Snapping Turtle Encounter

One blustery day I had to leave Lil at home and went to Steep Rock alone. I hiked to the overlook and back down, crossing the Hauser suspension bridge on my way back. On the right hand side of the trail, away from the river, there lay a large black snapping turtle, Chelydridae Serpentina. "Serpentina" describes the snakelike range of motion in the turtle's neck.

Snapping turtles are quite placid while in the water but get defensive on land since they can't retreat completely into their shells like other turtles. In the water, the long neck allows them to stay submerged with only their nostrils showing, and on land that neck provides a good defense, since the turtle can reach backward over its shell (carapace). These turtles have beaks sharp enough to amputate a finger so it's a good idea...as always with wildlife....to let them be.

They are omniverous, eating plants, nonvertibrates, fish, small birds and mammals. They are also important scavengers in slow moving rivers and ponds.

This turtle's shell was about 16" from front to back. Adding on the head and long, muscular tail made this one impresive individual....not the biggest snapping turtle I'd ever seen, but getting up there.
Chelydridae Serpentina can live for 30 years in the wild and considerably longer in captivity.

I always thought snapping turtles went over land in May and June, mainly to lay eggs, and here was this fine specemin lolling in autumn leaves. It was perfectly healthy, and upon doing a tiny bit of research I learned that snappers can breed from April through November! Who knew? It also turns out that lady snappers can store sperm for several seasons and use them as needed. A good man can be hard to find...

Lil missed out on a very cool customer and a potentially valuable lesson in good manners.

How to Broaden Lil's Perception? Walk her through the Tunnel

Concert Rehearsal in the Tunnel at Steep Rock

There's an abandoned railroad at Steep Rock. The only remaining signs of it are a cinder path, which is excellent for horseback riding, a tunnel, assorted culverts and some small, crumbled bridge abutments.

The tunnel is relatively short but bends in the middle so you can't see the light at the other end until you've walked a bit in the dark.....the perfect place for Lil to try something new. When we got to the entrance, there were flickers of light inside. That was new to me.

It was not a screening of  "Rocky Horror" or a seance...although tiny yellow LED lights were arranged on one wall like candles. The other lights were attached to music stands. Gifted vocalists were setting up a dress rehearsal for their annual Tunnel Concert. The exact performance info re the autumn event is a well kept secret in order to surprise Steep Rock visitors and prevent a crowd...part of the concept. One of the singers, Laura Evans, is an artist friend of mine so Lil and I visited with them, snapped some photos and walked on. 

When we returned to the tunnel, the group -- now a quartet -- was in full voice. Their music projected down the trail in a megaphone effect. Inside, with nearly perfect acoustics, the sound was sublime!

Literally stumbling upon classically trained musicians in a black railroad tunnel was astounding. It made our weekend and Lil gained some major enlightenment in the dark. 

It's Alive!

After a long silence I'm fired up to blog about my new painting series, "Images of Steep Rock."

Technical aspects of painting have consumed my life for too long, throwing everything out of balance.

I am out of shape and our "new" dog needs more socialization so the best remedy is to take Lil (the dog) and a sketch pad, or Lil and a camera, or a backpack and paints to the Land Trust and walk.

Steep Rock is a part of the local consciousness here whether people are aware of it or not. The vision and generosity of its founder shape the character of a whole town...actually a region.

I will post photos of cool stuff at Steep Rock, oil color sketches and paintings in progress through the seasons. Feel free to offer opinions about which paintings to do in larger format. I plan to exhibit "Images of Steep Rock" in Washington, CT during late September and early October 2011 with a portion of sales proceeds to benefit the Steep Rock Assn.