We never did get any rain yesterday despite the weather forecast having a chance of thundershowers all day. The cloud cover did afford me an opportunity to work in the garden where I came across a very hungry caterpillar on the tomatoes. They are really a bit shocking when first sighted, and it’s hard to believe they come from a rather mundane looking moth.
This morning, the chance of rain after noon, was even greater than yesterday, so, again, I made a point to get in an early morning ride. Not that I mind that as there really is so much more to experience riding when the car traffic is light and the sky is constantly transforming.
The sunrise wasn't anything to really write home about this morning, but the way the sun peeked through the clouds, it did look as if it were some unusual celestial phenomenon.
Just after the cows and the sunrise, I turned off Habberton on Wilson and came upon a deer standing in the middle of the road. I reached for my camera while still coasting toward the deer. I assumed it would be long gone before I could power up the camera and aim but I would give it a try. Sure enough, it quickly took off, followed by two others following it from the right side of the road. As I neared, there were two more bucks off to the right that quickly scrambled away.
About a quarter of a mile past that small encounter, I was on a slight downhill and spotted a white dog sitting next to a hay stack in a field. It made for a good picture and I slowed slightly hoping to get a shot. As I was reaching for the camera, I spotted another white dog a bit further back. Almost immediately the first dog began to move and I saw a brown object moving as well. At first, I thought it might be another dog or a cow, but its pace, even for a very first glance, didn’t fit with those animals. Coming more into view I saw it was a rather large deer and it was running parallel with me in my direction. How cool, I thought, it would be to have the deer running alongside me as I rode. I quickly picked up my pace hoping to keep up with its pace, but even at 24mph, the deer wasted no time in overtaking me. He/she was not moving in a semi-nonchalant mode as is often the case when a deer spots a person and runs off into the woods. Rather, this deer felt threatened and was running at full speed.
The situation became tense for a moment as the deer decided to cut a diagonal in my direction. Being chased, I wasn’t sure how aware the deer was aware of my presence, or cared. I knew of someone who was broadsided by a coyote while he was doing 35mph down a hill. He, the rider, ended up with a broken collarbone. But, fortunately, the deer’s path stayed north of me though still plenty close so that the sound of its hooves on the pavement had quite an impact; I wondered for a moment if he might lose traction on the pavement and tumble. The encounter was over very quickly but it reminded me why I like riding in the early mornings.
Great blue herons are another animal that are hard to photograph, at least with my small camera, since they take flight very quickly. The heron below was on the nearer side of the pond when I first spotted it but only flew to the other side and thus still offered an interesting pose.
It is caterpillar season. Back on Wilson road for a second time, I rode through a field of squiggly objects. Circling back, I saw that there was a nest up above in the tree branch. They must have fallen since I first passed that morning.
Oh, yes. 3:00PM and still no rain.
Today's Ride: 1hr 45mins. 21.03 miles. 79 degrees. Miles YTD: 4,266.49
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To see postings before 11 June 2011, please go to www.mylifeasabike.blogspot.com
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