Saw an object on the trail ahead this morning that looked out of place to me. As I approached there was a slight movement & I began to suspect a raccoon or large cat. At the point where whatever it was should have bolted into the tall grass near the trail, it didn't. As I cautiously drew closer I saw tufted ears & a large head with piercing eyes. An owl!! And what was an owl doing on the ground. A couple steps closer & it spread it's wings & hopped back about 10 feet but did not try to lift itself into the air. We did not approach any closer because we did not want to traumatize it in case it was injured. Took some 300mm photos (new lens) & retreated from the area. I know nothing about owls & don't know how large young owls coming out of a nest might be. Could this have been a young fledgling owl. It did not look injured. Later, according to my bird book, I figured this was a Great Horned Owl.
The day remained cloudy & on the cool side. Touch of fog & drizzle in the morning air. Kelly spent a few hours at Deer Park Lodge helping with a new website under construction & I stayed in catching up on computer things at home. I am beginning to think it is maybe not such a good idea for me to be reading other people's full timing blogs. It just seems to make my 'at home frustrations' harder to handle. I see the photos people are taking, I read their travel adventures, I understand only to well where they are, what they are seeing, & most of all......I know how the traveling folks are feeling about the lifestyle they are living. I know that it is a far healthier lifestyle both mentally & physically they live too. I also understand that at the age of 65+ time is slowly slipping away on me & like so many other countless people out there the time will come when an expected or unexpected bump in the night will occur & forever end any further traveling days. I am finding it very difficult to be a totally happy camper these days & no, this is not pessimistic or negative thinking.....it is just a realistic reaction to a realistic situation by a realistic thinking person!! There, that's my Sunday gripe for today & I am feeling much better now thank you very much...............10-4!!
GROANER'S CORNER:(( Got in a fight with my wife last night and it was totally my fault. She asked me what was on the TV and I said: "dust." The rest of the night didn't go too well after that. And did you know there are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. And while your figuring all that out consider this....There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious. And don't say AL didn't tell ya so!!
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"
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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.
So what happened to the owl..did he eventually fly away?? He was so beautiful. What a lucky chance that was to see him.
ReplyDeleteThe owl was beautiful, what a great find! I hope he wasn't hurt.
ReplyDeleteI too, am feeling restless as I have read too many blogs and memoirs of people saying they never got to live their dream.
At the end of the day, it's always your decision.
We all hope we live long enough to be able to travel and relax.
But alas, fate can step in and change that at anytime.
Heck, I'm not even 45 yet and I figured that out.
All things in good time.
Cheers!
I'm curious about the Owl too - I take it he left somehow. I read your "gripe" with great interest tonight as I'm the same age as you are. I can appreciate how it must be frustrating for you to read fulltime blogs and wish you were out there too - before it's too late.
ReplyDeleteI guess this is where we're all different and why so many of us still choose to be RV part timers. I enjoy traveling and spending 4 months or so being a 'snowbird' - but, I wouldn't want it to be a full time lifestyle. Realistically, for me anyway, I find the months I spend at home to be every bit as enjoyable as the time I spend on the road. I would never want to give that up any more than I want to stop our ability to travel in our RV whenever we get the urge to.
I think the secret is for each of us to really think about this and make the choice we think will be the best one given our circumstances and options.
Fortunately for us, we've made that decision, and we're happy with our choice.
What a wonderful owl. You got some fabulous pics of him (her?). Within 2 weeks our traveling days are over for 2 months. So, I'll be posting some mundane (read that: boring) stuff on my blog. I'll try to keep folks interested, but you never know.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week ahead, Bayfield Bunch.
Ya better go check on that Owl in the morning, cause if he is hurt the other critters may see him as dinner.
ReplyDeletePretty incredible owl! Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos Al, what a lucky day for you! Know what you mean too about the fulltiming bug--we, like Rick and Paulette are very happy being snowbirds but surely understand anyone who has wanderlust!
ReplyDeleteAl, How do you decide which camera/lens to sling around your neck each morning? You sure picked the right one this morning!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, I'm a fulltimer and am very happy with that decision and life style. However, if you start showing photos of homegrown tomatoes, I'll be so envious!!!
:-)
Rod is 100% correct. If the owl is there and injured, it would be humane to call the Animal Control folks to come and resuce him.
ReplyDeleteKnow what you mean about being "stuck at home" and reading others' travel blogs. We have come to terms with that, and (for the most part) have learned to celebrate and rejoice in what others are doing, and to thank them for pointing out places we haven't been to, or visiting some we have been to. We too are anxious to get back on the road, but (again for the most part) have gone beyond feeling too sorry for ourselves. We have a plan, and we will just have to work through it.
What a gorgeous bird! He doesn't look like one you would want to tangle with though.
ReplyDeleteI understand completely the pull in both directions - to be out on the road traveling, and to have a comfortable house to be in for a time. I'm trying to figure out how I can travel for about 3 months at a time and then spend 3 months "at home". It just doesn't work that way for me though, unless I want to pay rent for 12 months when I'm only "home" for 6 months.
Al always takes GOOD pictures,,ALWAYS!!!
ReplyDeleteI have 10 years on ya Al, I will be 75 on the 22nd of this month.. You better do your traveling now and not later, cause later may not come....you know it don't take much money. Ms son wanted to full time, but he never made it...
Ok....me too.....what happened with the owl??? Beautiful photos...now we need the 'rest of the story'!
ReplyDeleteOhhh you are sounding so Itchy in your Hitchy... LOL
ReplyDeleteWhy not take off for a few weekend jaunts up in your area? Be a great place to take pics and show us your area of the world?
(we have to be satisfied with weekend jaunts and vacation time till we can even full time it. am envious of those of you who can go any time you want!)
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Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/
Beautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteMom will be turning 80 on July 2nd. She is slowing down quite a bit and we do more driving and looking than walking. She does get out and walk for a bit each day. She is not ready to give up yet. In fact she said "I will stop traveling when I am dead." I hope to be on the road with her for a long long time.
WHOOOOOOOOO was that "horny" dude you ran into on the trail??
ReplyDeleteYes, at times I think I want to be a full timer...Dennis is not on board the same boat I am...I suggested just taking one year, keeping our home..and wandering..Jury is still out on that one....