A Little Waterfall On Terrapin Creek

Not too far from our place runs a little meandering creek named Terrapin Creek. At a point near a railroad bridge over the creek, and shelf of limestone juts out of the hill into the creek causing a small waterfall. Harland played here as a child, and a couple weeks ago, I went with him to see it for the first time. We drove down through the harvested corn field in the pickup truck, and stopped by the edge of the creek. I hopped out of the truck with my camera, and started past some large cottonwoods lining the bank.

Then I slid/jumped/hopped down the 10 foot bank to the edge of the creek. The water was running clear and cold as it is partially fed by freshwater springs. Fallen maple leaves dotted the bank and floated downstream. Pale yellow and green Creek Maples reflected in the water.

I walked upstream along the bank and under a low railroad bridge. Just on the far side of the bridge was the little waterfall.

It’s drop is only about a foot, but it is pretty to look at and lovely to listen to. Harland set up his tripod and camera and clicked away. I too took pics.

Then a train whistle sounded in the distance. Harland prepared to plug his ears with his fingers as we were right under the railroad bridge. Wanting to get some pictures of the train as it passed overhead, I found a strategic spot and waited. The low rumble of the approaching train grew louder and louder. I held my camera up.  It blew its whistle and the ground shook as an endless stream of engine and cars clacked away just above our heads.

The bridge creaked and popped. I clicked away with my camera but the noise was so great I couldn’t hear the shutter. Finally, the train rumbled away into the distance, and I waited for my heart to stop pounding in my ears. As the sun set, I took a few more pictures of the waterfall before we scrambled back up the creek bank and headed back to the truck.

Dusk was settling and the air cooling as we got back to the truck.

We held hands and drove on in silence.

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Suzanne

Cattle, corn, wheat, beans, mud, snow, ice, and drought. Plenty of fresh air and quiet. Our life is sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyous, but never boring.

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19 Responses

  1. What a great place to go, especially since Harland played there as a kid. I love creeks. I grew up playing in creeks as well…small ones, and big ones. I like the motion of the train in your photo!

    • Suzanne says:

      Hi Bonnie,
      I’d like to go back there this winter after a snow and take pics of the waterfall then.
      Thanks Bonnie!

  2. Doe of Mi. says:

    Well that is just so neat. Loved playing in a creek w/my
    kids. And how exciting to have a train right over your head, wow. Did the noise make you want to yell? And best of all you got to hold hands – very romanic!

  3. Glenda says:

    You drove home in silence because you were DEAF from the train. Hee hee!
    Loved the pictures! Is it too far away from the road for a personal visit when I’m there? I’d like to hear the little waterfalls.

  4. Diana says:

    You always share such great posts and photos! Thank you!

  5. Nezzy says:

    Thank you so much for lettin’ me tag along on your little hike. We had a stream that ran year round that sat at the bottom of the hill our house was on. I adored playin’ in that creek when I was a child. :o)

    God bless ya and have a fantastically fun weekends!!! :o)

    • Suzanne says:

      Thank you Nezzy. I too played in a creek a lot when I was growing up. And ponds too. Why is water so fascinating to kids?

  6. Sally Bishop says:

    It is immediately apparent when you strike a common theme. I, too, grew up near a creek that we played in on hot summer days. There is something so picturesque about a babbling brook.

  7. Joani says:

    Sounds heavenly save for the noise of the train. Awesome photos.

  8. aletha says:

    Wow that is something , how could you stand the noise, love the creek photos and the story behine what you both did so nice

  9. LizKS says:

    What a beautiful place. I’m not surprised you held hands and drove home in silence. Places like that make you feel that way. Can you drink that water?

    • Suzanne says:

      Hi LizKS,
      Much of the water in that creek is spring fed, and that would be ok to drink, but then the water runs along the creek through cattle pastures, so it probably would not be a good idea. 🙂

  10. Euni Moore says:

    What a grand little trip down memory lane. The only thing that was needed for utter nostalgia would be for an old steam locomotiv and the clacking of wheels on the old tracks. Ummmmm I’m showing my age!!! Thanks for a fantastic post.

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