Rain

Often, here in Maryland, heavy rain comes with a thunderstorm.  But today, there was no thunder, and no strong wind.  Just a very thick, dark layer of clouds that brought rain throughout the day - sometimes light, and sometimes a heavy downpour.

In the afternoon, during one of the heaviest periods, I walked down to see how high the creek was running.  The water ran fast in the gutters down the street, and every sidewalk and driveway added to the flow.  At the bottom of the street, the water spread out in a layer into the cul-de-sac.

Where our street ends and the park begins, a tributary stream that drains down from Georgia Avenue and has been put underground in a storm drain, rushed loud and muddy out of the culvert, pouring between nearly full stream banks.  Having spent quite a bit of time in that stream doing trash cleanup and invasive plant removal, I was surprised at how much water was flowing and how high up the banks it was.

A hundred yards or so downstream, the tributary makes a sharp bend, passes under a foot bridge, and merges with the main body of Sligo Creek.  While well within its banks, the creek was very high.  It covered the rocks near the playground, including the one I like to sit on, and rushed past the base of the tree trunks.  Plastic bottles, and an occasional tree branch, floated down on the fast current.

The rain was cool, but not chilling.  Even with my umbrella, I was thoroughly soaked by the time I got back to the house.