Friday, July 15, 2011

Wildlife on the ride to and from school

As we're in the middle of summer here in Springfield, I'm now riding my bike to school each day, usually four or three days per week. This morning there was a wild turkey just a few feet away from the bike trail, and it didn't flee as I rode past it.  About a mile further along my way a small snake slithered across the bike path just in front of me. It wasn't a garter snake, although I have seen garter snakes along the route before. Back in May I was riding into school very early, around 8:00 a.m., and it was a foggy morning, and I found a doe standing in the middle of the road.  It looked at me as I appeared out of the mist, and just stared until I was nearly upon it, and then it clattered off the road and casually walked into the meadow on the side of the road.

In the colder winter or the stormy days of spring I drive my car instead of biking, but I enjoy the bike riding, as there are many sights and smells to enjoy.  The ride takes about 45 minutes (eight miles each way).  It's good exercise I suppose.