I also can't help thinking of this phrase on one of the common rides that I do. It passes a stretch of road that has "lakes" (or more apt in this case, swamps) on both sides. It seems to to be something of a turtle "highway" and sees many of these guys and girls going back and forth a lot during the summer months. Unfortunately, not all the turtles are so lucky (see below if you have a strong stomach)...
As you can see from the pics, a number of little guys get squashed by passing cars (shell jewelry?). I suspect they are too young to know any better and that's the end. What's odd, of the half-dozen or so that I saw in this condition, is that many are on the shoulder side of the white line. I surely hope cars aren't making an effort to squash them on the shoulder.
In any case, I have also seen very large (~20-30lb) snapping turtles on this road as well. I "saved" one two years ago, getting off my bike and carrying it across the road. He was a mean ole cuss, but once you got a good grip, they can't really hurt or get to you.
And wouldn't you know, yesterday I also saw this guy/girl about halfway into my ride home on this stretch of road...
He was just starting to make his way across. Once he spotted me, and before heading into the roadway, he stood his whole body up on all fours. Do turtles know it helps them to be seen? Or is it a faster way to cross?
In any case, since I was already off my bike to get pics, I laid my bike down and picked him up to carry him across. He fussed a little, but couldn't really get at me (I know where to grab them now). Cars had stopped on both sides and I can't imagine what they thought watching a spandex clad man "duck walk" (in cycling shoes) a big snapping turtle across the street. Maybe it happens all the time on this road.
I like to think helping/saving/annoying this one big turtle makes up for the 6 others I saw flattened on the sides of this road.
1 comment:
You are his hero!
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