Thursday’s lumber was more of the same with a thick coat of un-Michigan-like humidity in the air, and 70˚ at 6:20 AM. There was much sweat over the 6.10-mile loop, and oddly, very few bugs to deal with. I guess coating myself in roughly 25 layers of bug repellent does more than just make me smell like a giant vat of cancer.
I got some shots, mostly of turtles, since they are on the move big time. I think I have seen six different turtles in three days. Turtle on!
In fact, today I took the first turtle photo, then hiked about another minute and saw a snapping turtle on the nest, then did my looop, and when I got back there as ANOTHER turtle just down from the first! IT’S TURTLE MANIA OUT THERE!!
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With that bit of lumbering housekeeping out of the way, on to my next topic:
Enjoying Random Bits of Nature Without a Camera in Hand.
Random Bit One: Weather and Deer
Around 8 PM last night, we had some heavy thunderstorms move through the area. As is my want to do when that happens, I poured myself a beverage and went out on the front porch to enjoy the smell of the rain, breeze, and some temporary cooler temps.
The rain had yet to start, but it was coming for sure. As I plunked my flaccid ass in the porch chair, I saw a deer to my right standing in our front yard. When it saw me, it scurried across the cul-de-sac and started to graze in the empty lot opposite our house.
At this point, I thought about running inside for my camera, but decided to just enjoy the moment.
I watched as the deer would nibble at the grass, then look around, then nibble again. Then, it started staring to the southeast. This went on for about 20-30 seconds, or so, then it took off at full sprint through the various lots and was out of sight. As soon as I looked back up, rain started blowing sideways from the same direction, and thunder and lightning were happening out of nowhere. It seems my friend the deer knew what was up before I did! I hope it got back to the woods safely and without incident.
I then continued to watch the rain and enjoy the thunder for a bit, and not once did I regret not having a camera to get a photo of my furry friend.
Random Bit II: Is that a…
About 2.5 miles into my lumber this morning, I stopped for a quick nature break on the back part of the Covered Bridge Trail. As I drained the last of the morning’s coffee, I stared out at the woods with the rising sun illuminating the leaves, limbs, and cobwebs of the forest in front of me.
Then, I saw movement, and soon my eyes realized I was seeing a coyote gingerly picking its way through the fallen trees and rocks down the hill. I did a quick double-take, making sure to see the tail and confirm it was indeed a coyote, then zipped up and backtracked, hoping to find an opening to see it again, and maybe get a shot. Alas, nothing. Poop!
However, just like my time on the porch with the deer last night, I enjoyed the moment too much to care whether I got a shot of it or not.
Random Bit III: This Time With a Camera
After the morning’s hike and breakfast, I set about trimming some shrubs and hauling the clippings to the Recycling Center. As I did so, I checked in on the Pollinator Garden that I planted at the end of April, and for the past few weeks has looked like nothing more than an unsightly rectangular patch of weeds along our garage.
Upon closer inspection of some of the “weeds,” I could see the beginning of some buds! Hell, yeah!!!
With that, I ran into the house, grabbed my macro lens, and tried to get a shot of a bud. Something easier said than done when trying to focus on something roughly the size of a pen nib.
The shot won’t be going in my nonexistent portfolio anytime soon, but I’m hopeful that in the near future, my little patch of garage-side nature will provide me with bees, insects, and flowers to photograph.
I need just 5.5 miles to hit my 30 in 5 goal, and I’m fairly confident it will happen tomorrow, which also happens to be Wifey’s 55th birthday, so that means afterward I have a sugar-free cake to bake!! I have to say, I can’t remember the last time I baked a cake! Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever have!
Later.