Hardy
Souls headed down to Butler
County, Alabama with an overnight campout
in mind. Great weather, hot, dry, made getting to the site a
breeze. The Hardy Souls set up camp and settled into our
tents,
anticipating a great day of hunting. We fell asleep serenaded
by
the sweet sounds of coyotes howling. Around midnight, more
strange noises began and we finally identified it as the pitter patter
then deluge of a midnight rain, as Vicki frantically climbed out to put
things under shelter. Claire slept peacefully through the
whole
thing. We stayed nice and dry but the chalk road
didn't.
This brought some reshuffling of cars and drivers to meet the rest of
the gang up at the filling station.
It was an international gang this time, with 5 members from
the Czech
Republic, 3 exchange students from Sweden, one long-term
member
from Armenia and a couple all the way from exotic LA (Lower Alabama),
along with the local members. We have had several debates as
to
whether we need to change our name to Birmingham International
Paleontological Society, or Birmingham Paleontological Society, Internationale!
It was so gorgeous when we all got down there that people
were sitting
out in beach chairs and enjoying what could have easily passed for the
Gulf coast's white, sandy beaches. Some folks got into the
swim -
literally - as one of those privileges of living in a tropical climate
on Oct 1 in Alabama. A variety of fossils were
found,
including nautiloids, tiny gastropods, shark teeth and coquina stone
filled with various
shells including turritella. We also found a good amount of
pottery shards, some other
artifacts and a deer skull (recent, but included to show what the teeth
look like). Several comments were made regarding the beach,
on
the order of
"it didn't really matter whether we found fossils or not, this was a
great place to hang out"!
The deer skull has a backstory. While wandering off
for a
solitary hike up the creek, Vicki managed to get herself thoroughly
lost.
In the dark. Forgot that trail-laying stuff from Girl Scouts,
right Vicki?
Well, it turned out well in the end, when Vicki took off and finally
found the road, as well as gaining some nifty scratches.
Things
improved the next morning after Claire and Lea got out the weedeaters
and cut a
beautiful path down to the creek. Kudos,
Kids! And Vicki is going to do a refresher course if she can
find
her old Girl Scout Handbook.
After a very full day, most of the group repaired to the
campsite for a
wine-tasting, while others
continued the hunt. (It's not dark yet, right?)
After
forcing themselves to get up and moving again, most of the group headed
back to home and reality. Claire, Lea, Paige, and Vicki
camped
another night, and enjoyed the peace of the creek for another day.
(Photos
courtesy Lea Martin, Jan Novak,
and Vicki Lais)
Leisa
thoughtfully provided our 3 Swedish exchange students with
everything they needed to enjoy the day's trip.
Due to rain
the previous night, we left the cars at the entrance and
loaded all our gear in Greg's truck.
Scouting the
parking area, which was newly bulldozed.
Some of the
group on the long hike down.
Finally, the
path to the creek, which is just over that
ridge.
There was no path here the day before, which is how Vicki got
lost. A huge thanks to Lea and Claire for cutting
all the
underbrush for us!
Sun and sand
- on with the sunscreen!
Sylvie and
Michael screening for shark teeth.
The layers of
years of flooding are clearly shown in this high bank.
Loni's
granddaughter has found a treasure, but they are new bones, not
fossil.
The Novacks
starting a long trip way up the creek.
Two of our
newest members from Mobile, Becky and Keith. Keith
is
holding a nice shark tooth that was found in the shell filled bank
shown below.
Lea examining
one of her finds.
Screening for
shark teeth.
Leisa has
found a nice bone artifact, and some cochina stone.
Closer view
of the cochina. This stone is filled with fossil
shells, including turritella, and is widely found in Florida, where it
is cut into blocks and used as a building
material.
Beautiful weather, temperature in the 90's (in October????), and we
certainly took advantage of it!
Paige keeping
cool while screening for shark teeth.
South Alabama
is a beautiful place, and our fossil hobby gives us
wonderful opportunities to see such treasures as this fern bank.
South Alabama
is also known for the Spanish Moss hanging from many of
the trees. It was used as packing material many years ago.
Many times
fossil worm trails (trace fossils) are found in sandstone
and shale material.
Here is the modern day equivalent.
James has
found a vertebra, but it is recent.
Many
sandstones and shales show wave patterns, captured here in modern
day sand.
Nice deer
skull found in the creek. Claire is now the proud owner.
"What kind of
teeth are these?" is a frequent question. This
should aid in identifying deer teeth.
This area was
covered with larger rocky material, and yielded many
pottery shards, but few fossils.
We weren't
alone on the creek, these may be tracks of the coyotes we
heard "singing" during the night.
Vicki's
collection.
Paige
collected quite a few shark teeth.
Hanging out
at the campsite, late afternoon. We also collected
small gastropod specimens in this area.
Discussing
our finds for the day; hanging out and enjoying each others
company.