael Jackson-ing” my son over the waterfall.
I still would have liked to have been there though. Naturally I wouldn’t have had a camera with me, because that’s not my gig. I would have just been there to laugh at your puns, and comment on anything and everything that came up.
Simon..hilarious stuff. Your visual is disturbing, but still managed to make me laugh.
Dave - Never tried those. It seems like the name rings a bell, but that’s a delicacy I’ve not tasted.
JoAnn - Welcome! I haven’t managed to drop in on any of the former Wordless Wednesday crowd since I quit participating. I did today, though!
Simon - Maybe I’ll try to bring the book with a picture of Fuzzy Butt falls. You really have to see it to understand.
Amy - I never had the problem of not wanting to hang out with my dad. He can get along with pretty much anybody.
Moksha - I hadn’t thought of these posts turning the tables on each other. Pretty cool. The plant ends up looking fairly normal once the opening is complete; it’s just a fern.
Charles - We missed out on our guys’ time, but at least we got to hang out a little bit at the Place and the house. We’ll figure out something we can do the next time our schedules all line up.
What a great story Mark and thanks for the shout out. I love looking down as well….you might miss something either way! The shots are very good! I love that you caught it blooming!
Wow, excellent photos. It makes me pine for spring.
Anna - I plan to post about your new site soon.
Jay - Thanks for dropping by. I haven’t forgot about you — just haven’t had any comment to make on your most recent posts.