Final Sit Spot View

First Sit Spot View

Rebekah’s Private Cove: The Final Sit-Spot

 

What a bittersweet moment! I have officially finished my sit-spot sessions, and it is amazing to see how much my spot has changed, not only since my last session, but over the course of the entire semester. In relation to my previous session, much has changed within the week. With the overwhelming amount of rainfall Hollins received, the creek was still extremely high compared to its normal levels although it had gone down greatly after the initial rain.

Increased Water Level

All the rock banks were submerged in water, and some of the dirt banks had been slightly eroded and washed away. Also, due to the rain, the ground was still partially damp- I had to sit on an extra layer of clothing I brought with me so the dampness would not seep through what I was wearing. I noticed an increase of leaf foliage scattered among the ground, as well as piled up in the low branches of trees because of where the creek had risen. The water is murkier than usual, especially in areas that are deeper. Typically it is crystal clear!

 In comparison to my first sit-spot, it is obvious to see the amount of change. First, we began this project during the summer, when outside was green and vibrant and trees proudly toted their bright leaves. With the seasons changing, the trees are now mainly barren and dull, with barely any canopy coverage. I enjoyed watching the leaves change in autumn though; they were beautiful shades of varying colors. As expected, the weather has slowly decreased in temperature but it was interesting how it was a continuous decline with each session. As the temperatures dropped, so did the activity of animals and wildlife that I typically experienced. I vividly remember the sound of cicadas droning on continuously in the heat, but with each sit-spot it was if their volume was being turned down. In addition to these changes, I noticed the decrease of flowers in bloom as well. When I first began, there were various types of flowers among the tree line behind where I sat. Up until 2-3 spots ago, there were still flowers in bloom in October! As I continue to examine past sit-spots, it becomes more and more apparent how much as changed.

During this sit-spot, the weather was the coldest it had been yet; a very cool 40 degrees! Despite the misleading appearance of the bright sun and unclouded sky, I was bundled up in layers to keep warm. I barely had any wildlife experience, and for the first time, I did not observe any insect activity. I did have a short encounter with a squirrel, as it ran down a tree trunk on the opposing bank, and scurried off deeper into the woods within a matter of moments. Also, I did happen to hear birds chirping in the distance, but it was so faint I could barely make it out. I believe it was a high-pitched chirp that was very repetitive. The loudest noise was the current of the creek, it was almost like it had tiny rapids! One new thing I observed during my sit-spot was the nodes on tree branches with the loss of leaves. It was very prominent while I was searching for new structural features.

My three objects have changed greatly! As mentioned previously, the decayed log was washed downstream, so I was not able to observe it as closely, but I did continue to watch the spot where it had originally laid and left an indentation.

Right- 1st Decayed Log
Left- “Final” Decayed Log

From its bank indentation, it was a barren patch of dirt, but new growth had begun to sprout. Without the decayed log in my view, my spot seemed to increase in size. I had originally predicted the log to continue breaking down and to eventually cave into itself, and while I was correct in guessing the decay, I did not expect it to wash away yet stay intact. As for the roots with moss and mushrooms, I am not sure I really expected much to change other than the mushrooms to disappear as the colder weather set in. I did not foresee the water levels ever rising high enough to cover the roots, but they were submerged into the creek so much that I could barely make out the outline.

Right- 1st Roots
Left- Final Roots

It was interesting to journal the varying shades of the moss as the weather changed, as well as what the rainfall had been. Some days it was brighter than others! Lastly, the ash tree was the most predictable of the three. I figured that as autumn set in, it would lose the last bit of leaves it had sprouted, trying to hold on to life as long as it could. I will say I was surprised at how long the sproutlet leaves stayed green, even through the fall. In all, I found it to be very eye-opening with the amount of change that happened.

Right- 1st Ash Tree
Left- Final Ash Tree

 

 

For me, these observations have been a very positive experience. I thoroughly enjoyed coming to a spot that I knew was just for me to connect with nature and observe the beauty of change. With every sit spot, I left feeling more energized than I had beforehand, almost as if being outside had given me a sense of accomplishment, which made me more motivated to get things done for the rest of the day. I think that in the future, I will make more time in my schedule to spend alone time in nature, as it gives me a moment to refresh and relax, energizing me for what is yet to come. A new perspective I gained by participating in this project was the impact of change during a short amount of time. Like my sit-spot, I have undergone tremendous change in a relatively short period of time by moving to Hollins, starting new classes, and meeting new friends. Both experiences alike have been insightful and resourceful. Although I am already comfortable with being outdoors due to growing up in the woods, I will have to say I was proud of myself for sitting alone in the woods at night; something I had never done for more than five minutes.

My Sit-Spot Setup

I do not think I would particularly do that again alone, but I would not mind it if I had someone with me. There was something so eerily tranquille with the darkness of my very familiar spot. 

Looking back, this semester has been so much fun. I will always remember the bright sun reflecting off Carvin’s creek, the water bugs skating across the water, and the cicadas drowning out all noises. One of my favorite experiences was photographing the gilled snails underwater, as well as photographing the waterbugs. In all, I will remember the joy and peace my sit-spot has brought me through the semester, and will continue to visit it in the future!