Yesterday upon waking, we were presented with very gray skies and a cold strong wind that kept up well into the evening. The trees here are amazingly flexible, as they were in constant movement. Sometime swaying dangerously to and fro, at other times twisting their tall tops completely out of place from RV’s side window’s view.
At one point, I could see the branches sway so much as if they would touch down on to Bob’s camper. I thought the tree was going break and land on it. So much resilience and adaptability to their environment; it is a good life’s lesson.
The boys got a bit of a late start hitting the bike trails, Bob still recovering from whatever he caught (but Covid tested negative) while doing the Seven Boroughs race/tour in NYC a couple of weekend back, could be heard coughing throughout the night. I think Paul was happy to sleep in a bit recovering from driving the RV for 5+ hours Wed. It seemed they both needed some restorative sleep-in time.
But, as it turns out, the late start was a good thing. As the sun finally broke through the clouds in the afternoon, while they were out there ridging Lookout Mountain’s ridges and scrambling along the rocky climbs to get to them.
I was not feeling my best yesterday, while I would normally consider this my favorite weather, the treatments are making me extra sensitive to just about any type chill/cold. I pretty much stayed inside the camper out of the wind and enjoyed watching the world go by the front window while I read and did some research.
Stokesville Campground is still mostly empty today, but a few cars mounted with bikes did roll past me, quickly disappearing into the dark shade of wooded tenting area of the campground. Not long after some children emerged from the woods, running past my window across the field two the large wooden play set that was not there the last time we visited. I have been told the campground will be full this weekend and they were turning people away.
As the boys were making their way back to camp, they got distracted by checking the Lodge to see if the Delaware contingent of riders had arrived. Their bikes (2 or 3 for each person) were already unpacked and they were planning their first ride of the day, Bob mentioned the Lookout Mountain route that he and Paul just completed. The new arrivals thought that was a grand idea and Bob surprised everyone with, I’ll join you! Paul came back to our camp with that story. Moments later, the riding group all passed by out site, headed up the woodland path with Bob in the mix. Paul cheered them on, race style, encouraging a fast pace.
As mentioned above, while the boys were out riding, I was safely situated in my perch looking out the front window across the green, observing nature and occasional people passing by.
I saw what we’ve been calling Mr. Turkey numerous times throughout the day, moving from one side of the green entering one set of woods or the other. Always just a little too far away to get a good look at, but the long beard is always there. There is something odd about the shape of him. Didn’t seem like his body was deep enough or that his tail feathers be long enough to present themselves when he put on his fancy dance display. And that beard, is just too long to be a young male turkey. I know wild turkeys are shaped differently than domesticated ones, is he is just lean?
My curiosity got the better of me, so I fired up the iPad for a precious internet connection and I began some research, while wondering is this really data worthy? Yes! It is.
What I discovered is that female turkey can indeed grow beards that can grow quite long. In some states, they frown upon you taking them during their hunting season, others prohibit it altogether at any time, and in some states they’re fair game (punny!). The only way I will be able to tell if our turkey friend is male or female is to get a good look at its head/face.
Other observations during the day, included dragonflies, butterflies of various colors and strips, goldfinch in full bright yellow and black dress, wood thrushes, some chipping sparrows, Orioles and a couple of bluejays, cardinals and possible a flycatcher. Heard some phoebes and Eastern wood-pewees and of course with all this woodland various woodpeckers. Oh, then there was Bob, hacking up a lung still recovering from what ever he caught a few weeks back.
The the photos for today were taken by Paul during his ride today and edited by Debbie. Please note that all entries are posted the following day, no late nights writing for me this trip.
Until the next post!
