2004-06-26

BPS members visited a late Cretaceous site in Montgomery County, Alabama, where we collected primarily echinoids, gastropods, and a few shark teeth. This trip was a real adventure!

A week of daily summer rains and pictures from Friday's site reconnaissance were not enough to daunt those needing a field trip fix. By mid-day Saturday the water had receded enough to give hope to those who had been standing on one bank of the creek and staring longingly at the other bank. There was a spark of hope.

At lunch it was decided that after a trip to a second site that enough time should have passed and the creek could possibly have receded enough to be crossable.

Steve waded the creek with one end of a 60 ft rope in hand. Once tied off on both sides the rope was a sufficient balance for a slow and steady crossing. There were crossers who faced downstream, crossers who faced upstream and those who sidestepped their way across. All present decided to journey to the other side. And by my count - taking the rope and escorting 6 people X two = 22 crossings for Steve.

Flood level water the day before washed out good material for collecting, and yes, we finally needed that change of dry clothes.

--Edited by Vicki Lais

- - "TALES FROM THE PAST" BY JAMES LAMB - -

(Photos by Nancy Kenfield and Vicki Lais)