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Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Intermittent - Day 134

  The day ended up feeling defined by two cloudbursts that wetted me and the trail quite thoroughly. Can you tell that the sky is dark? Intermittent rain. storm clouds

But you could also say I was still doing intermittent hiking. I had one more day of trail to fill in back near the PA/NY border. Tomorrow, I can move ahead to where I left off 3 days ago.

In between the rain storms, there were some lovely finds. I've seen a lot of Shining Clubmoss on this trip, now named Huperzia lucidula (they used to all be Lycopodia, but the genus got split). But I didn't have the faintest clue that it would form "fairy rings." Look at how perfect this one is! Only one little divot on the right side. Sure enough, my book says it will make rings. I saw several more this morning, but this was the best. shining clubmoss fairy ring

I saw lots more of the Roundleaf Yellow Violet. Look at the lovely little beards on the petals. And, the leaves apparently curl up overnight. These plants are about 2 inches tall. Roundleaf Yellow Violet

Here's another item that isn't rare, but is really hard to find. When I was a kid, I found a craft making notecards using skeletonized leaves. The book said to just go to the woods and find some. Ha! Finding nice ones is nearly impossible. I've been looking for 60 years. But today, I picked up this beautiful entire magnolia leaf. skeletonized leaf

The other part of the intermittent rain was intermittent sun. The butterflies like it! Here's an Eastern Comma. eastern comma butterfly

Best trail event was this really excellent set of box steps going down a steep hill. Kudos to trail workers! trail steps

And, not that I got any closer than you see in this picture, but I passed by the Seneca Nation Casino in Salamanca. Seneca Casino

A good day on the trail, despite getting wet.

Miles today: 16.6. Total miles so far: 1764.6.

See Officially in New York

2 comments:

Ann said...

That's rather fascinating how that clubmoss grows in a circle like that.
I've been to that casino a few times.

Unknown said...

The skeletonized leaves are so pretty - I found one Tuesday evening while cleaning up the flower bed. It was perfect and I stopped to admire it. Spring has been so wet this year - hope it dries out soon. April