Puddle Steamer

Here’s Mud In Your Eye

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

Late last August, I was at the tail end of a six-hour hike through Kluane National Park in the Yukon. Despite gathering clouds at the start of our hike, the rain had stayed away, but as the narrow track gave way to a wide pathway, my attention was caught by this huge mud puddle.

Let’s put it this way. It was so big that Bob Beamon, winner of the 1968 Olympic long jump with the amazing world record, would have struggled to get across it in one leap. Okay, so that’s mere hyperbole. Beamon would probably have spanned it easily, but I wouldn’t have cleared it even with a jet pack on my broad back.

The mud puddle caught my eye because I live in drought-stricken Australia. And yes, if you must know (can you please stop twisting my arm behind my back to make me confess) I had the irresistible urge to splash my sturdy boots in it, just as I did when I was a kid.

From three sides of the puddle, the sight was simply muddy. But when I turned my back towards Lake Kathleen and concentrated on the absolute edge, the late-afternoon light and shade through the ancient, tall trees, gave me a wonderful opportunity to capture the reflection of the sky.

And just for the record, this is what the view looked like across the lake.


For other participants in Dot’s concept, go to Sky Watch HQ.