“It rained and it rained and it rained…”

“It rained and it rained and it rained…”

“It rained and it rained and it rained. Piglet told himself that never in all his life, and he was goodness knows how old — three was it or four —never he had seen so much rain… The little dry ditches in which Piglet had nosed about so often had become streams, the little streams across which he had splashed were rivers, and the river, between whose steep blanks they played so happily, had sprawled out of its own bed and was taking up so much room everywhere, that Piglet was beginning to wonder whether it would be coming into his bed soon.”

 

We were beginning to wonder the same thing and ventured on our trail to check out the situation. There’s a little hidden entrance to the path at the very east end of Spring Avenue. We started there heading South but didn’t even make it half way through to the Grove Street overpass — the road was flooded and blocked by orange cones.

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We climbed up onto the Grove Street and walked over to the place where it goes over the path. The water looked so high that you probably had to swim under the bridge because your feet wouldn’t touch the ground.

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I really wanted to see that waterfall where three directions of the path — Ridgewood, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn — collide. We crossed the street and walked through the Lawns to the Glen Rock Duck Pond. Everywhere you looked, it was water, water, water.

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From Corella bridge, Glen Rock path looked clear and we got hopeful that we’d make it to the waterfall. But right after the first left turn, a huge overflow covered the path. Tom, who was wearing loafers, suggested I carry him over. Honestly, I would have tried but I was afraid I’d slip and drop him. I was wearing Hunters and there was no stopping me. Somehow we tiptoed over that one and there was a clear path again. Not for long. The next overflow had no end in sight with ducks navigating light current. Tom agreed to wait for me on the bench as now I really wanted to get to the waterfall — so much ground has been covered already, no way to surrender. We set our bets: would I make it there or not. Although it did not look likely, I wanted to try. This first crossing, the water reached almost to the middle of my boot and another clearing came shortly.

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I though that was it for the water, but right after the next bend it was not just water, it was water with a strong current. I was moving slowly thinking about my class and all that core strength — whole new meaning to it. As I was walking, the water was getting higher up the boots and I was not sure. I decided, when the water would get to the word Hunter, I’m turning back — it stopped about an inch below and started going down, but the current was getting stronger. All I was thinking: if I fall — my phone. The waterfall, usually invisible from that direction, was splashing higher than the bridge and seen from quite a distance.

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The water was so high that waterfall stopped being waterfall and leveled itself with the river almost disappearing.

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I made it there and back. With phone intact. And Tom was still waiting for me with his new flood friend (in the background).

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Honestly, it was so exciting to walk through this flood. Maybe I did not play enough in the mud when I was little and am now catching up?



2 thoughts on ““It rained and it rained and it rained…””

  • What a delightful walk you had and it was so nice that you brought all of us with you !! I love that you find the beauty in this walk just like what you bring to all of us that you teach!! The wonder of being alive!! Thank you!!

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