Saturday we saw a really big snake and a pretty big lake.
We drove down past Hillsboro to visit the Serpent Mound, which, oddly enough, we learned about in the travel section of the New York Times. Here is what we read:
This effigy mound, an enormous earthen sculpture of a snake, is nothing short of astonishing. Walking the footpath that circumnavigates the undulating body or gazing down from the 35-foot platform, it’s hard to wrap your head around this ancient accomplishment. The serpent measures 1,348 feet long, 10 to 15 feet wide and roughly 3 feet high. It is the largest earthen effigy in North America, constructed around 1070. “It’s not an art project built by a bunch of bored people,” said Keith Bengtson, the site manager. “It has a very specific design and intent.” The serpent was documented by surveyors in the mid-19th century, but it was not until the late 1980s that scholars realized its astronomical purpose: its head and coils are aligned to mark the solstices and equinoxes. During the summer solstice, the setting sun descends in perfect alignment with the snake’s head. Hundreds of visitors now come from around the world each year to watch.Seems interesting, doesn't it? It was. As with all things ancient, there is a certain amount of unsolvable mystery surrounding the effigy--like, is the oval at the mouth of the snake an egg, the sun, a frog, or merely the foundation of a platform? And, what does it all mean? (A local minister in the 19th-century suggested that it all had to do with the Garden of Eden, which I thought intriguing.)
Here's the snake, in all its glory:
Since David was restricted to walking on the path, he unleashed his boundless energy on his little sister:
This is what Ohio looks like:
Afterwards, we stopped by Rocky Fork State Park to go to "the beach" (please note the use of quotation marks). David was thrilled at the prospect of going to "the beach," and, at 85 degrees, it seemed the perfect way to pass some time on this not-so-crisp fall day.
Mary enjoyed "the beach" even more than her brother did. Nothing beats playing in the dirt (er, sand?).
The water was cold (and gross!)--the dirt was the best part.
This is Mary trying to put on her brother's Crocs. (In other Independent Woman news, Mary also tried to apply her own sunscreen, put on her own diaper, and comb her own hair.)
Shoes are almost as fun as dirt. Almost.
We were all exhausted by the time we got back. Well, not David and Mary--they, of course, slept all the way home.
