In the week that was:
Earlier in the week I went south along a trail that isn't officially
maintained but is in the process of becoming part of the Trans Canada Trail.
It is open scrubland bordered on one side by a wooded area and the other an
industrial park. In addition to walkers and bikers many dog owners use it to
exercise their pets.
So I'm riding a long the path - a somewhat raised rail bed type of trail
bordered by long grass/low bush - and a couple are walking towards me. I
pass them and see their dogs following. The pair might be pit bulls. They
have that compact bull-dog/terrier look. They are frolicking with each other
as dogs do. I slow but given the bordering brush I can't really swing wide.
As I try to move to one side the dogs are totally oblivious to me and run in
front of me. I hit the dog with a thud. It felt like hitting a brick wall.
The dogs didn't even seem to care though I was briefly concerned about a
more natural dog reaction to attack.
I yell back at the owners: 'CONTROL YOUR DOGS!' as I F.I.D.O.
Wrong way squirrel:
Later on in the week I went along the river out east where I met up with
possibly the luckiest and dumbest squirrel ever. My east trail culminates in
a winding climb from the river to the higher land and then a steep descent
back down for a flat run back to the road. On the way back, head down and
tired from the climb I see a squirrel dart out of cover to cross in front
of. He sprints past just barely in front of my front wheel. And as squirrel
are prone to do he loses his nerve and decides he can't make it. He reverses
course and runs BETWEEN my front and rear wheels.
Lucky or dumb or both.
Wrong way goose [and a few raccoons]
Yesterday I did a loop around town. About 60 km tracing the first set of
back roads that skirt the town. On thing on these roads is the amount of
roadkill. I see a few raccoons and squirrels that didn't make the Darwinian
cut.
Up near the lake at about the half-way point I come across an adult Canada
Goose who was hors de combat by the side of the road. I don't think I've
ever seen a CG as roadkill. I mean they can fly right? In town they seem to
quite comfortable with traffic and nary an accident I'm aware of.
Though upon further investigation they do moult so that the loss of flight
feathers mean they are grounded for a period of time . I have noticed a
number of feathers lying about their usual haunts.