Let the Adventure Begin!

If you read my post from Friday Fotos HERE, you will remember that I was sort of challenging myself to a little "adventure" toward the end of the post.  If you recall, there is a little island in the middle of "Still Waters Pond", that I have been long desiring to find a way to reach and explore.  The Sand Hill Cranes showed me that the water in our pond is only about two feet deep in some areas, and I know it has to be less than that over in another area that is closer to the island...and my thought was, if a Sand Hill Crane can literally walk through the water over to that island, why can't I?

Of course, I have no desire to walk through that water barefooted. The bottom of the pond is obviously mucky and who knows what all lies beneath the surface of that dark murky pond?  However, if I could find some waterproof boots that go high enough so I wouldn't get wet, then why not walk across to the island once and for all??? Sounds reasonable doesn't it?

Well, today I kept talking about this to my hubby, and he said if I could find some boots he would approve my walking over to the island.  With that encouragement  I drove to our local ACE Hardware, because we had been there a couple of days ago and I happened to notice that they had some knee high rubber boots on sale there. What I didn't happen to notice was the price...and when I got there and realized those boots would cost me almost $40.00, I decided that would not be a good use of our hard-earned money just so I could walk through the water to a little island to see what was on the other side.  So, sadly I drove back home and was about to give up on the idea altogether when I remembered that my hubby had some waterproof snow galoshes (overshoes) stored somewhere in our shed...at least I thought that is where they were.  It ended up they were in the guest room closet in the farthest corner behind the most boxes of stuff that I could possibly reach without having to pull everything out from in front of them...Anyway...I found them!  Just because my hubby's shoe size is a men's 12 and my shoe size is a ladies' 9 wasn't going to stop me at this point. Besides, they go over the shoe, so they need to be a little larger, right? 

And since it was such a beautiful day, and it would seem that I have all this nervous energy bottled up inside me, why not go on an adventure?  Hubby said he would take pictures of me as I went, but since there was only one pair of boots, I would be the only one walking through the water.

 There I go with my trusty walking stick and my camera around my neck. 

 When I got to the point where I thought the water would be the shallowest, I started testing the water levels to see how deep it was...

 and I tried to walk out a little ways into the water, but honestly, it was so mucky I immediately sunk right up to my ankles and it was obvious that if I went any further I would be in too deep and stuck in the mud in no time at all...  Those Sand Hill Cranes made it look so easy! But then again, they don't weigh nearly as much as I do...and their feet are made for walking in mucky ponds apparently.

 These "rear view" pictures are not very flattering of me, and I was wearing my old baggy jeans cause I certainly didn't want to ruin my good ones in that mucky water.

Sadly, I had to give up on the idea of crossing in the water to the island.  However, I was undeterred in my mission to at least see what was on the other side of that island.  So I managed to walk around the edge of the pond on top of the mud to where I could at least see what was over there...

 Before I started my journey around the bend, I noticed that I had another friend visiting the island...

 He wasn't too sure about my being there so close...but I kept going in the opposite direction anyway so as not to bother him.

When I got around the bend of the island, I realized there is not one, but two little islands there...and someone had definitely been there before and had built  some kind of dock. (Above picture)  It appeared that perhaps someone had camped out under there at some point, or maybe just something blew under there in a storm and got stuck there.

Below is also evidence of another little dock that is no longer in use...

Apparently at one time someone had built a dock connecting the two islands!

And then I was really surprised to discover this dock connecting to the smaller island from the "mainland".  I don't know the condition of those boards, and it appears there is no way to get onto it from the land as it is quite high above the ground...also, this leads me to believe that the water in the pond used to be quite a bit deeper. Probably after the hurricanes it was quite full, but over the years we haven't had as much rain and the water level is quite low in most of the small lakes and ponds in this area.

 This view is of the larger island around the bend from where I can usually see it from our yard. It really is just a small strip of land, probably not more than 15-20 feet wide, but interesting none the less...

Well, look who's here!  Our lovely White Egret friend has flown over to this side of the pond, probably thinking that he was safely away from my prying eyes...

They sure do get nervous when people get too close...so up he went, flying over to another spot a little further away from "danger"... (see his reflection in the pond? I wish I had gotten a more complete reflection...I love these flight scenes)

 Perhaps this will be a better spot for fishing...

 I can tell by his stance that he is getting ready to fly again. I hope I can get a good picture of that...

Up, up, up he went, but he was into the trees before I could get focused well enough to snap the photo.

With that I decided I'd better turn around and work my way back home before I fell  into the water in all my excitement of trying to take pictures...Thank goodness I had my trusty walking stick with me...it really did keep me from slipping down into the mud. Now that would have been quite the picture! However, hubby was too far around the bend to see me at this point and he would have never gotten that picture! 

So all in all it was still a great adventure, even if I wasn't able to actually step foot on the island, I at least was able to see what was around on the other side! And it was quite enlightening.  Since we moved here last summer we have not seen any other people around this pond, even though there are some other houses hidden over on the other side. I don't think the other people are nearly as interested in life on Still Waters Pond as I am.  But that's just fine with me. The fewer people bothering the "critters", the more "critters" will come around.  I just have to be careful that I don't scare them away too much!!

We were reading in our Lenten Devotions for today from Isaiah 58:1-14.  A couple of verses stand out to me tonight as I am re-reading this passage in light of my "adventures" today, and also in thinking about my other "adventure" that I will be going through next week:
 
Isaiah 58: Verses 8-9:

"Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

your healing shall spring forth speedily,

and your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer,

You shall cry, and He will say,

"Here I am."

Verse 11:

"The Lord will guide you continually, 

and satisfy your soul in drought,

and strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

and like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail."

These words give me great comfort and encouragement for the days ahead, as I prepare my heart for a closer walk with the Lord during this season of Lent and preparation for Easter, and also as I go through surgery and the period of recuperation and healing that follows. It is always good to know that God is right here behind, beside and before me, guiding me continually. We are so blessed to be His children! Now, THAT is the best adventure of all!!!