++++++++++

[maribou]

There are places here in the Springs that I don't normally go because it would be ridiculous to drive ten or fifteen miles in order to walk three or four (and I'm too lazy to walk fifteen or twenty miles). Garden of the Gods Park is one of those places. But since I happened to be driving near there today anyway...

- going for a hike in my new and decidedly NON-hiking shoes
+ finding them comfortable and getting them all muddy
+ skidding down steep parts of muddy trail, as if on skis (trust me, any erosion I may've caused was a drop in the bucket)

+ playing hide and seek in the scrub with woodrats, wee mousies, some black-white-and-red grubber bird, and about 6 Stellar's jays
+ being kept company for a while by a very sweet dog whose owner didn't seem to mind sharing for a bit
+ being circled for about 5 minutes by a pair of prairie falcons
++ following deer trails up the sides of foothills, strictly against regs (but c'mon! just a little bit further in!)
- finding a beer can on one of the deer trails (packed back out, tossed)

+ just when one might want to sit down, finding a lovely old wide juniper tree with lots of soft needles and berries under it and no snow
-- sitting directly upon a Very Sneaky cactus that was hiding under said soft lovely underbrush
+/- most of the prickles came out of my butt quickly and easily

+ sitting on a bench with a great view while eating a snack and reading a book about cougars
+ very beautiful cloud formations and afternoon light on the tops of the mountains
+ PetitKi Smaczna Porcja Energii wiecej Mleka do provide energy as promised; they also taste deliciously of honey

- having eventually to go home
+ coming across a whole herd of young bucks, habituated but not tame, thus delaying return home for some deerwatching
- annoying tourists coming upon same herd, talking too loud, causing bucks to wander off
++ sneaking around the back way so I could watch them some more without bothering them
+++ watching them goof off, play-wrestle, eat, and kick up their heels for about a half-hour before they headed off into the bush

+ my hands still smell of juniper, honey, and mud

That was fun.

Comments

[unselko.livejournal.com]

That was wonderful! I feel almost as though I were there with you! Thanks for that delightful interlude.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

My boy has never seen a regular blue jay. He thinks that's what Stellar's jays are.

[maribou]

So does Jaybird. Pish tosh.
But Stellar's jays are still pretty nifty. I think they may be slightly less evil than the real ones - if not quite as stunning.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

Hee. Just reading this made me happy. :)

[maribou]

oh! I'm glad you enjoyed it; I mostly just wanted to put it down so I would remember it ages from now when I'd've otherwise forgotten.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

Oh, y'know what, so did I, until two minutes ago.

But I still think the Steller's are prettier, based on the photos of both on Wikipedia's respective pages. (More blue!)

Are regular blue jays any less obnoxious than Steller's jays are?

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

Stellar's jays are pretty cool. I dig the graduated coloring.

Are regular blue jays any less obnoxious than Steller's jays are?

I've never seen Stellar's jays go after a person, dog, or cat, even though I walk past them almost every day. I have seen blue jays do that. That observation's probably worth what you paid for it.

[maribou]

Good. That's rather a perfect icon.

[maribou]

What you said! Blue jays are beeeootiful, but ebel.

[wendevious.livejournal.com]

I once accidentally sat on a cactus in Garden of the Gods Park, too.

[maribou]

Then at least I'm in good company. Say, after I cleaned up all my cd's i was listening to a bunch that you sent me ages ago and I was delighted all over again. So thank you!