Miss Bailey Escorts the Dad-Servant to See a Sleeping Giant and Observe the Taeniopterygidae Hatch

Oh, Bother! The lunatic humanoid has forced me into the PT Cruiser for another strange encounter with wild things.


Okay, I'll have to pretend I'm enjoying this... We're headed down Route 10 toward Deepest, Darkest Hamden. Maybe I'll be missed, and they'll send out a search party!


Funny name for a chiropractor...Cheshire's an odd place.


Okay, so where's this "Giant?"


Oh... The Dad-Lackey expostulates that native Americans were cursed by an evil spirit called Hobbomock, who stamped his foot so loudly that the Connecticut River changed its course. A good spirit named Keitan cast a spell on Hobbomock, causing him to fall on his back and go to sleep forever. This probably isn't the best view of Hobbomock, but you can sort of get the idea...



I knew it! One can't go anywhere with the Dad-Servant without ending up near the water. It draws this living font of atavistic human tendencies like a moth to a blowtorch.



The Mill River! Okay, it's kinda pretty, but why is this lunatic hyperventilating and uttering strange words in Latin again?


And you expect me to walk on this alleged trail? He's mumbling about "basalt" and "terminal moraine." Something about the Wisconsin Glacier forming this river valley 15,000 years ago. I don't see any polar bears!


Human-Lackey says that this is called a "riff." The same word works with rivers and jazz.


I'll just rest here on the foundation of an ancient dam and act queen-like for awhile!


Nature-boy is uttering incantations to the silver birch. If Buster were here, he'd autograph it.


Hemlock, says the servant! I think I smell the ghost of Chipmunk Past!


Dang! This stupid river just goes on forever! I'd really rather be exchanging ear-licks with Buster-boy or getting some attention from the girl-humans. How far is this possessed Neanderthal going to make me walk?



Spring run-off. High water. It could carry a little dog like me downstream for miles. Dad says it's full of brown and rainbow trout.


Here's a more peaceful stretch. Why are we stopping here?


More incantations in a dead language! Dad-Servant says that this is where the Early Dark Stoneflies are hatching! Taeniopterygidae! Can you see them? I sure can't!



My human tormentor is quick to point out the precise location of one particular example of family Taeniopterygidae. Whoop-de-doo!



Here's "Blue," my new buddy! He's a puppy, but he's rather big! I asked him what sort of dog he was, and he said he was a "bull." No horns; I'm confused!


The lunatic Dad-Lackey had to pause to gawk at something called "lichens." I wonder if they're edible--I'm hungry!



Okay...he says this is the end of the trail! I can't wait to get home and lurk under the dinner table while they eat chicken.


So long, Mr. Giant... I hope you stay asleep for awhile.

Your faithful correspondent,

Miss Bailey Blue