Wet run today on the Hickory trail. Lots of great rushing waters and falls. Met a nice little box turtle named Red and a deer on the trail. Spent a lot of time exploring one set of falls. Took a short run down the loop to a small pond with some beautiful Pickerelweed. I was experimenting with my new camera and have some videos below. Also experimenting with the video animation. Really weird what Gemini did to my shoes in that one. I'll need to refine my prompts.

Past and Present

All this rushing water makes total sense given the massive deluges that swept through Louisville this week. I saw on the news that emergency crews had to perform 14 flash flood water rescues during the storms, so I was definitely thankful to be climbing up into the higher, drier singletrack of the ridge rather than getting caught in a low ravine. Trotting past the moss-covered stone walls on the loop got me thinking about Ben Stout, the pioneer who built his historic stone house just a short distance from here back in the late 1700s. He and the later dairy farmers who eventually carved out this land undoubtedly watched these same limestone channels swell after heavy summer storms, providing a nice reminder of how the natural elements here always find a way to endure.

It’s a grounding contrast to the whirlwind of global headlines over the last few days. While the UN is currently meeting in New York to debate international sustainability science, and the world keeps a passing, anxious glance on ongoing geopolitical conflicts, nature and technology are still finding ways to amaze us. Just this week, NASA launched a new tech-testing CubeSat into orbit on a SpaceX rocket, and scientists announced that satellites are actively monitoring a brand-new volcanic island rising out of the sea. Plus, the absolute madness of the World Cup quarterfinals just wrapped up, setting up an incredible semifinal lineup of Argentina, England, France, and Spain. Even though the US team got knocked out by Belgium a few days ago, the global excitement is totally infectious. Whether we're witnessing new islands being born or just trying to figure out how to refine our AI prompts on a muddy trail, there is always something genuinely exciting on the horizon.

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) - A fascinating, land-dwelling reptile known for its highly domed shell and vibrant, distinct yellow-and-orange patterns. Unlike most turtles, it possesses a unique hinged lower shell that allows it to completely seal its body inside like a locked box when threatened by predators. These turtles are incredible homebodies, spending their entire lives—which can span upwards of 50 to 100 years—within a very small home range often no larger than a few acres. While they are terrestrial and poor swimmers, they love to soak in shallow mud puddles or damp leaves to stay hydrated during warm weather. Because they love their specific home territory so much, moving a box turtle to a "better" spot or taking it home as a pet is highly detrimental; if relocated, they will spend the rest of their lives wandering aimlessly and stressed trying to find their way back.

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) - is a robust native aquatic perennial that thrives in the shallow waters, marshes, and pond margins of eastern North America. Easily recognized by its large, glossy, arrowhead-shaped leaves and striking upright spikes of violet-blue flowers, this plant blooms throughout the summer, adding a vibrant splash of color to wetland landscapes. Beyond its beauty, pickerelweed plays a vital role in the local ecosystem; its nectar-rich blossoms are a major draw for native pollinators like bumblebees and butterflies, while its dense colonial growth provides essential shelter for aquatic wildlife and its seeds offer a high-energy food source for waterfowl.