The Crossing - Tell Me the Secret

 I like geography best, he said, 

because your mountains & rivers know the secret. 

Pay no attention to boundaries. 

~ Brian Andreas, from Story People

The sky was gorgeous.

I overheard a friend talking about Mankins Crossing. "I go by there almost every day," she said.  

"I stop by whenever I can," said I. "And I'll be going there after the meeting."  She then offered to take me around the area to see some low water crossings along Mankins Branch that might be unfamiliar to me.

We stopped frequently to identify birds and photograph everything. Conversation flowed. Plans for a kayak trip were discussed.

Learning the secrets.

The old bridge at Mankins Crossing. One can see how this shallow spot provided a perfect place to ford the San Gabriel. It is no wonder Samuel Mankins chose this spot to homestead.

Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret...only a couple of the birds we saw. [photo by MAMM. All rights reserved]

Mankins Branch is a small creek that flows into the San Gabriel just south of Mankins Crossing. [Looking east]

Looking west up Mankins Branch

This little creek has been carving its way through the limestone - slowly and steadily - for how long...

It would be a wonderful adventure - wading up and down this creek.

Old iron bridge over the San Gabriel.*

I am not the family "devil dare," but do want to return to investigate.

Stopping to photograph yet another Buffalo Gourd vine, I ended the day with plans for future adventures.*

*

NOTES:

*Google maps show the location of the iron bridge.

**And red harvest mites - from the family Trombiculidae. Keep your grass cut. Wear long pants (tuck them into your boots) and use insecticide. I've also heard that sulfur powder keeps them away.