I’ve got one more Black Hills Lake checked off my list to Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP). My first time on my board at Pactola Reservoir was near Jenny Gulch. This is a great place to explore on a board.
In spots, you can see down into the crystal clear water 20 to 30 feet. It almost feels like you’re gliding across a high wire in those places. It is definitely an intimate experience with the lake.
I like to go early in the morning, sometimes I even have the lakes to myself. The wind tends to be light that time of day and makes paddling much easier. But, anytime you have a chance to paddleboard I encourage you to try it.
The bodies of water in the Black Hills are just perfect for this sport. You won’t be catching any big waves, but on top of a board is a great way to explore all the nooks and crannies of the lake… It is sort of like hiking a lake!
Usnea Lichen is found throughout the Black Hills, it is the result of a symbiotic relationship of algae and fungus. It is also known as Old Man’s Beard.
I’d always thought is was some type of moss (like Spanish Moss), but moss is a type of plant and Usnea Lichen is not a plant. It has been used medicinally for bacterial and fungal infections. Read more about some of the traditional uses here.
I took the photos of the lichen on my Iphone 4 with the Olloclip 3-in-1 Lens for iPhone 4 & iPhone 4S. This is my new favorite toy, I can get really cool photos without luging around my big DSLR camera.
Hail just seems to be a normal part of summer in the Black Hills. It occurs frequently in Deadwood. It certainly is fascinating to see, but doesn’t do much for my garden.
Just this morning I enjoyed breakfast in the front garden hoping to catch a glimpse of the humming birds that have been enjoying the bee balm. The garden was lush and full, now tonight it is stems and shredded leaves. Such is life, the time I will save from not tending the garden I will now spend on walks in the forest and doing some more hiking in Spearfish Canyon.
. This is my new favorite toy, I can get really cool photos without luging around my big DSLR camera.