Elemental Forces

The flow of the water after heavy rain reaches the top of the plunge down to Blacka Dyke with a noise even greater than that coming from the mobile ring tones heard on the 83 bus. The ground is so saturated that every drop just runs off the surface. The spell of dry weather in September now seems only a distant memory.

Another elemental force best kept at a distance is that coming from a red deer stag when he chooses to use his antlers. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology antlers can withstand 6 times more pressure than similar bones within the body (e.g. wet femur). This should be carefully considered alongside the muscular strength of the stag's neck before deciding whether to engage him in combat. Antlers are remarkable things.They are not at all comparable to cows' horns which are hollow. The weight of one antler I found last year is more than 3 pounds and solid. The neck of the stag needs to have immense strength to carry and wield this weapon.