Yesterday was beautiful weather with high billowing clouds in the very blue sky. On my list of to dos were vacuuming and returning a garment back to a store. Checked the cleaning off from my short list. Then hopped in my car for a drive to the store.
The way to drive there allows me to meander along the lakes and take a look at the budding spring after the rain. I was la-la-ing along just buoyed up by the sheer joy of sunshine along Cedar Lake Road, when I saw this black thing ahead on the road. I slowed down, squinted and wondered what it was.
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE TORTOISE IN THE ROAD
While I was driving around the lake suddenly there was a large, dark thing in front of me on the road. Yikes! I couldn’t tell what it was at first. I slowed down. Stopped and saw woman driving from the opposite direction. We looked at each other as she stopped too.
Bolted out of my car and I noticed there was one person behind me who had stopped. I immediately signaled to her to wait.
I ran to the object and looked closely at the largish, black lump. It was a tortoise/turtle! It was big. It had a large beak-like mouth and looked like a wrinkled old geezer. The poor creature looked exhausted.
At the same time, the women from the car from the opposite direction got out and was sputtering something…she seemed frightened of it.
Quickly I picked the tortoise up and said, “Where should I put it?”
She said, “Put it back by the lake.”
In my mind I reasoned that the tortoise was heading away from the lake and there was definitely no place it would be safe. People were walking by as this event unfolded. There was a bike and walking path to my right and just a hair’s breadth from the lake.
I said, “I’m going to put it over away from the lake where there’s more space.”
While I trotted over to the marsh the poor thing was using its back left claw to swipe my hand away. Didn’t hurt me.
Gently I put him under a shady tree by the marsh. Ran back to my car and waved to the person who waited behind me in thanks.
We were lucky there was no other traffic at the moment.
Of course, I was worried what would happen to the old tortoise.
The probability of more traffic coming behind me forced me to get on my way.
So that was my excitement for the day.
Tortoise/turtle encounter. I couldn’t get any photos. It all happened so quickly!
Tortoises are serpents. Turtle is the common name. Hmm. Did you know that?
Snapping Turtle Photograph retrieved on 5-8-2024; Courtesy of: https://www.mnherps.com/species/chelydra_serpentina
A VIEW OF CEDAR LAKE MARSH
Thanks for stopping by my kitchen.
Have a good day wherever you may be.
Peace
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