Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June 12, 1939

June 12, 1939 (Mon.)

The wind blowing almost a gale out of the S.W. I determine to go for a walk, to see if I can recapture the delight of the summer walks I used to take back in 1912 to 1915. (When I walked for the sheer physical joy of the act). Drive to the Attica-Varysburg road, and park the car on a side road. Then with my lunch in my knapsack, I start out. Eastward on a dirt road that leads up over a hill. The wind is almost cold, and very violent, tearing thru the trees at a terrific rate, turning the leaves into horizontal ribbons of light and dark. Blackberry odor. The house with blue-wood smoke from its chimney. The sky is spotted with great loose clouds, driven rapidly by the wind. Their shadows race over the fields like wild phantoms. South on Attica-Orangeburg Road to the first road going east, on which to the first road to the south. Lunch sitting on the cement abutments (sic) of a small bridge over a ravine. On the surface of the cement, countless tiny red spiders (hardly larger than a pin-point) are constantly running back and forth, never seeming to stop. The cement is warm and pleasant. I escape the wind on account of a tangled growth at the head of the ravine. Down below, the invisible ripples are betrayed by the shadows they cast on the slate creek bottom. A solitary water strider holds sway here.The spot is also the “stomping ground” for a large tiger-swallow-tail, that keeps flying around. A blue-gray bird (perhaps a crested fly-catcher) also finds it a good spot to hunt his food. After lunch, I turn my steps in the general direction of the car. I enjoyed the rest of the walk, but no more for me are the long all-day walks.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June 12, 1939