This weekend I decided to take a walk in the afternoon. It was a lovely warm day with a fairly good wind blowing. I also decided to go alone for a change. You should have seen the looks on the dog's faces as they watched me head out the door without them. Hub Man was at home to keep them company, so I didn't waste too much time feeling sorry for them.
I set off, sticking to the bike paths and sidewalks because as we all know, the tall grass is infested with ticks. Infested. We know this. We do. It's been discussed.
(Ad nauseum.)
Yes, well.
So I contented myself with the civilized walkways right up until I passed over the creek bridge and caught a nice view of the waist high green grasses waving in the breeze. I had a short and spirited argument with myself about the folly of going out there. My sensible self crashed and burned. My inner child veered off sharply and dove into the fields.
The ground was exuding warmth and the wildflowers had started to bloom, the grass was waving all around me like water. I soon forgot about ticks as I caught sight of the beaver pond.
The water level has gone down quite a bit, but he still has a sizable pond. Two Canadian geese were preening themselves on the edge of it. They soon left in a bit of a snit as they saw I meant to go right to the edge of the pond. As usual, Mr. Beaver was no where to be seen. I'm beginning to truly admire all those wildlife photographers who spend hours waiting around for a 15 second glance at some wily creature who is camera shy.
Anyway, it was warm out and I decided to follow the creek back up to the road and on the way I saw a nice fresh otter track in the mud near the bank. I crossed the creek on the upper dam that the beaver abandoned earlier this spring. It was a most ungraceful crossing I must say. There were spongy parts and brittle branches to step over, but I made it without falling into the water, just barely. As I was congratulating myself on negotiating such an odd bridge I happened to look down and see them. The three frantic looking ticks crawling as fast as they could toward my torso. They were all different size ones too. Yikes!
I flicked them off, shuddered and headed up the steep bank on the other side of the creek, through a stand of thistles which thankfully were still green and supple. I didn't pay much attention to my surroundings until I got out of the grasses and back into civilization. I stopped and pulled a few foxtails out of my shoes and noticed two more ticks. Yikes!
The rest of the walk home consisted of me trying not to think about how many other creatures I was hauling along with me, and walking as fast as I could to get myself indoors before they took up residence anywhere on my person.
When I did get home, I and my clothes parted company in short order and I jumped in the shower, while keeping an eye on the clothes pile in the middle of the bathroom floor.
As I got out of the shower I noticed three ticks making a bee line across the floor toward the wall. I grabbed them and threw them in the toilet. Then noticed something moving in the clothes pile. Oy.
When it was all over, starting with the ones I got rid of in the field, I had attracted thirteen ticks. So much for my inner child. She needs her head examined. I'm not going out there no matter what delightful sights I might behold. Not until the cold weather and winter rains have flattened out the grasses once again.
It's enemy territory now.
(It was enemy territory two weeks ago. What's WRONG with you?)
I'm not a fully growed up person yet.
I need adult supervision.
(I'm glad that you seem to be in touch with the facts of your situation for once.)
I've learned my lesson.
Truly.
[album 65561 Little Miss Sunshine.JPG]
What lesson?