Yesterday I went on a walk with my Nordic Walking group. I'm always thrilled when I learn about wonderful parks so near my home! The trail, used by both walkers and bicyclists, is part of Lilydale Regional Park, on the south bank of the Mississippi River a bit upstream from downtown St. Paul. (The Mississippi flows towards the NE as is passes downtown St. Paul.) The trail led past an old brickyard, around the base of a fossil bed, and past caves that were once used for mushroom-growing and cheese-making. According to one of my walking companions, it was also a swell place for gangsters to hide in the 1930's. I was on the lookout for textures ... and fascinated by the geological as well as human history of this area. There are 3 primary geological layers here -- St. Peter Sandstone at the bottom, Platteville Limestone above that, and then Decorah Shale on top where the fossils are. NOTE: (added 8/12) An optional ingredient in rice paste resist is calcium hydroxide, or lime. A small amount of this highly alkaline ingredient can help give the paste a bit more elasticity. John Marshall notes that if you live on large limestone deposits you probably don't need to use it because it comes out of the tap. I wonder how far beyond the banks of the river the Platteville Limestone extends...
old brick oven around the corner from the cave
waterfall up the trail from the cave
once upon a time...