Rocky Coulee – Wisconsin

Danny wrote some beautiful and intriguing stories about his childhood and farm life. The name of the book is “Hollyhocks". I love every one of them very much. Among them “Rocky Coolie” intrigued me the most because it reminds me of my childhood roaming in the field barefooted looking for adventures and searching mysterious places that were hidden deep in the field or behind some hills. Yes, even I was a little girl, I could go wild just like a boy, except not so brave and nimble as Danny.

The “Rocky Coulee” Danny described in his story was just like a secret garden in my dream. I love mountains especially for the valleys, brooks, streams, cliffs and waterfalls. One day after I decided to visit Bemidji, the thought of seeing the Rocky Coulee hit me. I summon up my courage to ask Danny if I could have the chance to it. He said “yes” without hesitation as if it was just right in the neighborhood and anytime would do. When he told me that it would take more than four hours’ drive, I realized how unthoughtful I was. I tried to take my words back. But Danny said it was a good idea and his brothers and cousins might be interested in joining us. That was perfect. Then it came to me that it would take him another four hours to drive back and exhaust him badly to drive so much in one day. Danny said no problem, we all could stay overnight in Minneapolis which will save his trip to drive me back to the Minneapolis airport. We might go to the theater to enjoy a wonderful play and the Art Institute of Minneapolis as well. I was touched and speechless. Am I a trouble maker? Do I deserve such a hospitality? Danny made it sound so easy and granted that I couldn’t resist such a warm invitation and sweet temptation. I secretly made a promise to myself that I would invite Danny and other T/Ms friends to Taipei to show them my warm welcome and return their hospitality, too.

So my venture to Rocky Coulee was decided!
On Thursday morning after breakfast, we began our venture to Rocky Coulee. But before seeing the Coulee, we went to the farm that Danny’s family used to own. His father sold it out long time ago after all the children grew up and moved out. The present owner doesn’t manage it anymore and leaves the farm rusted/abandoned?. Except the rebuilt house, everything else remains the way it was. He showed us around and explained how he worked on the farm and the barn, the outhouse and the fields where the stories took place.

Then we move to Rocky Coulee. After we got off the car, Danny took the chance to visit a couple of house owners there to catch up some good old times a while. Then he signed us to change on comfortable water resistant shoes. I felt extremely excited. But where is it? I looked around. On the road, in the housing area, I see no sign of woods, rocks or streams. We followed Danny walking a small trail through a lawn covered with high weeds, to a small fence gate. We climbed over it, all of a sudden we were in the shade and surrounded by woods. I asked Danny why I see no one coming to such a beautiful place? He said people living here don’t even know this place. I can’t believe what I heard. If it were in Taiwan, it would have been long invaded by everyone. But thinking that I don’t see many houses and people here, it did make sense. Why not leaving it as it is and undisturbed. After all America is a big country and there is a very small population in some remote areas.

After a few minutes I saw the brook originated a few steps away on the other side. We followed Danny walking upstream through water and mud. After a few steps, the mud became so soft that my whole feet were sunk in deep. I almost screamed. Seeing Danny walking coolly ahead, I knew how silly I would look if I showed my lnerability so easily. I held my throat and followed. I thought how lucky I got the right shoes, the Bush shoes I decided to buy when I found them in the shoe store two days before I came. They are water resistant, soft, comfortable and washable.

It was just about 10 Meters’ walk before Danny showed us the site where water surges out from the ground. I was amazed! For the very first time, I saw and realized how a river is originated and formed! It’s not just water, it’s spring right out off the ground. Danny gestured us to scoop the water with our hands to try it. I didn’t get it. Then he did it for us to follow up. Drinking water right from the stream? My first reaction was, “Will I get sick?” Before drinking it I looked at the water in my palms, so clear, clean and cool. It tasted fresh, cool, and sweet, too. Danny said, “It’s the freshest and cleanest spring.” No doubt of it! Then we walked back toward where we started and continued. The coulee was getting wider and wider, deeper and deeper, and cooler and cooler. It was so clean and clear that I could see my feet clearly, and my legs seemed shrunk completely in the water. The water bed was a big flat rock. It was so easy walking on it. All the pebbles and gravels are gathered at the coulee bank. The other side of the coulee is just a long, big, high rock stretching all the way down, steep and full of big and small holes, or caves. I stopped walking further when the water reached my thigh. I dared not to walk further as I can’t swim, and the water was freakily cold. I saw Danny picking some stones, flat, long or round ones. Curiously I asked what for? He bent his knees a little bit, threw the stones into the water. Magic! I saw three, four, even five water ripples rippling one after another continuously on the surface. How did he do it to make it happen? He illustrated and demonstrated again and again. I wanted to try, too. I looked for the flat stones and practiced and practiced. Am I kidding trying to learn the trick in a few minutes? Of course I couldn’t. But what fun it was! At that moment I totally forgot who I was except having fun like a little girl.

The sun was setting, Time to go. Though it is a very safe place according to Danny,
My worry took control. We walked out the water, went back to the entrance, and got on the car with our heart fully satisfied. We didn’t see the big cave Danny described in his story. He wasn’t sure if he could find it and it is too further down the coulee that he worried about my safety. I can picture the cave just the same. I was so thrilled and had the most wonderful time ever in the woods. Thank you, Danny and all the T/Ms friends.

Trini
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