When it came time to leave Roundrock on our most recent rainy visit, we chose to walk up the creekbed in the Central Valley. Normally, this is a route we avoid this time of the year since the scrub is so thick and tall that we generally are covered with ticks after only a few yards of hiking in it. But not so on our last visit. What you see above is the path we took much of the way up the Valley. We simply walked where the water was flowing. It held the scrub to the ground and gave us an open path. Unfortunately, the ground underneath was not always that even, and I stumbled -- but never fell -- a few times and even found a couple of deeper holes to sink my boots into. I remember reading Thoreau talking about this being a preferred way to travel, though I can't recall the exact circumstances that compelled him to walk in the streams, sometimes up to his neck. Perhaps to stay cool. Perhaps to be cool. We never would have done this had we not gotten our boots and socks and pants so thoroughly soaked already that day. Once staying dry was not a consideration, all sorts of hiking options opened. I haven't check my boots yet to see if they've dissolved or not, but I suppose I should before we head out again. Missouri calendar:

• Texas horned lizards bask in open areas on sunny, hot mornings in the southweatern corner of Missouri.

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